Quarterbacks

QB Derek Carr $5300
Derek Carr plays against the Titans today whom were 29th in the league in fantasy points to opposing QBs last year. Allowing 274.8 YPG through the air, ranking dead last at 32nd this Titans team didn’t do a whole lot to improve their secondary. They are great up front as they were the number 1 defense against the run last year. Carr is my favorite stack play of the day.

QB Justin Herbert $6900
This game has the highest over under of any game on the slate today. Two high powered offenses with a whole lot of talent, and two defenses while boasting many talented players, do give up a lot of points. Dolphins gave up 23.2 PPG while the Chargers gave up 22.7. Herbert could be in line for a QB1 performance as the Dolphins were 30th in the league last year in fantasy points per game allowed to QBs.

Dart Throws at QB
Desmond Ridder/Baker Mayfield $4900
If you’re looking to play a lot of high priced studs, I can see either of these guys throwing for 2 TDs today.

Running Backs

RB JK Dobbins $6600
Finally healthy with a lot more weapons on the outside will mean that Dobbins will be in an excellent position to succeed. He should see less men in the box as there is more attention paid to the pass catchers in this offense. Dobbins also gets a juicy opportunity against the team that allowed the most rushing yards(170.2) and fantasy points(28.5) to RB per game last year in the Houston Texans.

RB Raheem Mostert $5400
The Chargers allowed 144.2 YPG on the ground last year as they were one of three teams to give up over 2000 yards last year. With Jeff Wilson Jr going on IR the only competition he will really have in the backfield will be rookie Devin Achane. He could be in line for a 100 yard game with a TD.

RB Brian Robinson Jr $5100
The Cardinals are going to be bad this year, and not in the good way. They ranked 29th in fantasy points against RBs as they gave up a lot of over 100 receptions to RBs last year. I expect a huge day in check downs on top of his work on the ground.

Dart Throws at RB
Devin Achane $4900
AJ Dillon $5200
Gus Edwards $4500

Wide Receivers

WR Chris Olave $6500
If Derek Carr is going to dice up this defense, I want to stack him with Olave. As bad as the Titans were against the QB last year, they were the worst against the WR in fantasy, ranking 32nd. I expect multiple Saints receivers to be celebrating in the end zone today, Olave has the best chance at topping 100 yards as well.

WR Justin Jefferson $8800
He was the number 1 player drafted in fantasy for a reason, he’s the highest salaried player for a reason. If you’re playing him, you’re going to need a lot of value plays to match him up. Not much else to say here, he’s amazing.

WR Keenan Allen $7300
I’m expecting a huge bounce back season from Allen as he and Herbert continue to grow their connection. Great matchup to start as Allen should see somewhere near 12 targets today, and a few of those in the red zone.

Dart Throws at WR
Drake London $5400
Michael Thomas $5100
Could see either of these guys in the end zone today.

Tight Ends

TE TJ Hockenson $5900
After trading for Hockenson last year, he quickly became one of Kirk Cousin’s favorite targets. The number two to JJ, in a very solid matchup, Buccaneers ranked 29th against TEs last year. I could see a double digit target number with a TD for Hock today.

TE Greg Dulcich $4000
Sean Payton loves his TE in the red zone, but Dulcich is a solid route runner with above average athleticism. He should have a great year in this system and I would look for him to have a solid return on a low price point today.

TE Logan Thomas $3200
These are the kind of values you need to play other than the higher priced studs. The cliche is a young QB needs a good TE to get the ball out quickly, and I believe the cliche will ring true today. I expect a 8 target day for Logan Thomas and wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.

Dart Throw at TE
Taysom Hill $3700
He could throw a pass, run the ball, and catch the ball. Taysom Hill is the Ultimate Dart Throw.

Defense/ST

D/ST Washington $2800
The Commanders are a better defense than they get credit for. They can pressure the QB and create turnovers. Big upside play.

D/ST Baltimore $4000
Highest defense on the slate, if you have the money left over, don’t be afraid to spend it on the Ravens.

D/ST Eagles $3700
Sacks, sacks, sacks, and of course sacks.

Optimal lineup
QB Derek Carr
RB Brian Robinson Jr
RB JK Dobbins
WR Chris Olave
WR Michael Thomas
WR Keenan Allen
Flex Raheem Mostert
TE TJ Hockenson
D/ST Washington Commanders

Good Luck everyone, I’ll see you out there. Let’s make that money.

The post DFS Plays for Week 1 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

We knew Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave had all the tools to be special at the next level. We didn’t know he was going to be this good this fast. Olave had an impressive rookie season with the Saints where he had 1000+ receiving yards despite sub-par quarterback play. He was extremely efficient and for the most part, was the Saints WR1 even though he was a rookie. Olave had a 25% target share in the Saints offense which showed he was a huge part of their gameplan.

Olave will now get the chance to play alongside Michael Thomas who is coming back after missing most of the 2022 season. If Thomas can regain his old form these two receivers could be a deadly combination for Derek Carr and the passing game.

The Bad

The main weakness on this Saints team will be the offensive line. Trevor Penning takes over the LT position after playing limited snaps in 2022. Elsewhere C Erik McCoy should have another solid season as he has been one of the strengths of this line. There are questions though at the RG position as Cesar Ruiz hasn’t quite panned out the way they hoped. The bottom line is if the unit struggles it could really limit what the Saints do on offense. Carr still has some mobility but he is losing some pace as he gets older.

The Prediction

If you look at the Saints schedule it has to be one easiest in the NFL. They have many favorable matchups including opposing quarterbacks they will face. The toughest quarterback they play this season will be Trevor Lawrence and that’s a home game. I see the Saints winning the NFC South as Derek Carr has a successful first year in New Orleans.

2023 Record: 11-6 (1st in the Division)

The post New Orleans Saints Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears had a decision to make this offseason. They could keep the #1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and draft a quarterback or they could trade the pick and stick with Justin Fields. After much speculation the Bears decided to stick with Fields and in return received a nice trade package. They now have extra picks to build for the future and D.J. Moore who was included in the deal.

I expect Justin Fields to continue his rise and carry the Bears to the playoffs. D.J. Moore will give Fields a much needed receiving weapon and tight end Cole Kmet will take another step forward. The Bears defense should also improve as they added stud linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency. Look for the Bears to grab one of the NFC Wild Card spots next year.

Las Vegas Raiders

In 2022, the Raiders finished with a record of 6-11. When you look back at their year they had several close losses including two overtime defeats. It’s clear they were a better team than their record indicated, they just need to learn how to finish games. With Derek Carr now in New Orleans, Las Vegas will look to Jimmy Garoppolo to help them take the next step.

Garoppolo may not be the most talented quarterback in the league but he is a winner. With a career record of 40-17, he has shown when healthy he can lead a team to the playoffs. Running back Josh Jacobs should have another monster year and he recently landed at #2 in our best running backs in 2023 list. If the defense can show improvement, I expect the Raiders to finish 2nd in the AFC West.

New Orleans Saints

Going into the 2023 season one thing is clear, the NFC South is the worst division in the NFL. Three of the four teams are in rebuilding mode and now is the time for the Saints to capitalize. New Orleans wasted little time in grabbing Derek Carr when he became available this offseason. Carr should elevate this offense which hopes to have Michael Thomas back healthy. The pieces are there for the Saints to make a run and they look like the clear leaders of the division.

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The NFL has laid out these specific guidelines for teams to be exempt from the Hard Knocks show. If a team appeared on Hard Knocks in the last decade they are exempt. Also if a team has a first-year Head Coach or has reached the playoffs in the last two years they are also excluded. With those requirements in mind that leaves us with four candidates for Hard Knocks 2023. Let’s break down each team and what makes them compelling.

Chicago Bears

When you look at the Chicago Bears, they are probably the least compelling of the teams eligible. If they are chosen, all eyes will be on quarterback Justin Fields. The Bears also traded this year’s #1 pick to the Carolina Panthers. As part of the deal, they received D.J. Moore in return. Chicago has lacked a real true #1 receiver in recent years and they are hoping Moore can fill that role.

New York Jets

If you want to garner a large audience then the New York Jets are your answer. They have a head coach on the hot seat and just traded for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers alone will have fans locked into the show as we want to see how well he adjusts to his new team. The Jets also have a young talented nucleus that could set them up for years of success. The key will be how well the new faces mesh together with the up-and-coming roster. One thing is for sure, if the Jets are chosen it will not lack drama.

Washington Commanders

Washington has had arguably the best offseason of any NFL team and it has nothing to do with on-the-field moves. They will soon have a new ownership group as Dan Snyder is weeks away from being gone. Could the NFL be waiting on the final approval before picking them? Possibly, as we are now in June and a team has yet to be chosen for the show. The Commanders certainly don’t lack drama and a new era in Washington would be compelling to watch.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints made quite the splash this offseason when they signed Derek Carr to a four-year deal. Carr has to have a new level of motivation given what happened with the Raiders. On paper the Saints have the potential to be an explosive offense with Carr, Michael Thomas coming back and of course Alvin Kamara. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Saints end up being the choice for Hard Knocks. They may not be as captivating as the other teams but should offer enough intriguing storylines to keep us watching.

The post Breaking Down the Candidates for Hard Knocks 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Atlanta Falcons: RB Tyler Allgeier [ADP: 100.1]

Tyler Allgeier had a low-key amazing rookie season when he ran for 1035 yards and three TDs. In the last four games of the season, he ran for 431 yards and two TDs. You’d suspect that he’d be called the starter for the upcoming season, but Bijan Robinson says hello. The reps will go down as he’ll have to split with Bijan. The talent, however, is there and he’ll still get his reps. In his position, he’s worth a look at your flex position or stock up on depth as RBs run out very fast.

Carolina Panthers: RB Miles Sanders [ADP: 83.3]

Miles Sanders is in a new home when he got a four-year contract to play for the Carolina Panthers. The former Eagles RB had a career year when he ran for 1269 yards and 11 TDs. He’ll be the focal point in the Panthers’ offense as Bryce Young will slowly be eased in as QB. He doesn’t have to worry about reps also as he’ll receive the majority of the reps in the backfield. Miles Sanders at 83.3 is a steal.

New Orleans Saints: WR Michael Thomas [ADP: 125.6]

Is it time to trust Michael Thomas again? He was remarkable in the first three games of the season when he got at least five receptions and three TDs. The difficult part is that he never played after Week 3 due to injury. At 125.6, he’s worth a gamble with all his upside and he’ll have Derek Carr as his QB. Be wary of his injury history as you should have backup WRs in mind.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Baker Mayfield [ADP 161.4]

Now, things may change as Kyle Trask might be the QB when the season starts. For now, we will rely on Baker’s experience as the current starter for Tampa Bay. People will be making fun of Baker’s missed throws in practice, but he’ll be enjoying once he gets more time with so many weapons such as Mike Evans and Chris Goodwin. He might be a sneaky backup option if you’re looking for a QB in the late part of the draft. Baker will also be motivated as this might be his last chance to be a starter.

The post NFC South: Biggest Fantasy Sleepers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Michael Thomas was singing “I’m back” – by T.I. after he impressively scored a pair of touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. In Week 2, Cantguardmike also notched a receiving touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Unfortunately, the 29-year-old WR transcended back to his prior injury-prone self — as he’s missed the past three games and he’s bound to miss the next contest, too. With that said, a realistic question should cloud over the egoistical, physically gifted WR: should the (2-4) Saints move on from Thomas?

It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Saints shipped him away to garner future draft picks (then potentially use those picks to select a QB or WR) and ultimately be more successful in the future. With that enunciated, I’m going to outline the best potential trade destinations for Thomas.

• Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens really need to seize the moment with Lamar Jackson, who is having a modest all-around 2022 season & looking to capture a new historical contract. Jackson was looking like a serious MVP candidate after a few weeks of football, but he’s only thrown one passing touchdown in each of his last three match-ups. The Ravens are 3-3 (which is surprisingly adequate enough to place them first in the AFC North), but they still need more firepower to win a war against the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2022 (aka the year that Avatar 2 hits theaters), Jackson has thrown for 1,277 passing yards, 13 passing TDs, and six ints.

• New York Giants

The GMEN (who are 5-1, yes you read that correctly) are undoubtedly the biggest surprise team on the season & they’re undeniably making Frank Sinatra smile from above. However, I’m still iffy about their chances to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the end. They have a quality QB named Daniel Jones and a freakishly gifted RB by the name of Saquon Barkley. Yet, they’re missing a top-end WR1, to say the least. Richie James is proving to be a potential 1,000+ yard WR in his career, but he isn’t a game-wrecker. It should also be mentioned that Barkley is second in receiving yards and first in targets.

Danny Dimes has unveiled 1,021 passing yds, five passing TDs, and two ints in 2022. He has recorded three games with zero passing TDs.

• Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears may not want to completely throw in the towel on the Justin Fields project this early in his career. Similar to Lamar Jackson and Taysom Hill, Justin Fields can excel with his legs. Although, he’s obviously struggled mightily to be effective with his arm. There is a hefty reason why Fields has struggled to be a threat with his arm: the lack of talent at the Bears WR spot. The Bears have a modest WR in Darnell Mooney, but the Bears WR2 is none other than Dante Pettis (874 yards in five seasons). Perhaps the Bears should roll the dice and make an offer for the Saints illustrious WR.

Fields has only managed to toss 869 passing yds, four passing TDs, and five ints in 2022.

• Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are riding high after winning three of their past four contests. I love Matt Ryan, Jonathan Taylor, and the ascending Deon Jackson. Furthermore, they have potential at WR with Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce (210 yards and a TD in the past three games). Yet, it would make a ton of sense for them to add a wiser WR — who could also give their team a significant boost in their likely playoff fights. Matty Ice would also like a shiny toy to help his Hall of Fame chances at this chapter in his career.

Matt Ryan has unveiled 1,765 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, and 7 interceptions this season.

• Green Bay Packers

It may seem like hell will freeze over before the Green Bay Packers make a blockbuster trade for a wideout. All jokes aside, the Packers desperately need a WR at this moment more than ever. The two-time MVP reigning Aaron Rodgers can’t be a John Wick-like persona without talent at his disposal. It’s an injustice to the Packers mythical QB that Allen Lazard is his top choice and that the 32-year-old Randall Cobb is his second-most reliable option. Burning Man Rodgers and his crew were also booed at their own home after their brutal loss to the New York Jets. It’s time for the Packers to make a creative, bold move to acquire a star profile, preferably at WR.

Aaron Rodgers has yet to throw more than two touchdowns in a single game thus far, too.

• Houston Texans

The Houston Texans understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they still can’t shy away from being trigger-happy with acquiring household names. The Texans possess an unexpected stud with Dameon Pierce (412 rushing yds, 4.8 YPC, and three rushing touchdowns) right now. The Texans already have former Saints WR Brandin Cooks (2,187 receiving yards and 12 TDs between 2020 and 2021 combined), but they could benefit from another imposing wideout. It would be a beautiful chair for potentially C.J. Stroud if he could utilize Cooks and Thomas in the same offense.

Davis Mills has registered 1,048 passing yds, five passing TDs, and four ints at this point.

• Tennessee Titans

The AFC South features the (3-2) Tennessee Titans and the (3-2) Indianapolis Colts. The two AFC South squads will duke it out for the division lead next Sunday at 1 PM, as well. Ryan Tannehill doesn’t have the most dynamite at their WR spot – besides Robert Woods. The Titans WR2 is none other than Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The Titans 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks is still improving his craft and hasn’t quite risen to become a Chris Olave-like presence. The Titans may want to capitalize off the remaining strength of Derrick Henry by bringing in another star to chase Super Bowl glory in the near future.

Tanny has accumulated 965 passing yards, six passing TDs, and three ints in his 2022 campaign.

• Dallas Cowboys

It’s impossible to count out Jerry Jones from making a lucrative acquisition. At this point, Michael Gallup has been a dud (8 catches, 86 yards, and a TD). The Boys could benefit from more magic across the young, electric Ceedee Lamb. Plus, Prescott would be quite pleased to have Thomas in his arsenal against the possible dynasty squad in Philadelphia.

The mighty Dak Prescott plans to return in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions.

• Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson hasn’t made Tony Gonzalez or Denver Broncos nation delighted in 2022. Furthermore, the Broncos sit with a 2-3 record — which places them third in the wretched AFC West. The Broncos showcase Courtland Sutton & Jerry Jeudy, but they lost Tim Patrick to a torn ACL in early August. Perhaps the Broncos may resort to bringing forth a fresh WR face to help Wilson than rather flip to Brett Rypien.

Wilson the ball has obtained 1,254 passing yards, four passing TDs, and three ints this season.

• Washington Commanders

If Ron Rivera wants to place the blame on his QB Carson Wentz, he should at least contemplate finding him more help on offense. The Commanders have scary Terry, but they could benefit from more WR talent. Jahan Dotson is still learning the speed of the NFL level & Curtis Samuel is more of a jack-of-all-trades than a 1,000+ yard WR. The last key reason that Washington may want to link up with the 2019 Offensive Player of The Year is that they sit behind the best team in the NFL (Philadelphia Eagles), the 5-1 New York Giants, and the 4-2 Dallas Cowboys (who will welcome Prescott back in Week 7).

Wentz has thrown 1,489 passing yds, 10 passing TDs, and six ints this 2022 season. Per CBS Sports, Wentz’s status for Week 7 is up in the air – due to his broken finger.

The post Potential trade destinations for Michael Thomas appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

Week 5 was quite intense and even chaotic, to say the least. There was also more clarity of ability from countless figures in fantasy football. With that said, I’m going to take a sharp, unique angle by untwining five flex players to move on from entering Week 6.

Terry McLaurin

Terry simply hasn’t been scary as of late. Terry McLaurin inked a hefty contract extension this past off-season, but he has only notched 326 receiving yards & a mere one touchdown grab (which is really disappointing) in 2022. McLaurin ranks 31st in the league and second on the team (behind Curtis Samuel) in targets at this moment. In dynasty leagues, his situation with Carson Wentz and his 1-4 squad shouldn’t also be deemed sexy.

Michael Thomas

The injury-prone Michael Thomas can be a borderline 1,000+ yard WR, but I don’t love his ability to be an elite wideout with Chris Olave really climbing the ladder and his QB situation (with Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston) being a bit of a mess. Winston has only thrown four touchdowns to five interceptions & he’s missed each of the past two contests. It’s fair to elaborate that Thomas could be unreliable in chapters of this 2022 season, as he’s usually been MIA over the past two years.

David Montgomery

The Chicago Bears don’t have the most powerful offense led by Justin Fields. Although, they’ve witnessed star power from Khalil Herbert (328 rushing yds, 3 rushing TDs, and 5.8 YPC). Herbert’s rise to fame also means that Montgomery is more expendable. Montgomery has had a less-than-favorable 179 rushing yards (with nine catches for 100 yards). He’s also had injury issues already, too. It may be wise to ship out the Bears RB that hasn’t quite risen to become a Pro Bowl player.

Brandon Aiyuk

The San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk isn’t looking like he will catch up to the speed that Deebo Samuel yields with Jimmy G. Aiyuk is projected to have 806 yards and a mere three touchdowns by ESPN. He’s currently 50th in the league in targets. It may be worth shipping him away to a 49ers faithful, especially in a dynasty league.

Robbie Anderson

Matt Rhule was axed from his squad and it also might be time to give up on Robbie Anderson, too. Anderson has five catches in the past three games & a whopping one touchdown on the season. It’s clear that the once 1,000+ yard WR in Carolina is a shell of himself right now.

The post 5 flex players to sell right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Thursday Night Football showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers on NFL Network Amazon last night was more intense than Nik Wallenda on a tightrope. The Chiefs were losing by ten points early in the first quarter, but they marched back to go up 10 points in the second half. Justin Herbert was able to find Josh Palmer for a touchdown with 1:11 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. It almost appeared that the Chargers were going to recover their onside kick after KC muffled it, but the Chiefs were able to retain possession and have a kneel down to defeat their archnemesis.

With that said, the rest of the Week 2 slate of games is around the corner. Well, I’m going to take a fun angle by untwining several bold predictions for Week 2.

• The Steelers win by 21+ points

In Week 2 – I feel the T.J. Watt-less Pittsburgh Steelers, who are coming off a very impressive Week 1 upset against the Cincinnati Bengals, will blow out one of the biggest losers of Week 1: the New England Patriots. The Steelers WRs (Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson) can certainly give the Pats secondary fits. Furthermore, I don’t love Mac Jones’s chances against a red-hot Mikah Fitzpatrick. I predict the Steelers team that miraculously made the playoffs a season ago will steamroll the young Mac Jones-led New England Patriots this weekend.

• The Saints have four interceptions on Tom Brady

It isn’t a secret that Tom Brady has really struggled against the New Orleans Saints. Well, I believe TB12 will have a very difficult battle against the Saints team that added the Honey Badger, rookie Alontae Taylor, and Marcus Maye this off-season. Furthermore, Brady will have to face the extremely talented Saints secondary in the dome. I foresee Brady tossing four ints against the Saints defense.

• Saquon Barkley has 200+ rushing yards

Saquon Barkley was cooking in the GMEN’s first battle of the season. The weight room maniac unleashed 18 attempts for 164 rushing yds and a TD in Week 1. He will have his second chance to prove he’s back in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. CAR forfeited a whopping 141 rushing yds to Nick Chubb in Week 1. I expect Barkley to pick up more steam, be leaned on a bit more than a week ago, and register 200+ rushing yards on Sunday. The NYG, aka the Barkley show, can actually be 2-0 soon.

• Aidan Hutchinson picks up 2+ sacks

I still believe that Aidan Hutchinson has a strong chance to win DROY. He had a terrific off-season, but he wasn’t quite able to make his mark in Week 1. I believe Hutch will be chomping at the bit to get his first career sack against Carson Wentz — who was sacked by 2022 first overall pick Travon Walker last week. Hutch will also recognize that DET needs him to show out this Sunday to prevent his squad from starting 0-2 for the second straight season — which spells a terrific Week 2 performance for him in my opinion.

• The Colts beat the Jaguars by 21+ points

I really liked the Colts and Jaguars entering the 2022 season. Well, both AFC South squads fell flat in their 2022 showcase. I anticipate an angry, gifted QB-RB duo on the Colts leading them to stomp the less experienced Jaguars team in Week 2.

• The Minnesota Vikings beat the Eagles by 14+ points

I predicted the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC North in August. They impressively demolished A-Rod and the reigning NFC North Champions in Week 1. I expect the squad that has a dark horse OPOY candidate in Justin Jefferson to continue their rampage against a likely playoff squad in the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.

• Michael Thomas has two touchdowns

I was beyond worried that Jameis Winston was missing Sean Payton and the Saints would have growing pains this season during the first three-quarters of the Saints-Falcons contest. Out of nowhere — Michael Thomas erupted and dominated his opponent (A.J. Terrell) in the contest. He hauled in numerous touchdowns in the fourth quarter. I believe Winston will continue his red-hot chemistry with the 2019 OPOY Michael Thomas by connecting w/ Cantguardmike a couple of more times in the dome this weekend.

The post 7 bold predictions for Week 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints illustrious wide receiver Michael Thomas won Offensive Rookie of The Year in 2019 (w/ a record-setting 149 receptions, 1,725 yards, and 9 touchdowns) and was the top fantasy wideout by over an astronomical 100 points. Gary Davenport of B/R even nicely noted that Thomas was well-rounded in fantasy in 2018. Gary stated, “In 2018, Thomas was first in the league in receptions (125), sixth in receiving yards (1,405), 10th in touchdowns (nine), and sixth in fantasy PPR points. After the year that the “Amazon burned”, he transcended into a ghost. MT played in a mere seven games in 2020 and then was called out by Stephen A for having surgery late in the 2021 off-season and missing the entire 2021 season.

With that said, Cantguardmike is healthy, hell-bent on finding gold, and he’s playing with an underrated signal-caller in Jameis Winston. I really believe that Thomas is undervalued by countless analysts and that he is honestly poised to be a Pro Bowl-caliber WR in 2022. Fantasy Pros pegged Thomas as the 32nd best wideout right now — which is behind Darnell Mooney, Elijah Moore, and Adam Thielen.

The healthy Saints WR1 has been utterly electric in training camp as of late. Nick Underhill of NOF noted how Thomas was impressive on Day 1 and Day 2 of training camp. Winston won’t only be focusing on MT on short and intermediate routes, but Winston can make more magic happen than even the 2019 version of Drew Brees with Thomas’s deep running ability.

The Saints may not have Drew Brees or Sean Payton, but they still have the offensive master-mind, Pete Carmichael (who has been with the Saints since 2019). Carmichael understands the quick passing concepts for MT, how to get him the pig-skin in space, and his best situations against divisional foes. Carmichael has been one of the most underappreciated and mysterious profiles in the league over the past decade.

Thomas has shined while playing injured w/ Taysom Hill at QB. Although, it’s quite safe to say that Who Dat Nation is happy that he’s back to 100% and playing with a mega-arm, healthy QB. He has stated that he is “very confident” that he will return to being a cream of the crop WR moving forward. The Saints highly motivated and gifted WR is set to be a FA in 2025.

The post Why Michael Thomas is a fantasy sleeper in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints wide receiver room wasn’t imposing by any means last season. The former OPOY winner Michael Thomas didn’t even touch the field, so the Saints were essentially left to lean on young, undeveloped wideouts to scrape for prominence in the Drew Brees-less era. Marquez Callaway led the Saints in receiving yards last season with 698 yards. With that stated, I believe the Saints should feel a lot more confident with their shiny WR room in 2022.

Cantguardmike is finally healthy and seeking vengeance. The Saints traded up to draft another Ohio State WR in Chris Olave. Olave ran an official 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. If fans were excited about Winston’s ability to connect with the speed-demon Deonte Harris (who had 15.8 YPC), they will be blown away by how productive the explosive and smooth rookie should be with defenses focused on MT.

The Saints also brought Jarvis Landry back home this off-season. Landry made five straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2019. He wasn’t a quality WR amid the demise of Baker Mayfield last season, but he did oust 72 receptions and 840 yds in 2020. He also earned a superb 84.1 grade by PFF in 2020. The 29-year-old can certainly be an elite slot weapon for at least a couple of more seasons.

It’s obvious that the Saints have a fantastic WR trio and they should feel comfortable with their WR4 and WR5 that had their feet wet last season. Furthermore, I believe the Saints easily have the most underrated WR group in the league.

Thomas may be an unpopular figure on Twitter, but he is capable of being the WR that averaged roughly 86 yards per game with Taysom Hill on a four-game stretch at the very least. He may not have the most accurate QB in NFL history, but Winston will offer positives (such as arm strong) that weren’t available with Brees. Nick Underhill, who is a whiz of Saints coverage, boldly stated that a healthy MT could be the best thing that’s happened to the Saints this off-season.

I really believe the fact that MT is disrespected hinders the Saints WR group ranking. PFF ranked the Saints WR room as the 14th best WR unit (after the likes of Denver and Seattle). Yardbarker had a slightly more optimistic angle than PFF — as they pegged the Saints WR group as the 8th best WR group. I believe a logical place for the Saints WR group is around the 5th spot. I believe Thomas, who has made positive strides throughout the off-season, to be healthy and a consistent top-tier play-maker. Most importantly, I do expect that the Saints have a strong game plan for the OSU WR that was traded up for. I expect the combination of the ceiling of MT and Olave with a reliable Landry to honestly unveil to be at least a Top-5 WR unit in 2022.

The post Do the Saints have the most underrated WR group? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.