New Orleans Saints' very own Michael Thomas was once considered one of the best wide receivers to play in the NFL. His sticky hands allow him to beat any defender. His strength is something to be reckoned with. Most of all, he is a short route running master. Known as “slant boy” to many, he has the ability to make quick cuts and find open space. However, the status of a top-tier athlete has changed since September 2020.

During the first game of the 2020 NFL season, he suffered a high ankle sprain injury, which he recovered from in late 2016. After being sidelined for four games, Thomas was suspended for getting into a fight with one of his teammates. Then in October, he suffered a bad hamstring injury that put him out for several games. Finally, in week eight, he made his return. However, after only six games, he suffered another ankle injury. He would be sidelined for the rest of the year until the playoffs, where he couldn't be a difference-maker. In total, he amassed only 40 receptions and 438 yards. He was not able to haul in any touchdowns.

To put it quite nicely, the 2020-2021 NFL season was one to forget for Thomas. He wasn't able to follow up his remarkable 2019 season. His athleticism was put to a halt due to injury. However, his setbacks will continue. According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, he is “expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery to repair the ligaments in his ankle in June.” With no set return date, there is no telling when he will hit the field again. With that, his fantasy outlook does not look too bright.

2020 Fantasy Statistics with Saints

Thomas was one of the most disappointing players in fantasy football last year. Many drafted him in the first round, expecting him to recreate the magic, which was 2019. In total, he put up only 83.9 fantasy points. He never had any real remarkable games, with only four 10+ point games throughout the season.

Again, his lack of points was concerning. But there are multiple factors to his lackluster production. Besides injury, quarterback play is something that really affected his production. With a rotation of QB's that include Drew Bree's, Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston, none of them could make big plays to the Saints star wideout.

2021 Fantasy Projections

ESPN currently has Thomas putting up 874 yards, five touchdowns, and 70 receptions, amassing a decent 185.37 points. This seems like a reasonable statistic, as he is capable of producing when healthy. However, all of this will be hard to determine due to his unknown return date. If he can return at an earlier date, he should be able to produce even more. Even then, there is no clue if he will truly recover from his injury. Injuries can be difficult to recover from, and Thomas may never be the same player he once was. Nonetheless, no one should bet against him.

His stats could go up as well if Saints head coach Sean Payton finds a way to give him the ball 24/7. Slants are his true forte, and adding these routes to multiple plays could give the starting QB an unstoppable target. Even some other short routes like curls and drags should give him the chance to rack up the yardage and touchdowns. Another thing the team should focus on is making him a real threat in the endzone. His large body and proficient hands should allow him to beat any defender 1-on-1 and can allow the Saints to score in the red zone at any time.

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JC Latham (Alabama), Chris Braswell (Alabama not Jaguars), Cornelieus Johnson (Michigan) in action behind a New Orleans Saints logo with a 2024 NFL Draft background.

Dylan Bruton ·

Rankings

ESPN ranks Thomas 95th overall, which is hard to see as he was one of the best players in 2019. He ranks 30th in his respective position. Players that are above him include Tee Higgins, Brandon Aiyuk, DJ Moore and CeeDee Lamb. Players below him include Chase Claypool, Brandin Cooks and Curtis Samuel. The players that are ranked above Thomas are players who are either star pass-catchers, perfect No. 2 receivers, or dual-threat players. It is no surprise that many rank above him, as there is no certainty if he will come back and be great. If and when he returns, look for him to climb up the rankings and get back to the top ten. Once again, he is a superstar and has been shown to produce even in the worst conditions.

Thomas is heading towards a crucial turning point in his career. Once he recovers from his injury (which is crucial at this point), fantasy owners will have to keep an eye on his physical condition. If he starts to look like his former self, he should be taken within the first five rounds. However, gambling on his future is difficult and should be taken in the middle-to-final rounds. Take solidified receivers before him, and take him as a flier. He will be a bench player for quite some time, but when he is finally starting for the Saints, place him as the No. 1 wideout.