Sneaky buy now: Devin Thomas (1 Viewer)

[Mimo]

With Santana Moss, the HGH news and not knowing how it may turn out Devin Thomas is in the crosshairs for me, Get him if u can.

 

[mlball77]

I'm pretty well on board, but couldn't you say the same for M Kelly?

 

[Bob Magaw]

thomas is expected to start, without assuming a moss suspension...

not sure if he is a sleeper anymore, but he is one of my favorite breakout candidates* (had a pulled hammy in OTAs)...

i think he definitely had maturity & professionalism issues in his first few years...

he looked like the best WR in the class of '08 (first in a long time with no 1st rounder, avery was a first drafted a high 2nd, thomas right behind him - in retrospect, desean jackson should have been a 1st)... he has great size, speed, receiving & RAC ability... really the whole package (except for seeming lack of top notch intangibles), but probably fell due to being one year wonder, and bouncing around in school (i think came from JUCO ranks, and even dating back to prep days)...

one BIG reason i am high on him is mcnabb an upgrade, and easily the best QB he has had as a pro... i also like rams & raiders WRs to take a jump up, for the same reason (while campbell not as good as mcnabb, massive upgrade over jamarcbustell - bodes well for murphy, schillens, maybe DHB, if he can catch and doesn't become troy williamson 2.0)... while not this year, in dynasty leagues, longer term, bradford could elevate guys like avery and gilyard... braylon edwards could see an uptick if sanchez takes the next step in his development (i expect him to)... CLE WRs could have upside if delhomme is at least more functional and competent than anderson/quinn were... and so on.

this rationale is not much different but just inverted and mirror opposite of upgrading flacco due to addition of boldin, stallworth & dickson/pitta... or eli with development of smith and nicks (i think mentioned by waldman in aforemetioned article)... henne with marshall, etc...

* matt waldman was quite high on him in a recent article on breakout WR candidates for 2010 (though not as high as nicks and MSW, which i agree with)...

if things break right, i could see him getting 65-80 receptions (800-1,000 yards) & 5-7 TDs... with potential future upside...

** hard to watch (very choppy/grainy), but best youtube highlight i could find to convey a synoptic taste of his receiving and open field running ability...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHbkz0IMIeA&feature=fvw

*** theme song for hoped for breakout of thomas, avery, murphy, et al...

 

[Glaven]

thomas is expected to start, without assuming a moss suspension... not sure if he is a sleeper anymore, but he is one of my favorite breakout candidates* (had a pulled hammy in OTAs)...i think he definitely had maturity & professionalism issues in his first few years...he looked like the best WR in the class of '08 (first in a long time with no 1st rounder, avery was a first drafted a high 2nd, thomas right behind him - in retrospect, desean jackson should have been a 1st)... he has great size, speed, receiving & RAC ability... really the whole package (except for seeming lack of top notch intangibles), but probably fell due to being one year wonder, and bouncing around in school (i think came from JUCO ranks, and even dating back to prep days)...one BIG reason i am high on him is mcnabb an upgrade, and easily the best QB he has had as a pro... i also like rams & raiders WRs to take a jump up, for the same reason (while campbell not as good as mcnabb, massive upgrade over jamarcbustell - bodes well for murphy, schillens, maybe DHB, if he can catch and doesn't become troy williamson 2.0)... while not this year, in dynasty leagues, longer term, bradford could elevate guys like avery and gilyard... braylon edwards could see an uptick if sanchez takes the next step in his development (i expect him to)... CLE WRs could have upside if delhomme is at least more functional and competent than anderson/quinn were... and so on.this rationale is not much different but just inverted and mirror opposite of upgrading flacco due to addition of boldin, stallworth & dickson/pitta... or eli with development of smith and nicks (i think mentioned by waldman in aforemetioned article)... henne with marshall, etc...* matt waldman was quite high on him in a recent article on breakout WR candidates for 2010 (though not as high as nicks and MSW, which i agree with)...if things break right, i could see him getting 65-80 receptions (800-1,000 yards) & 5-7 TDs... with potential future upside...

I think Thomas breaks out this year. People gave up on him pretty quick, but he's still only 23 years old and he has all the qualities you look for in a stud WR. I'm sure most will think i'm too optimistic, but i'll project 80 receptions, 1120 Yards, 8 TDs.

 

[a_rackowski]

Will he be involved in the return game? in many leagues this will take him from boarderline WR3 to very solid Wr3.

 

[Ray_T]

thomas is expected to start, without assuming a moss suspension... not sure if he is a sleeper anymore, but he is one of my favorite breakout candidates* (had a pulled hammy in OTAs)...i think he definitely had maturity & professionalism issues in his first few years...he looked like the best WR in the class of '08 (first in a long time with no 1st rounder, avery was a first drafted a high 2nd, thomas right behind him - in retrospect, desean jackson should have been a 1st)... he has great size, speed, receiving & RAC ability... really the whole package (except for seeming lack of top notch intangibles), but probably fell due to being one year wonder, and bouncing around in school (i think came from JUCO ranks, and even dating back to prep days)...one BIG reason i am high on him is mcnabb an upgrade, and easily the best QB he has had as a pro... i also like rams & raiders WRs to take a jump up, for the same reason (while campbell not as good as mcnabb, massive upgrade over jamarcbustell - bodes well for murphy, schillens, maybe DHB, if he can catch and doesn't become troy williamson 2.0)... while not this year, in dynasty leagues, longer term, bradford could elevate guys like avery and gilyard... braylon edwards could see an uptick if sanchez takes the next step in his development (i expect him to)... CLE WRs could have upside if delhomme is at least more functional and competent than anderson/quinn were... and so on.this rationale is not much different but just inverted and mirror opposite of upgrading flacco due to addition of boldin, stallworth & dickson/pitta... or eli with development of smith and nicks (i think mentioned by waldman in aforemetioned article)... henne with marshall, etc...* matt waldman was quite high on him in a recent article on breakout WR candidates for 2010 (though not as high as nicks and MSW, which i agree with)...if things break right, i could see him getting 65-80 receptions (800-1,000 yards) & 5-7 TDs... with potential future upside...

I think Thomas breaks out this year. People gave up on him pretty quick, but he's still only 23 years old and he has all the qualities you look for in a stud WR. I'm sure most will think i'm too optimistic, but i'll project 80 receptions, 1120 Yards, 8 TDs.

1120 yards seems a little steep to me. I'd be more inclined to bet on 700-900 yards this year. A solid #2 WR on any team.

 

[CB31]

Personally, I like Kelly more than Thomas. But I don't disagree that Thomas is a sleeper/breakout play (he might be a little too well known to be a "sleeper"). 700-ish yards is probably where I see Thomas, which isn't too shabby.

 

[T.Rex]

Personally, I like Kelly more than Thomas. But I don't disagree that Thomas is a sleeper/breakout play (he might be a little too well known to be a "sleeper"). 700-ish yards is probably where I see Thomas, which isn't too shabby.

Same pedigree and Kelly already beat thomas once before for the #2.. knock on Kelly was his knee if healthy I think it's a coin toss. I haven't read anywhere that says Thomas is assumed the starting position.

 

[jbz]

Will he be involved in the return game? in many leagues this will take him from boarderline WR3 to very solid Wr3.

Skins used to use Rock Cartwright on some kick returns with Thomas, but he's been cut. They did draft Terrence Austin out of UCLA this year and he's a return guy. If he makes the team I'd say Austin does both kick and punt returns.

 

[finito]

Personally, I like Kelly more than Thomas. But I don't disagree that Thomas is a sleeper/breakout play (he might be a little too well known to be a "sleeper"). 700-ish yards is probably where I see Thomas, which isn't too shabby.

Same pedigree and Kelly already beat thomas once before for the #2.. knock on Kelly was his knee if healthy I think it's a coin toss. I haven't read anywhere that says Thomas is assumed the starting position.

IIRC It's gone back and forth between them once or twice. I don't think either pulled away enough to be considered a clear favorite. I think Kelly is plenty talented but if Thomas can put it all together mentally I think he has top 10 potential, I really think he has great physical talent.

 

[Bob Magaw]

Personally, I like Kelly more than Thomas. But I don't disagree that Thomas is a sleeper/breakout play (he might be a little too well known to be a "sleeper"). 700-ish yards is probably where I see Thomas, which isn't too shabby.

Same pedigree and Kelly already beat thomas once before for the #2.. knock on Kelly was his knee if healthy I think it's a coin toss. I haven't read anywhere that says Thomas is assumed the starting position.

i googled quotes sourced to washington post* in which shanahan states (paraphrasing) thomas is the starter opposite moss CURRENTLY...he started 10 games last year (?)... but he didn't exactly set the league on fire, so he can't be said to have a stranglehold on the job... of course, he should be in the best position to suceed so far in his NFL career (with mcnabb under center)...could he be outplayed by kelly and "lose his job"... absolutely... along with the potentially great upside is almost a concomitant risk...kelly is taller (6'4"?), & imo, some traits/skills he may surpass thomas in... possibly better hands (not that thomas aren't good, but kelly's might be great), and great field awareness and body control to make sideline and redzone catches...the knees are a concern (mayock reported multiple teams took him off their board entirely - THEN he missed time in his rookie season, and i think required surgery)... as was noted upthread, they have similar pedigree...albeit thomas has similar pedigree, it was higher (one pick after donnie avery as #1 WR from class of '08)... my recollection is he was the consensus top WR from the class, but if not, i'm pretty sure he got more mention than kelly (scouts were concerned about desean jackson's dimunitive size)... he is faster than kelly, and a much more explosive, dangerous and creative runner in the open field...the bad - he did have reported maturity and work ethic issues to begin his career, but may be overcoming them and realizing talent alone is not enough to succeed at the next level...it is possible they could both be starters at some point, but based on some indicators, currently it seems like thomas gets first OPPORTUNITY at the job opposite moss (with the important caveat and proviso that he could play his way out of it & be overtaken by kelly)...* Coach Mike Shanahan believes Thomas, who finished last season as the starting Z receiver, might be the right guy for the full-time kickoff job. "Devin Thomas could be our best returner. Obviously, he's starting at both positions [wide receiver and kickoff returner] right now," Shanahan said. "Will he continue to be that guy? I really don't know. I'm looking forward to going into these minicamps and get a chance to evaluate our guys and some of the guys we've got targeted in the draft."i thought the word... OBVIOUSLY, was telling.

 

[fatness]

IIRC It's gone back and forth between them once or twice. I don't think either pulled away enough to be considered a clear favorite.

Regarding Kelly and Thomas, this is correct. Neither had done anything to pull noticeably ahead of the other in the eyes of coaches through the end of last season.