Panthers' Adam Thielen: Two receptions in Week 2 loss
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Thielen brought in two of three targets for 20 yards in the Panthers' 26-3 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.
Thielen's line was wholly uninspiring, but considering Bryce Young threw for only 84 yards overall, the wideout's yardage total actually qualified as the second highest on the Panthers for the afternoon. Like fellow accomplished veteran receiver Diontae Johnson, Thielen's fantasy value is significantly hampered by Young's shortcomings at the moment, and there's little reason to believe that will change in a Week 3 road matchup against the Raiders.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Modest numbers in season opener
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Thielen caught three of four targets for 49 yards in Sunday's 47-10 rout at the hands of the Saints.
The veteran wideout didn't post particularly impressive numbers, but he still led the Panthers in receiving yards, with most of the real estate coming on a 32-yard reception in garbage time during the fourth quarter. Thielen topped 1,000 yards in his first year with Carolina, but he'll likely need Bryce Young to take a big step forward in his development to reach that mark again in 2024, something that there was little evidence of Sunday. Thielen and the Panthers passing game will try to shake off this performance in Week 2 against the Chargers.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: One catch in preseason finale
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Thielen caught his only target for 21 yards in Saturday's 31-26 preseason win over the Bills.
Thielen and the rest of the first-team offense played the opening drive, which ended in an eight-yard touchdown catch by Jordan Matthews. Offseason trade acquisition Diontae Johnson and rookie first-round pick Xavier Legette could cut into Thielen's target share in 2024, so matching last year's total of 137 will be tough, but Carolina's entire offense could benefit from increased efficiency if 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young can take a step forward in his second NFL regular season, which kicks off Sept. 8 against the Saints.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Not in line to suit up Saturday
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Thielen isn't expected to play in Saturday's preseason contest versus the Jets, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Thielen will be joined by fellow wideouts Diontae Johnson (groin) and Xavier Legette in street clothes this weekend, meaning Terrace Marshall, Jonathan Mingo and Ihmir Smith-Marsette, among others, will man the position. At this point in his career, Thielen, a 10-year pro, doesn't necessarily require any reps before Week 1, when he'll begin his quest to replicate his 103-1,014-4 line on 137 targets in 17 regular-season contests in 2023.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Not playing Thursday
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Thielen isn't in line to play in Thursday's preseason game in New England, Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site reports.
Carolina is sitting 33 players in its exhibition opener, namely QB Bryce Young, RBs Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks (knee), WRs Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette (foot) and TEs Tommy Tremble (hamstring) and Ian Thomas (calf). Thielen is expected to retain a key role out of the slot in his second campaign with the team after racking up 103 catches (on 137 targets) for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests in 2023.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Could stay in slot in 2024
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Thielen projects to reprise his role as the top slot receiver for Carolina during the 2024 season, with newcomers Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette (hamstring) slated to primarily line up on the outside, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Thielen was one of the few offensive playmakers to find success during Bryce Young's rookie season, as he compiled a 103-1,014-4 receiving line while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. Adding an established veteran in Johnson and a high-upside first-round rookie in Legette could give Young the tools to take a step forward, and with that help elevate the Carolina passing offense. Despite an increase in target competition, Thielen's combination of established chemistry with Young along with the slot role could still make him a go-to target for the second-year signal-caller, especially early during the 2024 campaign if Legette needs some time to build momentum.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Quiet end to campaign
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Thielen caught two of three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 9-0 loss to the Buccaneers.
Thielen was one of the very few bright spots on the Panthers this season and the main target rookie quarterback Bryce Young could consistently connect with. The 33-year-old caught 103 passes -- the second most of his career -- on 137 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. Despite a new front office and coaching staff set to arrive in Carolina this offseason, the veteran Thielen remains under contract for 2024, when he figures to serve as a reliable outlet for Young even if the team improves the supporting cast around him.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Team-leading catch total in loss
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Thielen secured all six targets for 38 yards in the Panthers' 26-0 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
Thielen paced the Panthers in receptions and receiving yards while sharing the team lead in targets, but his modest yardage tally particularly underscores how underwhelming a day it was for Carolina's air attack. Thielen's fantasy value is unmistakably capped by Bryce Young's struggles most weeks, but he'll at least head into the Week 18 finale against the Buccaneers with back-to-back six-catch efforts.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Productive in Week 16 loss
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Thielen brought in six of eight targets for 94 yards in the Panthers' 33-30 loss to the Packers on Sunday.
Thielen tied DJ Chark for the team lead in receptions and targets while checking in second in receiving yards. The veteran wideout helped fuel a second-half comeback by the Panthers that just fell short, even recording a 22-yard grab on a last-gasp final drive that fizzled when time ran out with Carolina having reached the Packers' 31-yard line. Thielen's catch and target totals were his best since Week 11, while his yardage was his most prolific since Week 6. Consequently, Thielen has some momentum as he heads into a Week 17 road matchup against a leaky Jaguars secondary on New Year's Eve.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Four catches in close win
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Thielen secured four of seven targets for 43 yards in the Panthers' 9-7 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Thielen set the pace for the Panthers in receiving yards and targets while sharing the team lead in receptions with Jonathan Mingo. The veteran wideout has naturally seen his production capped some weeks due to Bryce Young's struggles; however, he now has a 9-117 line on 14 targets over the last two games heading into a Week 16 home battle against a Packers team that allowed 381 passing yards and four touchdowns to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Three grabs in Sunday's loss
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Thielen caught three of six targets for 25 yards in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Buccaneers.
Rookie Jonathan Mingo saw a career-high 10 targets and led Carolina in catches and receiving yards, and there wasn't much production left over for anyone else. Thielen has now failed to reach 50 yards in four of the last five games, and with the Panthers focusing on the development of their young players rather than feeding the veteran free agents that bolstered the roster in the offseason, the former Viking could struggle to post consistent fantasy numbers down the stretch.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: WRs to Start
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Thielen was bad in Week 12 at Tennessee with one catch for 2 yards on three targets, but I'm going back to him this week as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, with his value higher in PPR. Prior to Week 12, Thielen had at least 10 targets in five of his past six games, and he scored at least 15.2 PPR points in four of those outings. Tampa Bay is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and No. 1 receivers have dominated the Buccaneers all season. Justin Jefferson, D.J. Moore, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Brandon Aiyuk and Michael Pittman have all scored at least 16 PPR points against Tampa Bay, and Thielen should follow suit in Week 13.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Worst game of season
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Thielen caught one of three targets for two yards in Sunday's 17-10 loss to the Titans.
Thielen has been the bright spot on an abysmal Carolina offense this season, but even he couldn't get going Sunday. His one reception marked a season low, as Thielen had at least five grabs in every game since Week 1. With hardly any yardage, either, Thielen will strive to bounce back versus the Buccaneers on Sunday, when the Panthers will be without coach Frank Reich after he was fired Monday.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Top DFS Play (WR Preview)
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Thielen's consistency with Frank Reich playing is nearly unmatched this season. I have him projected for 14.7 FanDuel points, which makes him one of the top projected scorers on the main slate and one of the top projected values. The funny thing is that has been very close to his floor with Reich calling plays.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Eight catches in Week 11 loss
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Thielen secured eight of 11 targets for 74 yards in the Panthers' 33-10 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday.
Thielen led the Panthers in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the afternoon, corralling half of Bryce Young's completions and 74 of the struggling rookie quarterback's 123 passing yards. The veteran wideout has no fewer than five receptions in every game since Week 2, and although he hasn't eclipsed 100 receiving yards or scored since Week 6, he'll head into a Week 12 road matchup with some momentum against a Titans defense that gives up plenty of production to wide receivers.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Contrarian DFS Play (WR Preview)
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Thielen is trending in the wrong direction, and it can be dangerous to catch a falling knife, especially against this Cowboys defense. Still, he is down to $7,000 on FanDuel and he still has double-digit target upside every week. Betting on the No. 10 wide receiver in Fantasy at a discounted price and roster rate is a sneaky way to get ahead of the field.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Quiet in Week 10 loss
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Thielen brought in six of 10 targets for 42 yards in the Panthers' 16-13 loss to the Bears on Thursday night.
Thielen paced the Panthers in receptions and targets while checking in second in receiving yards, but on a night when Bryce Young threw for only 185 yards, those figures didn't amount to any remarkable fantasy production. The veteran wideout now has posted at least five catches in every game since Week 1, but he's recorded just 71 total receiving yards in the last two contests with Young going through a particularly rough patch. Thielen next sets his sights on a tough Cowboys secondary in a Week 11 matchup on Sunday, Nov. 19.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Five grabs in loss to Colts
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Thielen caught five of six targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Colts.
The veteran wideout posted his worst numbers since his Week 1 debut with the Panthers, as Thielen hadn't recorded fewer than seven catches, eight targets or 54 yards since then until Sunday's weak effort. Carolina coach Frank Reich appears committed to sticking with rookie Bryce Young under center, but it might be better for Thielen's production if veteran Andy Dalton took the reins of the offense. However, a switch isn't likely to happen on a short week as the Panthers get ready for a Thursday night clash with the Bears in Week 10.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Leads receiving corps again
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Thielen recorded 11 receptions on 13 targets for 115 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Dolphins.
Thielen worked effectively in the intermediate areas of the field in Sunday's defeat, tallying four catches of greater than 11 yards. He also continued to dominate work among the Carolina receiving corps, as he now has either 13 or 14 targets in three of his last four games while topping 100 receiving yards on all three occasions. Bryce Young may ultimately start to distribute the ball more evenly between his pass catchers as he grows more comfortable in the NFL, but it's clear that he has a particular rapport with Thielen at this point.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: WRS to Start
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I'm not sure what more Thielen has to do before Fantasy managers trust him in all leagues, but his start percentage as of Wednesday afternoon was just 77 percent on CBS Sports. He's scored at least 15.2 PPR points in four games in a row, and he's averaging 23.7 PPR points per game over that span. Bryce Young is leaning on Thielen with a 24.9 percent target share, and he's No. 8 in total targets among receivers with 46. There's a good chance the Panthers will be chasing points in this matchup at Miami, and Thielen should continue to soak up targets against the Dolphins, who have allowed five receivers to score at least 13.1 PPR points this season. Thielen is a top-10 PPR receiver heading into Week 6 and should be started in all leagues.
