Divisional Round vs. Saints
Adam Thielen was never really bad in 2017, but the end of his season wasn't nearly as exciting as the middle of the season. From Week 8 to Week 14, Thielen averaged 105 yards and scored four times in six games.
He had other big performances outside that stretch as well, including Week 1 when he faced the Saints, who he'll face this week. In the early-season matchup, Thielen had 157 yards on 9 catches. We don't expect that performance again this week, but it just goes to show Thielen won't necessarily be locked down in this game.
Thielen should be viewed as one of the top options this week in fantasy.
Week 17 vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings have been airing it out less these last two games, which has led to down performances by Adam Thielen. The last two weeks have actually been his two worst games of 2017. He's a talented wideout who can make a big play at any moment, but he hasn't been able to make those plays in these last two games.
He gets a decent matchup this week against the Bears, where we expect him to bounce back and have a better performance. Owners should view him as a WR1 choice.
Week 16 at Green Bay Packers
Adam Thielen had his worst game of 2017 with a season-low in receptions (3) and yards (30). His services weren't needed much as Minnesota jumped out to a big early lead. It was a disappointing performance, but owners shouldn't lose faith in Thielen. His numbers lately have been impressive, and he gets a great matchup this week against Green Bay.
The last time he played the Packers, he finished with 9 receptions (tied for a season-high) and 96 yards. Considering his talent, and the plus matchup, it's safe for owners to view Thielen as a WR1 this week.
Week 15 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Adam Thielen kept his impressive season up last week by catching 6 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. He's averaging over 100 yards per game in his last six outings and has scored 4 touchdowns in that span.
He gets a fairly tough matchup this week against the Bengals, but they're far from being a shutdown defense. Thielen should be fine, and owners should trust he continues his hot streak. He can be viewed as a WR1 this week.
Week 14 at Carolina Panthers
Adam Thielen didn't have a monster game last week, but he did lead the Vikings in receiving for the fifth week in a row. His 51 yards won't get many people excited, but he was bound to have an off-game eventually, and 51 isn't a total disaster, especially in a tough matchup.
Things get easier this week in a much better matchup against the Panthers. Carolina isn't soft, but they are on the favorable side of points allowed. Thielen should be able to bounce back this week and should be viewed as a low-end WR1.
Week 13 at Atlanta Falcons
Adam Thielen continued his strong streak last week, catching 8-of-11 targets for 89 yards. His touchdown streak ended, but he's still a solid receiver to own in fantasy football as he's just one of four receivers over 1,000 yards on the season.
He gets a tough matchup this week against the Falcons, as Atlanta has only allowed one score to a wideout in its last four games. But Thielen has faced tough competition before and ended up on top. He's too talented to sit and should be viewed as a WR1 option.
Week 12 at Detroit Lions
Adam Thielen is on fire, scoring in his last three games while averaging 129 yards in that span. He's second in the NFL in receiving yards (916), and has played consistently well all year long, catching at least five passes in every game.
He gets a decent matchup this week against the Lions, a team he played somewhat well against earlier in the season (5 receptions, 59 yards). We expect another strong outing from Thielen this week, as he should be viewed as a strong WR1 in the Thanksgiving Day matchup.
Week 11 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Adam Thielen has been a nice surprise this season as he's third in receiving yards per game (88.1). He hasn't been a big scorer, but he has found the end zone in two straight games. He also has at least 90 receiving yards in five of his nine games, making him a consistent contributor.
He could have some trouble this week in a difficult matchup against the Rams, though.The Rams have allowed just 5 touchdowns to wideouts this season, tied for third-fewest in the league.
Thielen should still be viewed as a WR1 this week due to his potential, but don't be surprised if he has a down week in a bad matchup.
Week 10 at Washington
Adam Thielen had another solid outing two weeks ago when the Vikings last played, catching 5-of-10 targets for 98 yards and a touchdown. Thielen has been pretty reliable this year as he's had at least 40 yards in all but one game, as well as at least 5 receptions. His only downfall is that he's scored just once this season.
He could struggle a bit this week, though, as he gets a tough matchup against a Washington defense that has held receivers to 10 receptions or less in five games this season. Despite the non-favorable matchup, we still like Thielen as a low-end WR1 in PPR formats and as a strong WR2 in standard.
Week 8 vs. Browns (game in London)
Adam Thielen was the intended target of 12 passes last week, but he only came down with 5 receptions for 41 yards. Minnesota is trying to get Thielen involved with Stefon Diggs out, and it's worked out most weeks, just not so much last week.
Diggs is expected to be out again this week, which means you can probably expect double-digit targets for Thielen again. He gets a decent matchup against the Browns, and we expect him to do better than last week. He should be viewed as a decent WR2 in Week 8.
