Fantasy Upside
There aren't too many wide receivers that are as reliable as Michael Thomas. Thomas has missed just one game in his three-year career. Thomas has posted at least 1,100 yards every season since the Saints drafted him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. And he's coming off an astonishing 125-catch season in 2018. Only four players have caught more passes in a single season than Thomas did in 2018. And all of them were older during their respective historic season than Thomas, who was only 25 in 2018. These are all reasons as to why the Saints are likely going to make Thomas the highest-paid wide receiver in the league and why he is one of the safest options at wide receiver in your fantasy drafts.
Fantasy Downside
If there's any downside to Thomas, it's that he can be a bit boom or bust at times. He had five games of less than 50 yards in 2018 and nine games where he failed to reach the end zone.
Bottom Line
Overall, you can't go wrong with drafting Thomas. He's is a sure bet to reach 1,200 receiving yards, if not more. Will he catch 125 passes again? Maybe not, but there's no reason he can't reach 100 catches again. Even if he doesn't reach the end zone, the yards and catches he produces will score strong points and he'll still be a factor in your weekly matchups. Draft Thomas with confidence, especially if he falls to round two.
Week 19 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Thomas wrapped up his third NFL season by setting career-highs in receptions (125) and receiving yards (1,405), while also tying a career-high in touchdowns with nine. He set the Saints’ single-season receiving yardage record with those 1,405 yards, moving past Joe Horn’s previous 2004 mark of 1,399. A bona fide No. 1 receiver through and through, Thomas is our WR1 for the Divisional Round and has an outstanding matchup versus the Eagles, who ranked 27th against fantasy receivers in 2018. While he only caught four passes in these teams’ meeting back in November, Thomas turned those four receptions into 92 yards and a touchdown. He’s worth spending big in DFS play this weekend.
Week 17 vs. Carolina Panthers
Michael Thomas caught 11-of-13 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ Week 16 win over the Steelers. Back at home for the first time in four weeks, New Orleans’ offense got back on track somewhat. Thomas’ two-yard touchdown came with 1:25 remaining and proved to be the game-winner for the Saints, who locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Ranked as our WR17 for Week 17, Thomas might sit on Sunday when the Saints host the Panthers. The game means nothing for New Orleans so Sean Payton is likely to rest his key starters.
Week 16 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Michael Thomas caught seven-of-nine targets for 49 yards in the Saints’ Week 15 win over the Panthers. Thomas was held to just one catch for five yards at halftime, but he drew a defensive pass interference penalty that could have led to a bigger first-half. Drew Brees has struggled over his last three games, but Thomas saw eight, 13 and nine targets over that span. He has failed to go over 100 yards receiving since his 211-yard output versus the Rams in Week 9, but Thomas remains must-start in all formats. Ranked as our WR1, make sure he’s in your lineup Sunday when the Saints return home to face the Steelers following a three-game road trip.
Week 15 at Carolina Panthers
Michael Thomas caught 11-of-13 targets for 98 yards in the Saints’ Week 14 win over the Bucs. The 13 targets were the most that Thomas has drawn since the 15 he saw in Week 9 against the Rams. He has yet to find pay dirt in his last three games, but Thomas draws a great matchup on Monday night against a Panthers defense that ranks 29th against fantasy receivers this season. Ranked as our WR1 for Week 15, Thomas is a must-start this week.
Week 14 at Tampa Bay Bucs
Michael Thomas caught 5-of-8 targets for 40 yards in the Saints’ Week 13 loss to the Cowboys. Dallas’ defense was outstanding, holding Drew Brees to just 127 yards on 18-of-28 passing. Thomas did draw some penalties throughout the game but of course, that doesn’t help fantasy owners. Thomas has been held to a combined 78 yards receiving and nine receptions in his last two games but he and the Saints offense should rebound Sunday in Tampa. Ranked as our WR1 for Week 14, make sure Thomas is in your lineup against a Bucs defense that ranks 28th against fantasy receivers this season. (One note: Thomas has been dealing with an ankle injury this week but practiced in full on Thursday and is fully expected to play Sunday.)
Week 13 at Dallas Cowboys
Michael Thomas caught four-of-six targets for 38 yards in the Saints’ Week 12 win over the Falcons. Thomas has seen only 10 combined targets in his last two games as Drew Brees has spread the ball around to multiple different receivers. The 38 yards was a season-low for Thomas and it was the first time in three weeks that he didn’t score a touchdown. Nevertheless, he is our WR1 for Week 13 and needs to be in your lineup when the Saints visit the Cowboys on Thursday night. Thomas could have a big night, especially if Dallas keeps the game close throughout and New Orleans isn’t milking clock in the fourth quarter of a blowout.
Week 12 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Thomas caught all four of his targets for 92 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ Week 11 win over the Eagles. Thomas took a backseat to Tre’Quan Smith, who caught 10-of-13 targets for 157 yards and a touchdown, but he made the most of his targets. Now over 1,000 yards for the season, Thomas continues to prove that he’s one of the five-best receivers in the NFL. Ranked as our WR1 for Week 12, Thomas is a must-start on Thursday night against a Falcons defense that has received terrible cornerback play all season.
Week 11 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Thomas caught all eight of his targets for 70 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints’ Week 10 romp over the Bengals. He caught a 7-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game and then added a 17-yard score with two seconds remaining in the first half. He and Drew Brees will benefit Sunday from facing a bottom-10 Eagles pass defense that just lost cornerback Ronald Darby for the year. Ranked as our WR1 for Week 11, Thomas is a must-start.
Week 10 at Cincinnati Bengals
Michael Thomas caught 12-of-15 targets for 211 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ Week 9 win over the Rams. The highlight of his day was when he ran past cornerback Marcus Peters in the closing minutes of a game that was still hanging in the balance, and wound up scoring a 72-yard touchdown in the process. (Peters wasn’t even in position at the snap and it wound up being a gift for Thomas and Drew Brees owners, not to mention in New Orleans, which blew a big halftime lead to L.A.) Thomas subsequently raced to the goal post where he had planted a flip phone in the base and proceeded to make a phone call a la former Saints receiver Joe Horn in 2008. The 15 targets were the most Thomas has seen since Week 1 (17) and the yardage was a season-high. Ranked as our WR2 for Sunday’s game against the Bengals, Thomas is a must-start.
