2016 NFL Draft Analysis for Fantasy Football - Wide Receiver Michael Thomas

Position, Team, NFL Draft Spot: WR, New Orleans Saints, 2.16

Dynasty Positional Rank: 36

Redraft Target Round: Mid-round selection

Analysis: Thomas was a bit of a wildcard in the draft, as some people had him going in the first round while others took a safer approach and projected him to be selected in the second round. He was the sixth receiver taken, as the Saints took him in the middle of the second round.

Thomas is a significantly better pro prospect than a college player, which says a lot, as he recorded 110 catches for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Ohio State. He’s a raw prospect, as the Thomas generally ran short and limited routes in college. He’s going to face a learning curve in the NFL, but he should immediately be a factor as the fourth receiving option behind Cooks, Snead, and Fleener. If Thomas picks up the offense quickly, he could become the second option in the Saints offense behind only Brandin Cooks. Thomas is a fairly high risk, high reward option in re-draft leagues, but I think his upside more than outweighs his floor.

Thomas checks all the physical boxes to be a number one receiver in the NFL. He is far from a polished prospect, though, which means he’s a bit better of an option in dynasty leagues than re-draft leagues. At some point in his career, Thomas is going to be the top receiving options on his team. He’s also going to be a red zone threat throughout his career, as he is a big, fierce competitor, which bodes well for a wide receiver in the red zone. Thomas is a great dynasty league option this season.