RADIO
Michael Thomas 2021 Outlook: Late Season Star?
4 years agoAfter being the consensus WR1 for the 2020 season, Michael Thomas had one of the biggest "bust" seasons in recent memory. Now Thomas is slated to miss at least the first half of the season due to late off-season surgery. Thomas might be one of the hardest players to draft in 2021, however, if you can draft a team that'll contend over the first half of the season, Thomas might be the perfect piece for a Championship push. Despite the retirement of Drew Brees, Thomas can still be an elite receiver for fantasy. We have a 10-game sample size of Thomas without Brees over the last two years (four with Taysom Hill and six with Teddy Bridgewater). During these periods, Thomas averaged 8.2 receptions, 10.2 targets, and 98.3 yards per game. To put this in perspective, in 2020 Davante Adams led the league in yards per game with 98.1 and Stefon Diggs led the league in receptions per game with 7.9 (Thomas has been on pace to beat both these numbers without Brees). Outside of Alvin Kamara (and the rise of Marquez Callaway), the Saints do not have a proven pass-catcher, which leaves Thomas to do what he does best and soak up targets. Whether it's Hill or Jameis Winston under center, Thomas should be a steady WR1 for in all PPR formats when he returns. Plus, it's looking like Winston might have won the job in Preseason Week 2, giving Thomas some extra upside.
Source: Ellis Johnson
Source: Ellis Johnson
