I generally don’t have an issue investing in older players in fantasy football, as their age is baked into their asking price, and their demise is often overestimated.
Adam Thielen’s dynasty value improved slightly in 2023, with him generating over 100 catches in Bryce Young’s first season. However, the worries that were present this time last year remain — Thielen’s an aging receiver in a rebuilding offense.
Adam Thielen’s Dynasty Outlook
Thielen was a top-20 receiver in five of his first six games with the Carolina Panthers, a run that included three top-five finishes at the position. He was Young’s safety blanket, seeing at least eight targets in each of those top-20 finishes and catching exactly 11 balls in each of those top-five performances.
Big-time play here by #Panthers rookie Bryce Young 😮💨
The No. 1 overall pick with the escape act and DIME to Adam Thielen #KeepPounding
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 29, 2023
Things went sideways in a hurry once defenses latched onto what Young was/wasn’t comfortable doing. They game-planned around limiting Thielen’s impact on the game, and thus, he was held without a top-25 finish for the final seven weeks of the season.
So what can we expect in 2024 and beyond? Could Thielen’s slow finish create a buying window for competitive teams just looking for a Flex upgrade?
MORE: Fantasy Impact of Dave Canales Hire on Bryce Young, Adam Thielen, and Jonathan Mingo
I’d be careful. Thielen has seen his yards per catch decline in four straight seasons, and after scoring 10 times on 67 catches in 2021, he has 10 scores on 173 catches in the two seasons since.
Counting on an increase in scoring opportunities isn’t a stance I’m willing to take for a player entering his age-34 season on an offense ranked dead last in scoring and red-zone trips.
I’m not yet selling my stock in Young as a QB of the future, but it seems safe to say that he is more project than prodigy. That makes a past-his-prime receiver an awfully tough sell as anything more than lineup depth.
Thielen’s Dynasty Ranking
Where does Thielen land in the dynasty WR landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Soppe’s latest rankings, featuring where Thielen lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
2) Justin Jefferson | MIN
3) Tyreek Hill | MIA
4) CeeDee Lamb | DAL
5) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
6) A.J. Brown | PHI
7) Garrett Wilson | NYJ
8) Jaylen Waddle | MIA
9) Chris Olave | NO
10) Tee Higgins | CIN
11) Brandon Aiyuk | SF
12) Puka Nacua | LAR
13) DJ Moore | CHI
14) Nico Collins | HOU
15) Rashee Rice | KC
16) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND
17) Amari Cooper | CLE
18) Cooper Kupp | LAR
19) DeVonta Smith | PHI
20) DK Metcalf | SEA
21) Zay Flowers | BAL
22) Drake London | ATL
23) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA
24) Davante Adams | LV
25) Mike Evans | TB
26) Tank Dell | HOU
27) Jayden Reed | GB
28) Deebo Samuel | SF
29) Calvin Ridley | JAX
30) Stefon Diggs | BUF
31) Jordan Addison | MIN
32) Keenan Allen | LAC
33) Terry McLaurin | WAS
34) George Pickens | PIT
35) Chris Godwin | TB
36) Josh Downs | IND
37) Gabe Davis | BUF
38) Michael Wilson | ARI
39) Jameson Williams | DET
40) Elijah Moore | CLE
41) Romeo Doubs | GB
42) Jerry Jeudy | DEN
43) Christian Kirk | JAX
44) Diontae Johnson | PIT
45) DeAndre Hopkins | TEN
46) Khalil Shakir | BUF
47) Joshua Palmer | LAC
48) Jahan Dotson | WAS
49) Courtland Sutton | DEN
50) Jakobi Meyers | LV
51) Treylon Burks | TEN
52) Christian Watson | GB
53) Marquise Brown | ARI
54) Mike Williams | LAC
55) Tyler Lockett | SEA
56) Zay Jones | JAX
57) Jonathan Mingo | CAR
58) Quentin Johnston | LAC
59) Jalin Hyatt | NYG
60) Noah Brown | HOU
61) Tutu Atwell | LAR
62) Michael Thomas | NO
63) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN
64) Kendrick Bourne | NE
65) Adam Thielen | CAR
66) Cedric Tillman | CLE
67) Rashid Shaheed | NO
68) Brandin Cooks | DAL
69) Trey Palmer | TB
70) Darius Slayton | NYG
71) Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG
72) Darnell Mooney | CHI
73) Kadarius Toney | KC
74) Rashod Bateman | BAL
75) John Metchie III | HOU
76) Rondale Moore | ARI
77) Skyy Moore | KC
78) Donovan Peoples-Jones | DET
79) Alec Pierce | IND
80) Mecole Hardman Jr. | KC
Should You Trade Thielen in Dynasty?
Are you considering trading Thielen? Our free PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trade offer to make in seconds!
I’m selling Thielen for almost anything I can get right now, as I believe his stock is only going to drop with time. His production last season wasn’t fluky, but the ceiling is lower than I want from a player with a terrifying floor (under 45 receiving yards in seven of 10 games to conclude 2023).
KEEP READING: Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart
It should be noted that Thielen’s best days in Minnesota not only came when he was at a different point on the age curve, but also while he was playing Robin to either Stefon Diggs’ or Justin Jefferson’s Batman.
As the featured receiver on a limited offense, Thielen’s path to helping your fantasy team is littered with landmines. The most help that I think Thielen can provide you is in the current trade market, while memories of his 103-catch season are still top of mind for your opponents.
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