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Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency. The veteran wide receiver signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
The former Minnesota State receiver had a limited role over the first two years in the NFL, totaling only 20 receptions on 31 targets for 281 yards and one touchdown. However, Thielen had a productive 2016 season. He had 69 receptions on 92 targets for 967 receiving yards and five touchdowns that year. Yet, that was only the beginning for the young player.
Thielen had a breakout season in 2017, totaling 91 receptions on 142 targets for 1,276 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Furthermore, he made his first Pro Bowl that year. The star receiver would become a fantasy star. Over the next three years, Thielen averaged 13.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
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What Did Adam Thielen Accomplish In 2022?
However, the star receiver has regressed over the past few years. After averaging 13.8 fantasy points per game from 2018-2020, Thielen averaged only 10.4 fantasy points per game the past two seasons.
However, the veteran receiver remains one of the best wide receivers at finding the end zone. The former undrafted free agent has 45 receiving touchdowns over the past five years. Last season Thielen had six touchdowns, the second-most on the team.
Unfortunately, the Vikings had to release Thielen earlier this offseason because of salary cap troubles. While the veteran receiver isn’t a superstar anymore, he has plenty of gas left in the tank.
Is Adam Thielen A Good Fit With The Panthers?
On Sunday, the Panthers signed the former undrafted free agent to a three-year contract worth $25 million. Carolina got a steal, as Thielen will earn less than Jakobi Meyers and JuJu Smith-Schuster despite accomplishing more in his career than those two wide receivers.
Landing with the Panthers was excellent for Thielen’s fantasy value. The team traded DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears as part of the trade to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Therefore, Thielen will step in as the No. 1 wide receiver on the team next year. For reference, Moore has averaged 133.5 targets per season over the past four years, seeing at least 118 every season.
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