Wide receiver has become the dominant position in all of fantasy football, as young players like Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb (to name a few) are lighting up the stat sheets. Unfortunately, NFL teams looking to make a major splash at the position will find it difficult to accomplish, as the free agent market is a bit weak heading into the 2023 offseason. With that said, making a big splash trade these days can help fill a void. Look at what Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill did for their respective new teams. Oh, and let’s not forget about the A.J. Brown impact.
One of the bigger names that could be on the market this offseason is Michael Thomas. Once the king of fantasy wideouts, the veteran has played in a mere 10 games in the last three years due to injuries. That lack of durability and a heavy contract could push the Saints to cut ties with him, making him a free agent.
Adding Thomas is a risk to be certain, but his past statistical successes will still be tempting for a wide receiver-needy team looking for a “resurrection project.” Here are five squads that could have a need at wide receiver and would be interesting spots for Thomas to land next season. Let’s start things off in Kansas City.
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Kansas City Chiefs
The Super Bowl champions lack an alpha wide receiver (not that it mattered last season), but imagine acquiring Thomas in the offseason? With JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman slated to become free agents, Kansas City could land Thomas on a “prove it” sort of deal. Imagine Thomas catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in an Andy Reid offense? He’d have WR1 upside if he could finally avoid the injuries.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys aren’t going to spend a boatload of money on Thomas, so he’d have to come in on a team-friendly deal and prove he’s still a viable option. And while his presence could hurt CeeDee Lamb a bit, Thomas would be an interesting option as a No. 2 or 3 fantasy wideout in Dallas’ explosive offense. Adding the veteran would also give Dak Prescott one heck of a one-two wideout punch in the passing game.
Top Five Fantasy Landing Spots: Aaron Rodgers | Jimmy Garoppolo | Saquon Barkley | Tony Pollard | JuJu Smith-Schuster | Miles Sanders | Derek Carr | Lamar Jackson | David Montgomery | Josh Jacobs | Jamaal Williams | Kareem Hunt | DeAndre Hopkins | Tee Higgins
Baltimore Ravens
If Thomas were to become available, he would certainly be worth a roll of the dice for a Ravens team that needs help at wide receiver. The jury is still out on Rashod Bateman as a pro, and their top wideout from 2022, Demarcus Robinson, is a free agent. Assuming the team retains Lamar Jackson, Thomas would push for WR2 value in an offense that might not be so run heavy under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
New York Giants
I’m not sure the Giants would do this move, as they’re still licking their wounds from the Kenny Golladay disaster. However, landing Thomas on the cheap might be worth it for Big Blue. They’re in need at wideout big time, as Golladay has been a dud, the team traded Kadarius Toney and Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are set to become free agents. Thomas would give Daniel Jones a true No. 1 option.
Chicago Bears
Is there any team in the NFL more needy at wide receiver than the Bears? Their “No. 1” wideout, Darnell Mooney, is coming off an ankle injury and isn’t a true alpha. N’Keal Harry and Byron Pringle are slated to become free agents, leaving the team with Mooney, Chase Claypool and Equanimeous St. Brown. If Chicago added Thomas, it would give Justin Fields a true playmaker in the pass attack.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business to help you win a fantasy championship!
