Michael Thomas

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Saints and WR Michael Thomas have agreed to a contract restructure that will save the team $8.7 million.

Fantasy Impact

After a year in which Thomas struggled missing 9 games, the 2019 All-Pro agreed to restructure his contract with the Saints. With the move, the recent speculation of a trade will likely die down.

Jeff Duncan of The Athletic writes Saints officials were "happy" with Michael Thomas' response to his midseason benching.

Fantasy Impact

It was a miserable season for Thomas and his fantasy managers. After suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 1, the star wideout was later suspended one game for getting in an altercation at practice. Still, the Saints reportedly believe that Thomas can return to the dominant 2019 version of himself next year. Thomas is expected to undergo offseason surgery on his ankle and it remains unclear who will be throwing him passes next year. The combination of these unknowns could make him a value in early 2021 fantasy drafts.

Saints star WR Michael Thomas will likely undergo surgery on his ankle this offseason.

Fantasy Impact

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Thomas is likely to have surgeries on both the torn deltoid and other injured ligaments in his high ankle this offseason. “Michael Thomas often wouldn’t practice all week, yet would still play in games, at much less than 100%, and with pain medication,” per Schefter. “The coaches told him even as injured as he was, they were much better off with him than without him. But now will need surgery.” Thomas was limited to seven games in 2020 due to a high-ankle sprain. The 27-year-old WR hauled in 40 receptions for 438 yards and zero touchdowns. Thomas is expected to be ready by training camp and currently eighth among all wideouts in the latest expert consensus draft rankings.

Michael Thomas saw four targets in a Divisional Round loss to the Bucs but failed to catch any of them.

Fantasy Impact

After a record-setting 2019 campaign, Thomas became the first wide receiver off the board in just about every league in 2020. Finishing the season with just 40 receptions for 428 yards throughout seven games, he snags the title for fantasy football's biggest disappointment. Now, heading into his sixth year and on a fresh of a 5-year/$100M contract, he'll look to rebound. All signs are pointing to Drew Brees's retirement which would be more bad news for Thomas. His ADP will be tough to determine heading into the 2021 season but Thomas will certainly be a high-risk/high-reward draft pick.

Michael Thomas snared five of his seven targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in a first-round playoff win over the Bears.

Fantasy Impact

After nearly a full month off Thomas looked fresh and ready to return to form. He was able to generate some yards after the catch to plunge into the end zone in the first quarter and showcased his chemistry with Brees on a 38-yard fade in the third. Although Deonte Harris surprised by leading the team in yards and receptions today, Thomas sits firmly atop the Saints depth chart again and should make for a solid play next week in a divisional rematch with the Bucs.