The Carolina Panthers will face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Adam Thielen.
Is Adam Thielen Playing in Week 16?
The oldest wide receiver in the league continues to receive Wednesdays off from practice. Thielen is fine and is fully expected to suit up this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Panthers’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Adam Thielen in Week 16?
Jalen Coker (quad) returned to action last week, and that means we are splitting a slot role that was fringe-worthy in the first place in terms of my confidence.
If Bryce Young is going to develop, I’d expect a very well-thought-out plan of attack down the stretch of this season, something like what we saw on his first 10 passes last week:
- Jalen Coker: Three targets (two catches for 19 yards)
- Chuba Hubbard: Three targets (three catches for 16 yards)
- Xavier Legette: Two targets (two catches for seven yards)
- Thielen: Two targets (one catch for five yards)
I’m not confident at all in the hierarchy of targets in Carolina to close this season, nor am I confident in Young paying off those targets with fantasy points. I’d hang onto Thielen with a plus schedule the rest of the way, but I’m doing so with very little in the way of expectations.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 16 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Adam Thielen’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 16
As of Sunday morning, Thielen is projected to score 11.5 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 4.3 receptions for 46.7 yards and 0.4 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Adam Thielen’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 11:45 PM ET on Saturday, January 25.
Conference Championship WR PPR Rankings
1) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. WAS)
2) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at PHI)
3) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. WAS)
4) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at KC)
5) Xavier Worthy | KC (vs. BUF)
6) Hollywood Brown | KC (vs. BUF)
7) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (vs. BUF)
8) Keon Coleman | BUF (at KC)
9) Dyami Brown | WAS (at PHI)
10) Mack Hollins | BUF (at KC)
11) Amari Cooper | BUF (at KC)
12) Curtis Samuel | BUF (at KC)
13) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (at PHI)
14) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (vs. BUF)
15) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. WAS)
16) Jamison Crowder | WAS (at PHI)
17) Luke McCaffrey | WAS (at PHI)
18) Justin Watson | KC (vs. BUF)
19) Johnny Wilson | PHI (vs. WAS)
20) Parris Campbell | PHI (vs. WAS)
21) Nikko Remigio | KC (vs. BUF)
22) Ainias Smith | PHI (vs. WAS)