Adam Thielen should not be an NFL team’s WR1 at this point in his career. Yet, that’s what he was erroneously asked to do last season. No longer in that role, playing alongside rookie Tetairoa McMillan, can Thielen provide fantasy football managers something useful at a very cheap cost in 2025?
Should You Draft Adam Thielen in Fantasy?
Do you know how many active wide receivers there are over 35 years old? The answer is one. The most amazing part about Thielen is that he’s not just on a roster taking up space like late-career Marcedes Lewis. He’s actually able to contribute still.
Of course, Thielen is not the same high-end receiver he was during his prime in Minnesota. From 2017-2021, Thielen averaged at least 15.0Â fantasy points per game in all but one season (a down 2019 that saw him post 11.4 PPG).
When Thielen’s production fell to 10.6 PPG in 2022, it looked like the beginning of the end. It was his ninth season, and he was 32 years old, at which point we frequently see top receivers start to decline.
Then, in 2023, something strange happened at 33 years old: Thielen bounced back. It didn’t happen randomly, either. A distinct change in Thielen’s usage enabled him to extend his career. As has been the case for many greats before him, Thielen moved into the slot.
Adam Thielen is the oldest active WR in the league. Watch him take care of business last season 💼@athielen19 | @Panthers pic.twitter.com/yV4oXMZYvp
— NFL (@NFL) June 6, 2025
In 2022, Thielen ran 21.5% of his routes from the slot. In 2023, that spiked to 61.4%. He led the league in total routes run from the slot. While Thielen no longer possesses the physical ability to win consistently on the outside, he is still a very smart player with capable hands who knows how to find holes in zone coverage. He averaged 13.6 PPG, making him one of the better values in fantasy in 2023.
Of course, this didn’t shield Thielen from being an afterthought once again in 2024. He was 34 years old. The last time we saw a 34-year-old post an impactful fantasy season was Larry Fitzgerald in 2017, averaging 16.2 PPG.
Credit to Fitz. He was still fantasy relevant at ages 35 and 36, posting 11.5 and 11.5 PPG in 2018 and 2019. In a best-case scenario, that is probably what we’re hoping to see from Thielen this season.
Last year, Thielen averaged 14.0 PPG, finishing as the overall WR27. He spent even more time in the slot, with a 72.8% rate. Even though the fantasy output was better than the previous year, Thielen saw a drop in target share to just 20.2%. However, his yards per route run bumped up to an elite 2.65, fifth in the league.
Thielen may still be good, as long as he’s in this slot role. That makes the arrival of Tetairoa McMillan not necessarily a bad thing.
Of course, increased target competition from talented players is not exactly good. But it’s not as if anyone, including Thielen himself, sees him as an NFL WR1 at this point in his career. Target competition only becomes a problem if it creates a squeeze.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
The Panthers don’t have a clear second option in the passing game behind McMillan. Thielen will compete with Xavier Legette, who I believe to be a bust, and 2024 UDFA Jalen Coker.
Whether Legette or Coker wins the primary Z receiver role (it should be Coker), Thielen’s slot role should be safe. Additionally, the Panthers used 11 personnel 72.6% of the time last season, the fifth-highest rate in the league. Thielen will be on the field plenty.
There is no scenario where Thielen is a league winner in fantasy. But unless this is the year he completely loses his ability to play football, he will probably outperform his WR64 average draft position (ADP).
As a reminder, from Weeks 12-18, Bryce Young posted games of 16.5, 23.6, 13.5, 14.0, 27.1, 16.9, and 36.4 fantasy points. That’s 21 PPG: QB1 numbers. If he does that again, it’s hard to imagine Thielen not at least being a viable WR4/Flex play.
I have Thielen ranked as my WR66, so it’s not like I’m high on him. However, when deciding on players this far down the rankings, the decision becomes far less linear. You don’t just take the highest-ranked guy. You take the player that fits your team’s needs.
If you’ve drafted a volatile roster and need something safe, Thielen could be your guy. He will almost certainly outperform younger, less-proven guys ranked above him. They’re above him, though, because they offer a higher upside than a declining 35-year-old. If you need safety, Thielen should have one more year left.
Frank Ammirante’s Adam Thielen Fantasy Projection
Adam Thielen is a dependable veteran who just put up 48 receptions for 615 yards and five touchdowns in only 10 games. He’s now averaged 60 yards per game in each of his two seasons with the Panthers.
With first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan joining the team this year, we can expect a decrease in targets for Thielen this season. There’s also not much upside in the veteran, but you’re still getting a decent floor in a proven producer.
The best spot to target Thielen is in Best Ball leagues, where you don’t have to decide on the right time to start him. The ideal build for Thielen is if you waited on wide receiver and need some late-round production to keep your WR room afloat.
As for redraft leagues, I’d only target Thielen if it’s a full-PPR format with a deep bench. For more shallow formats, I’m looking at rookie wideouts with higher upside or handcuff running backs at Thielen’s ADP. This is the type of player who will be available on waivers in those types of leagues.
