Fantasy Football Player Notes

It felt like too many people were dismissing Thomas this year, falling into borderline WR2 territory, but now that we know of his ankle surgery that took place in June, he's going to fall even further. It's possible he misses the first 4-6 games based on the timeline he received. It did seem like everyone forget he was the consensus No. 1 wide receiver just a year ago. The big question is: Who is his quarterback once he returns? If it's Hill, there should be a slight downgrade, 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. Right now, I'm expecting Thomas to miss at least four games, which moves him down into WR4 territory. If you're able to stay afloat the first month of the season, snagging Thomas in the middle rounds might be a winning strategy.

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. Smith has been battling an injury himself and so hasn't even been able to take advantage of Michael Thomas's absence. He's just a late-round dart throw.