Fantasy Football Player Notes

It feels like too many people are dismissing Thomas this year, falling into borderline WR2 territory. Did everyone forget he was the consensus No. 1 wide receiver last year? Sure, Drew Brees is gone, but are we going to pretend that Brees' arm was as strong as it used to be? Now, the next question is whether Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill is under center. If it's Winston, Thomas should be locked-and-loaded as a WR1. If it's Hill, there should be a conversation, but don't forget what Thomas did in the four Hill games last year: 9/104/0, 4/50/0, 9/105/0, and 8/84/0. Those are rock-solid numbers, though the touchdowns were obviously not there. If you get Thomas in the third round of drafts this year, you should feel great about it, especially if Winston is the starter.

Is Smith to blame for his lack of involvement in the offense, or were there just not enough targets to go around? He's seen 119 targets over his first three seasons combined, which have amounted to 80 receptions, 1,109 yards, and 14 touchdowns, so the efficiency has been top-notch. Did Drew Brees not have the arm to push the ball down the field anymore? If Jameis Winston is the quarterback, Smith may very well be a sleeper in fantasy drafts, though that optimism would die quickly if Taysom Hill were named the starter.