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WR Michael Thomas, NO (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Mr. Irrelevant
- Start date
VikingFrog
Footballguy
Heck. In redraft I’m starting to wonder about the head being right, even after just drafting him last night. And wondering if I can find a trade partner that wants to buy the brand name, and I don’t have to deal with the headache on my bench.
Realistically he’s probably not start-able until week 8.
I do own Callaway as a sort of reverse insurance plan to start the season. If he produces with Winston and without thomas it may make the waters even murkier when thomas returns.
VikingFrog
Footballguy
Shouldn’t he be eligible week 7 after their bye?
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Won’t know until we see him on the field for a couple of weeks. Drafted and stashed him in 7th
VikingFrog
Footballguy
If you follow him on Twitter he tweets about the Saints and teammates success. Which makes me hesitate to think there’s bad blood everyone speculated about. Whether he can perform or not is the next question. But if he can. Watch out for my 1-3 team!
barackdhouse
Footballguy
I've seen this reported by MSM in both directions. Any chance anyone has an official source? Because it seems batty to me to have a policy where it would be weeks and not games. But then this is the NFL.
I suppose a good MSM source wouldn't be official if I can find another MSM source that contradicts it. What does the NFL say? It's not that I don't believe you it is that I have heard the opposite. And the opposite makes more sense to me, though either direction has pros and cons in terms of whether it is a good policy.
Plus I can't remember how this has gone down in prior seasons.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I’ll admit, it was something I heard at the time and do not remember form where anymore. I agree it would make way more sense to be 6 games and not weeks.
Since he is on PUP reserve you are correct, it is based on weeks. He can start practicing with team after week six. He can then be activated at anytime after start of practicing not to exceed three weeks. He has a five week window though if he doesn’t start practicing right away. If he isn’t activated within 3 weeks of starting practice OR he isn’t activated after five weeks after elligible to practice he is done for the year. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physically_unable_to_perform
I think people are confused because this is PUP not IR. It got confusing when they shortened IR to three weeks. But he is PUP, which he can be on since his injury started prior to season starting.
I assume he would practice for a week at least before actually playing in a game. Therefore week 8 seems likely for first action.
This is my understanding.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Yahoo has him projected for 0 pts until week 7 where hes projected 16.13
SieteCinco
Footballguy
Any news on how he's recovering and if he's expected to be back once eligible? Seems awfully quiet for potentially being one week away
tombonneau
Footballguy
Biased as I have him dynasty, but just feel when he comes back people will collectively go: "Oh yeah that's right he's really good and still in his prime."
Just such unique odd circumstances for him the last 1.5 years have caused a group think fade. As we just saw with Toney sometimes those do not work out.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
I drafted in redraft and have heldBiased as I have him dynasty, but just feel when he comes back people will collectively go: "Oh yeah that's right he's really good and still in his prime."
Just such unique odd circumstances for him the last 1.5 years have caused a group think fade. As we just saw with Toney sometimes those do not work out.
I’m afraid Winston is going to keep him from being really good
tombonneau
Footballguy
Team Smokin'
Footballguy
Following along prepping for week 7 without Allen at QB. It's either Winston @ SEA which looks good on paper, but would get even more juicy if Thomas was healthy, or go Tua Time ATL @ MIA. Looks like Callaway is finally doing something. Adding Thomas would help NO on all fronts, including Kamara.
Seems too quiet and hardly any enthusiasm around Michael Thomas, who not too long ago was WR #1 overall in some ranks. Definitely at top 3. I also hear that the Thomas injury could take longer before he's back, even into week 10. Anyone have any idea on Thomas? Yes, Winston can turn it over, but he can also break out and have a 25-30 point game. Winston a tad more upside than Tua perhaps.
sho nuff
Footballguy
Wondering the same...drafted in redraft and held on IR. But don't have a lot of guys I feel I can drop...and need to cover bye weeks. And pissed I did not do this before today...but Gesicki is available (and I have Fant). hate holding 2 TEs...but may want to grab Gesicki (and looks like there is a strange loophole in our league waivers for Thursday and Sunday London games...I could pick him up right now before he hits waivers).
But Thomas is really my only option to drop (and will move Carson to my IR spot).
But can't really drop much of the rest unless I drop Eli Mitchell (I have ton of RBs at the moment...AJones, Barkley, Carson, Pollard, Chubba, Javonte, Eli Mitchell) 7 RBs...probably not needed and WR I am carrying 4 currently (Kupp, Jefferson, Higgins and Thomas).
Id probably drop Thomas and take that risk if I was deeper at WR.
ZADO
Footballguy
Oct 15, 2021
Thomas is eligible to return to practice in Week 7 for the first time since having major ankle surgery in June and being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the season. It’s unclear if he will play immediately at Seattle or how long it will take him to get back up to speed.
However, he has been rehabbing with the team. And this was targeted as a likely timetable for his return when he first had surgery, with the Saints suggesting they were giving him time to recover fully when they placed him on the PUP list.
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/34613/michael-thomas-among-eight-missing-starters-who-can-give-saints-juice-after-bye
Thomas is eligible to return to practice in Week 7 for the first time since having major ankle surgery in June and being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the season. It’s unclear if he will play immediately at Seattle or how long it will take him to get back up to speed.
However, he has been rehabbing with the team. And this was targeted as a likely timetable for his return when he first had surgery, with the Saints suggesting they were giving him time to recover fully when they placed him on the PUP list.
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/34613/michael-thomas-among-eight-missing-starters-who-can-give-saints-juice-after-bye
Chaka
Footballguy
VikingFrog
Footballguy
Callaway still on many of my waiver wires where I own thomas. With so many byes. My move is to grab Callaway and take a wait and see approach through the week to see if thomas will play or if there’s any news of a snap count. Gives you a fighters chance on Monday night to play the right one.
barackdhouse
Footballguy
I saw a rando Saints site pop up in my ad feed somewhere. I didn't click on it but the headline was "3 teams that should trade for Thomas".
I don't know how realistic it is that he might be traded but I do still wonder just how broken the relationship is there.
I don't know how realistic it is that he might be traded but I do still wonder just how broken the relationship is there.
Chaka
Footballguy
Assuming he's active, which is a big assumption ATM, I don't see how anyone could start Thomas with any confidence on Monday.
VikingFrog
Footballguy
If you follow Thomas on Twitter. He’s been celebrating the success of the team and teammates. Leading me to believe the bad blood story is a bit overblown by fantasy football commentators.
barackdhouse
Footballguy
Yeah it may very well be overblown. Plus time passes and things can change. I think everybody wants the best players on the field even if there is/was bad blood.
I hadn't looked ahead far enough yet to know that it is the Monday game. Yeah no thanks. I would need to hear some pretty good news about them wanting to feature him like usual, to even consider it.
And to add to that I'd read they've patched things up to at least some degree. He's also been with the team this entire time including relocating to Dallas/Ft. Worth area living out of a hotel for close to a month when Ida hit.
Also his absence has increased his value to the team IMO. If anyone thought his production was easily replaced due to genius of Payton or that his production was by and large a product of Payton scheming him open that line of thought looks considerably shakier. (also to those who think his production was Brees I would encourage you to look up his half a season worth of game logs with Teddy and Taysom as the starter)
As is the Saints are 3-2 and one could argue they need a WR more then any team in the league.
VikingFrog
Footballguy
Why I pointed out grabbing Callaway and taking a wait and see approach through the week might be a good strategy. I’m pretty locked up due to byes so thomas or Callaway in my flex is enticing if I can make the choice Monday night. Not for everyone. But an option.
Pigskin Fanatic
Footballguy
callaway's value can go up significantly with MT's return too, so you potentially have a trade bait if MT comes back strong. callaway has skills, so i can see him great as a 2 rather than facing top flight coverage without MT.
i also drafted MT and have been holding. I'm hurting on the WR front, so I would start him with confidence on MNF if he puts in the practice this week. "with confidence" could be replaced with "out of desperation," but in fantasy is there really a difference?
barackdhouse
Footballguy
Yeah well I am of the opinion that a good offense can support two WRs (for fantasy). And if Thomas comes back and does Thomas things, then Callaway may actually benefit from it. I have him in a number of spots and have largely been just holding. Very curious to see how this plays out. If he does Thomas things it could be a boost for Kamara as well.
barackdhouse
Footballguy
I drafted no player this year more then Michael Thomas. This is all leagues with higher type overall stakes so once the news broke on his foot I pretty much went into every draft for ROS designating him as my 8th round pick, even willing to move up to 7 if nothing I liked presented itself.
At no point did I draft him expecting to put him in my lineup in week 7 and in fact have and continue to be of opinion it won't be an option as he's not going to be active. I'm just thinking he'll need 1-2 weeks of practice at minimum.
Saying that I did not realize until last week how many teams of mine are dire looking for week 7. Easily my most challenging bye week of the year along with a lot of players taking up space. If he surprised me and was active I'd not want to start him, but would be forced two on a few teams.
My outlook when I was drafting and has not changed has been along these lines:
A normal human being has a 4-6 month recovery time from his procedure. Now with that you can add in he's a finely tuned professional athlete who receives the highest available medical/rehab work known to man vs the fact he's being asked to perform feats far more difficult then the normal person plus his level of conditioning. So I kind of created this timeline when I was drafting him:
When week 7 kicks off he'll be at 4.5 months from surgery. I anticipated two week practice time and he's out weeks 7/8.
I put his debut as week 9, 5 months post-surgery. Due to combo of factors ranging from having not played in awhile and conditioning I expect we don't see a normal snap count. I'm thinking he might start slow but in range of weeks 9-12 he provides low end WR2 PPR production. I'm thinking more of low end WR3 to start and gradual improvement.
Week 13 to ROS will put him at 6 plus months post surgery, in football shape and quite possibly if not likely 100% recovered from the surgery.
At no point did I draft him expecting to put him in my lineup in week 7 and in fact have and continue to be of opinion it won't be an option as he's not going to be active. I'm just thinking he'll need 1-2 weeks of practice at minimum.
Saying that I did not realize until last week how many teams of mine are dire looking for week 7. Easily my most challenging bye week of the year along with a lot of players taking up space. If he surprised me and was active I'd not want to start him, but would be forced two on a few teams.
My outlook when I was drafting and has not changed has been along these lines:
A normal human being has a 4-6 month recovery time from his procedure. Now with that you can add in he's a finely tuned professional athlete who receives the highest available medical/rehab work known to man vs the fact he's being asked to perform feats far more difficult then the normal person plus his level of conditioning. So I kind of created this timeline when I was drafting him:
When week 7 kicks off he'll be at 4.5 months from surgery. I anticipated two week practice time and he's out weeks 7/8.
I put his debut as week 9, 5 months post-surgery. Due to combo of factors ranging from having not played in awhile and conditioning I expect we don't see a normal snap count. I'm thinking he might start slow but in range of weeks 9-12 he provides low end WR2 PPR production. I'm thinking more of low end WR3 to start and gradual improvement.
Week 13 to ROS will put him at 6 plus months post surgery, in football shape and quite possibly if not likely 100% recovered from the surgery.
VikingFrog
Footballguy
Currently being reported that he’s likely a few weeks away. So this timeline you’ve presented holds true. Good analysis.
Pigskin Fanatic
Footballguy
Penguin
Footballguy
Chaka
Footballguy
Been holding for potential trade value but I have an embarrassment of riches at WR/TE (combined position, 12 team redraft) and not sure he's worth it.
This is not Drew Brees's Saints team. Payton has Winston on restraints ATM and they may not evolve into a prolific passing offense until next season, if ever.
I am no longer certain Thomas's return suddenly changes the game plan.
This is not Drew Brees's Saints team. Payton has Winston on restraints ATM and they may not evolve into a prolific passing offense until next season, if ever.
I am no longer certain Thomas's return suddenly changes the game plan.
sho nuff
Footballguy
No...the Packers are not trading for people. They are not going to take on large cap numbers and give up draft capital at the same time. If someone is released, they will pursue (see the difference in Whitney Mercilus to Stephon Gilmore). They don't have the cap space to absorb a guy's cap hit/contract.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
sho nuff
Footballguy
More likely to pursue and kick the tires on Willie Snead. Though, is he any different than MVS?
Go for it. I would. Thomas will be top target in his offense. Boyd will be third or lower it seems. He is slot type, so his upside is limited. Thomas has no such limitations. You can wait for him to gel in time for playoffs and hopefully be your number 2 or 3 wr. If it doesn’t turn out this way then he’s riding your bench like Boyd would.
modogg
Footballguy
shadrap
Footballguy
I'm with you. Payton has a chain around Winton as far as downfield passing & I don't think it's on the receivers. so far his game plan is working. I doubt that works against Tampa coming up.
