It was a refreshing performance for the Los Angeles Chargers' offense in Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys. Justin Herbert completed 23 of his 29 passes for 300 yards en route to a 34-17 victory. They dominated the time of possession battle, and the run game put together another solid performance.
Yet perhaps no one had a better day than Quentin Johnston. Returning from a groin injury that sidelined him against the Kansas City Chiefs, Johnston had four receptions on five targets for 104 yards and a touchdown.
In an up-and-down season for Johnston, this game bodes well for his role in the offense moving forward.
However, with rookie receiver Tre' Harris taking on a larger share of snaps, and Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen continuing their role as mainstays, how can Los Angeles balance their distribution of targets over the remainder of the season?
It's a good problem to have, but it is a problem nonetheless.
Quentin Johnston continues to be one of the Chargers' most unpredictable offensive weapons
At the start of the season, Johnston was finally putting it all together. Across his first four games, he amassed 22 receptions for 337 yards and four touchdowns. Despite the issues with drops and consistency he experienced over his first seasons in the NFL, Johnston was emerging as a serious threat for the Chargers offense.
Then, as Los Angeles's offense fell off a cliff, so did Johnston's production. In the seven games he played between Week 5 and Week 13, he amassed just 188 yards.
When Harris had a breakout game in his absence, it looked like Johnston's role could be minimized as the season came to a close. Harris saw five targets and caught four receptions for 54 yards against Dallas.
Yet Johnston's primary value comes as a contested catch and a downhill threat. When he's right, he provides more value in that regard than any other pass catcher the Chargers have in their arsenal.
With matchups coming against two capable pass defenses in the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles must now decide how they want to weaponize these receivers and distribute their targets.
It would be less than ideal to completely erase Harris from the game plan. However, if you reduce the target share of Johnston, McConkey, or Allen, you are taking a major asset out of your offensive attack.
While they found a solid balance against the Cowboys, it came against one of the worst passing defenses in the league. The sheer number of opportunities that presented will not always be there, and Los Angeles must now determine how they want to move forward.