Michael Thomas
31-Year-Old
Free Agent
Questionable
Injury Knee
Est. Return 6/15/2024
2023 Receiving Stats
REC
39
YDS
448
TD
1
AVG
11.5
TAR
64
2024 Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Injuries, and now age, are the main narratives when discussing Thomas. After playing just 10 games in the three seasons that concluded in 2022, Thomas was on the field for 10 games in 2023. In his first eight games, the receiver was very consistent. Thomas posted between 42 and 68 yards in each of those games. He wasn’t the superstar we remembered. However, Thomas was productive. During the Week 10 game, Thomas injured his knee and missed the rest of the season. At this point of his career, he’s a possession receiver with little ability after the catch. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Hits free agency
Thomas (knee) became a free agent after the Saints designated him as a post-June 1 cut, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
ANALYSIS
Under the terms of his contract, Thomas was technically signed beyond 2024, but he had some unusual bonuses attached to his deal that enabled the Saints to cut him loose. He's now free to sign with any team, but it's unclear how much of a market there might be for a 31-year-old wideout who has missed significant time over the past four seasons. A knee injury cost Thomas the final seven games of the 2023 campaign, but it's unclear where he currently stands in his recovery.
Under the terms of his contract, Thomas was technically signed beyond 2024, but he had some unusual bonuses attached to his deal that enabled the Saints to cut him loose. He's now free to sign with any team, but it's unclear how much of a market there might be for a 31-year-old wideout who has missed significant time over the past four seasons. A knee injury cost Thomas the final seven games of the 2023 campaign, but it's unclear where he currently stands in his recovery.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Michael Thomas' 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Air Yards Per Game
61.1Air Yards Per Snap
1.28% Team Air Yards
12.9%% Team Targets
11.0%Avg Depth of Target
9.5 YdsCatch Rate
60.9%Drop Rate
4.7%Avg Yds After Catch
2.8% Targeted On Route
20.6%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2023 NFL Game Log
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Michael Thomas lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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2023 Michael Thomas Split Stats
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could become FA for first time
Katherine Terrell of ESPN believes the Saints will likely try to move on from Thomas in the offseason, allowing him to become a free agent for the first time in his career.
ANALYSIS
The Saints must re-work Thomas' contract before the third day of the 2024 league year to avoid massive roster bonuses, at which point he will either be given a new contract or become a free agent. Terrell believes the latter scenario is more likely due to Thomas' lack of availability in recent years, as he has played in only 20 games over the last four seasons. The wide receiver, who will turn 31 in March, finished the 2023 season on injured reserve due to a knee injury.
The Saints must re-work Thomas' contract before the third day of the 2024 league year to avoid massive roster bonuses, at which point he will either be given a new contract or become a free agent. Terrell believes the latter scenario is more likely due to Thomas' lack of availability in recent years, as he has played in only 20 games over the last four seasons. The wide receiver, who will turn 31 in March, finished the 2023 season on injured reserve due to a knee injury.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Thomas came back from his two-year battle with an ankle injury to post 171 yards and three TDs in the first three weeks of 2022, only to then miss the rest of the season with an unrelated toe injury that required surgery. He revealed in late March that he still wasn't fully recovered, but he took a pay cut to stay with the Saints and both he and coach Dennis Allen have said the 30-year-old should be ready for Week 1. But he seemingly stands lower on the totem pole after the team got impressive rookie seasons last year from first-round pick Chris Olave and undrafted free-agent Rashid Shaheed. The latter might not matter so much to Thomas if he's truly healthy, but Olave is probably the favorite to lead the team in targets regardless of anyone's health. New QB Derek Carr should be an upgrade for the team, though not so much for Thomas given that he's played only three games since Drew Brees' retirement. As much as the WR1 days are almost certainly gone, Thomas did enough last September to create hope that he's not totally done as a contributor and above-average starter.
More Fantasy News
Will be cut soon
The Saints plan to release Thomas (knee) soon, Jeff Duncan of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Tallies 39 catches in 10 games
Thomas (knee) caught 39 of 64 targets for 448 yards and one touchdown in 10 games during the 2023 season.
ANALYSIS
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Not ready to practice
Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Thomas (knee) isn't ready to return to practice, Sean Fazende of Fox 8 New Orleans reports.
ANALYSIS
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Not practicing
Thomas (knee) isn't practicing Wednesday, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
ANALYSIS
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Week 17 return unlikely
Saints head coach Dennis Allen was non-committal Tuesday about Thomas' (knee) status for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay, though the expectation is that the wideout won't practice this week, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
ANALYSIS
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