Few players were hotter to start the season than Carolina Panthers WR Adam Thielen. After a dismal Week 1, Thielen posted elite WR1 numbers from Weeks 2-8. Over his past two games, though, he’s come crashing back down to earth. Can fantasy football managers bank on early-season Thielen returning? Or is he now unstartable?
Adam Thielen’s Rest-of-Season Outlook
From Weeks 2-8, Thielen never scored fewer than 15.2 fantasy points. He also saw at least eight targets in every game and caught at least seven passes. Thielen was a volume monster, and, as we know, volume is king in fantasy football.
Over the past two weeks, Thielen’s volume has taken a hit. He saw just six targets in Week 9 and nine in this one. His 6-42 line was serviceable for fantasy managers but nowhere near what we’ve come to expect.
A big part of the issue is Bryce Young’s poor play. It’s obviously far too early to throw out words like “bust,” but the first overall pick just lost to a UDFA who went to a D-II school. The Panthers are not going to bench Young, but Thielen would be far better off if Andy Dalton took over.
MORE: Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart Week 10
Going forward, Carolina’s schedule isn’t bad. The Panthers get two cupcake opponents in Weeks 12 and 13 (Titans, Buccaneers). Otherwise, it’s mostly average to below-average matchups. Thielen has proven capable of beating those before, but I’m not sure we can say the same about Young.
The time to sell Thielen was probably 2-3 weeks ago. Now, it might be too late. I will have no choice but to lower Thielen in my rest-of-season rankings, and he may very well fall outside the top 24.
Should You Trade Thielen?
Are you considering trading Thielen? Our PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trades to make in seconds! It also allows us to see trending searches, which we’ve compiled a few of the most popular below.
Should You Trade Adam Thielen for Christian Kirk?
Thielen has undoubtedly been the better fantasy asset thus far. However, Christian Kirk is undoubtedly on the better offense with the better quarterback.
Both players are their respective teams’ WR1s. While Kirk’s volume hasn’t been anywhere near as good as Thielen’s, he’s been just as reliable, albeit with a lower ceiling. With that said, Thielen’s ceiling may not be what it once was. In fact, I don’t think it is.
Going forward, I trust Kirk more. If someone out there is still willing to value Thielen like a WR1, you might be able to get Kirk+ for him, which is a move I’d make.
Should You Trade Thielen for Tank Dell?
There couldn’t really be a worse time to try and sell Thielen for Tank Dell. Thielen is coming off two down performances, while Dell is coming off the best game of his young career, where he caught six of 11 targets for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Young may have gone first overall, but there’s no denying the guy drafted right after him has been the better quarterback. C.J. Stroud is far more capable of propping up Dell than Young is Thielen.
MORE: Buy Low, Sell High Week 10
Trading away Thielen to get Dell does feel very reactionary, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. I wouldn’t make this deal unless the Dell manager was willing to value Thielen higher than Dell. But if you can split Thielen into Dell and another usable asset, you should strongly consider it.
Should You Trade Thielen for Calvin Ridley?
This is a tough one for me. I’ve been pretty vocal about my feelings on Calvin Ridley this season. Suffice it to say, I’m not a fan, but that doesn’t mean he’s completely worthless.
At worst, Ridley is a viable WR3. There’s definitely a chance he’s better than Thielen from here on out. However, the first half has been so lopsided in Thielen’s favor.
I have a hard time believing Ridley is suddenly going to go from the guy behind Kirk in the target hierarchy to this massive volume guy. I expect him to remain very boom or bust.
Unless you think Thielen is legitimately going to be a 4-40 type guy the rest of the way, which is unstartable, I would stick with him over Ridley.
Week 10 Consensus WR Rankings
1) Stefon Diggs | BUF (vs. DEN)
2) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at LAC)
3) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN (vs. HOU)
4) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (vs. NYG)
5) Keenan Allen | LAC (vs. DET)
6) Adam Thielen | CAR (at CHI)
7) Mike Evans | TB (vs. TEN)
8) Chris Olave | NO (at MIN)
9) Terry McLaurin | WAS (vs. SEA)
10) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at NE)
11) Brandon Aiyuk | SF (at JAX)
12) Nico Collins | HOU (at CIN)
13) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at LV)
14) DK Metcalf | SEA (at WAS)
15) Christian Kirk | JAX (vs. SF)
16) DeAndre Hopkins | TEN (at TB)
17) Davante Adams | LV (vs. NYJ)
18) Diontae Johnson | PIT (vs. GB)
19) Deebo Samuel | SF (at JAX)
20) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. CAR)
21) Chris Godwin | TB (vs. TEN)
22) Amari Cooper | CLE (at BAL)
23) Tank Dell | HOU (at CIN)
24) Courtland Sutton | DEN (at BUF)
25) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at WAS)
26) Calvin Ridley | JAX (vs. SF)
27) Marquise Brown | ARI (vs. ATL)
28) Zay Flowers | BAL (vs. CLE)
29) Drake London | ATL (at ARI)
30) Jahan Dotson | WAS (vs. SEA)
31) Gabe Davis | BUF (vs. DEN)
32) Jakobi Meyers | LV (vs. NYJ)
33) George Pickens | PIT (vs. GB)
34) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. NO)
35) Demario Douglas | NE (vs. IND)
36) Jerry Jeudy | DEN (at BUF)
37) Michael Thomas | NO (at MIN)
38) Tyler Boyd | CIN (vs. HOU)
39) Romeo Doubs | GB (at PIT)
40) Rashid Shaheed | NO (at MIN)
41) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at WAS)
42) Christian Watson | GB (at PIT)
43) Jayden Reed | GB (at PIT)
44) Zay Jones | JAX (vs. SF)
45) Brandin Cooks | DAL (vs. NYG)
46) Elijah Moore | CLE (at BAL)
47) Darnell Mooney | CHI (vs. CAR)
48) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs. DEN)
49) Jonathan Mingo | CAR (at CHI)
50) Odell Beckham Jr. | BAL (vs. CLE)
51) Noah Brown | HOU (at CIN)
52) Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG (at DAL)
53) Rondale Moore | ARI (vs. ATL)
54) Quentin Johnston | LAC (vs. DET)
55) Michael Gallup | DAL (vs. NYG)
56) Josh Reynolds | DET (at LAC)
57) Darius Slayton | NYG (at DAL)
58) Allen Lazard | NYJ (at LV)
59) Jameson Williams | DET (at LAC)
60) JuJu Smith-Schuster | NE (vs. IND)
61) Donovan Peoples-Jones | DET (at LAC)
62) Jalin Hyatt | NYG (at DAL)
63) Rashod Bateman | BAL (vs. CLE)
64) Michael Wilson | ARI (vs. ATL)
65) Josh Downs | IND (at NE)
66) Jamison Crowder | WAS (vs. SEA)
67) Van Jefferson | ATL (at ARI)
68) Alec Pierce | IND (at NE)
69) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (at BUF)
70) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at TB)
71) Trey Palmer | TB (vs. TEN)
72) Brandon Powell | MIN (vs. NO)
73) Mack Hollins | ATL (at ARI)
74) KhaDarel Hodge | ATL (at ARI)
75) Robert Woods | HOU (at CIN)
76) Allen Robinson II | PIT (vs. GB)
77) Tee Higgins | CIN (vs. HOU)
78) Treylon Burks | TEN (at TB)
79) Curtis Samuel | WAS (vs. SEA)
80) Tyler Scott | CHI (vs. CAR)
81) Jake Bobo | SEA (at WAS)
82) Kyle Philips | TEN (at TB)
83) Nelson Agholor | BAL (vs. CLE)
84) Jalen Reagor | NE (vs. IND)
85) Hunter Renfrow | LV (vs. NYJ)
86) Derius Davis | LAC (vs. DET)
87) DJ Chark | CAR (at CHI)
88) K.J. Osborn | MIN (vs. NO)
89) Dyami Brown | WAS (vs. SEA)
90) Isaiah McKenzie | IND (at NE)
91) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. GB)
92) Cedric Tillman | CLE (at BAL)
93) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (vs. NYG)
94) Kalif Raymond | DET (at LAC)
95) Tre Tucker | LV (vs. NYJ)
96) Isaiah Hodgins | NYG (at DAL)
97) Deven Thompkins | TB (vs. TEN)
98) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at PIT)
99) Terrace Marshall Jr. | CAR (at CHI)
100) Jauan Jennings | SF (at JAX)
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 Start/Sit Optimizer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
