The WR3/Flex decision this week is of the utmost importance, and many factors should come into play. Let’s find out if you should be trotting Denver Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy or New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas out into your fantasy football lineups this week.
Jerry Jeudy Fantasy Outlook This Week
The trade buzz surrounding Jeudy went all the way to head coach Sean Payton and permeated through the fantasy and NFL community. Yet, even with all that uncertainty, Jeudy has quietly put himself into a vital role on this Broncos offense.
Jeudy is averaging 3.3 catches for 42.7 yards and 0.33 touchdowns per game over the last three performances and is earning a substantial 25% target share.
Please make no mistake, though. Denver is currently struggling but they have a favorable matchup against Buffalo this week when it comes to fantasy football. Additionally, their game plan is likely to require more passing, as they will probably be behind for most of the game. This means that the Broncos’ WRs could be good options to consider for your fantasy team.
In the PFN Consensus Rankings, we have Jeudy ranked as the WR37 this week. I personally see him as a strong WR3 against the Bills with an upside.
Michael Thomas Fantasy Outlook This Week
It was not that long ago that Thomas was the undisputed fantasy WR1 on the planet. But now he has Derek Carr instead of Drew Brees, and his ankle and toe surgeries did not go as planned.
Thomas can still get it done in the right scenarios but is currently nursing a new injury. Going into last week, Thomas was coming off back-to-back seven-target performances but goosed us (zero points) last week with only one target. Thomas looks like he was not fully healthy last week and was more of a decoy for the Saints.
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With that goose, Thomas has averaged 2.3 catches for 36.7 yards and 0.33 touchdowns over the last three games. He has put up a paltry 13.2% target share over that span.
This week’s matchup against the Vikings is difficult, with Minnesota rankings 13th against wide receivers in fantasy. In the PFN Consensus Rankings, we have Thomas ranked one spot ahead of Jeudy at WR36. However, I don’t see him as playable unless we see him healthy — at least his version of healthy — first.
Should You Start Jeudy or Thomas This Week?
With two players so closely ranked, it can be challenging to pick between them. No one would be surprised if either player had 100 yards and a TD or one catch for three yards.
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Jeudy is the player to start. His projected 9.9 points include a projection of 3.2 receptions, 46.9 yards, and 0.3 touchdowns. That doesn’t seem like a big stat line, but it outperforms the consensus projection for Thomas (9.6 points).
My ranking for these receivers aligns with the consensus as I see Jeudy as more dependable and healthy. I would not personally start Thomas until I see him back on the field as the No. 3 or 4 option behind Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara, and possibly Taysom Hill.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!