When asked in an interview whether 2025 could be his last year, Thielen says it could be, however he is preparing to play through this season.
Adam Thielen has been a model of consistency for the past decade of football. Averaging 14 fantasy points per game in the past 9 years — he also averaged 14 ppg last season at 34 years old. Thielen is far past the age apex in his career, a point where retirement is more likely than fantasy football relevance. While he is planning on playing out this season, Thielen is already unsure of his status for 2026
In all fantasy formats, betting on Thielen is tough. He has defied the odds for several years now and been a massive return on low to free fantasy draft capital. However, this year Carolina selected Tetairoa McMillan with the 8th pick in the draft, second year players Jalen Coker and Ja’Tavion Sanders are poised to step up, and there’s always a chance Xavier Legette or Hunter Renfro make a push for a starting role. We have said this before but I’ll say it again, its really hard to see Adam Thielen making an impact on fantasy rosters at 35 years old on this offense.
Author: Lukasz Stec (@Lukasz_FF01)
Carolina Panthers veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen said ...
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen has led the ...
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Carolina Panthers want...
The 11-year veteran is returning for his 3rd season to the Carolina Panthers.
Bryce Young is getting one of his better weapons to return next season. Adam Thielen is returning to the Carolina Panthers for his 3rd season with the team. The soon to be 35-year old receiver has a revised contract which will allow him to return for his 12th NFL season.
Adam Thielen had a down year last season with 48 receptions for 615 yards in 10 games played. Thielen did manage a respectable 14.0 fantasy points per game. Thielen showed some of his older form in week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 5 receptions, 110 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns to bring home 28 fantasy points as the WR-8.
The main challenge will be to see if Thielen can turn back to his 2023 form. In the first 6 weeks of 2023, Thielen had 3 top-5 games and was 9th in receptions with 103. This is tremendous news for the development of Bryce Young. Young was the QB-2 in week 16 and the QB-1 in week 18 in 2024. Finishing with momentum to end the season, running it back with Adam Thielen will help solidify Bryce Young as an emerging fantasy football asset in superflex leagues.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (coachretzlaff1)
Carolina running back gets bell cow work in 36-30 win
In a Carolina offense with few upside plays, Chuba Hubbard has dominated touches and become a league-winning running back. He carried the ball 25 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns versus the Cardinals Sunday, also catching four of five targets for another 13 yards. Hubbard is the RB2 in scoring in Week 16 going into Monday Night Football.
Bryce Young was another bright spot in this one, throwing for 158 yards and two touchdowns, as well running five times for 68 yards and another score. It was one of Young’s finest performances of his short career. He is the QB2 in fantasy scoring prior to Monday night’s game. With a low pass yards total, no pass catcher topped 50 yards, but both Adam Thielen and David Moore rewarded fantasy managers with a touchdown apiece.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
Arizona D a plus matchup for Chuba Hubbard
In Week 16, the Panthers face a Cardinals defense that has been struggling against both the pass and run. Arizona is the sixth-best matchup for opposing running backs in terms of fantasy points allowed. Chuba Hubbard is one of the only playable assets in the Panthers offense, anyway, especially in the fantasy playoffs. He has not come off the field much in the last two, with 97.1-percent and 92.7-percent Snap Shares in Weeks 14 and 15, respectively.
Mike Boone (now reverted to the practice squad) was the only other back to receiver a carry in Week 15, taking two carries for 14 yards. Raheem Blackshear and Velus Jones are the only other backs on the active roster. Neither has carried the ball or received a target in the Carolina offense yet this season. There are not many backs who are going to get a more dominant share of their backfield than Hubbard. He’s a solid RB2 play against the Cardinals.
The Carolina passing attack is not exactly one to rely on in the second round of the fantasy playoffs. Adam Thielen has been the most prominent target for Bryce Young, earning 32 targets since returning from injury in Week 13. The veteran wide receiver has led the team in targets for three straight games, but brought in just five of seven passes for 51 scoreless yards in Week 15.
The Cardinals secondary has been ineffective against the run in real football terms (No. 32 in Dropback Success Rate Against), but stingy against fantasy wide receivers. They give up the 12th-least fantasy points to receivers. Thielen is an okay PPR flex play this week. The rest of the Panthers pass catchers are low-volume avoids.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
Panthers get generous Dallas defense in first round of fantasy playoffs
In Week 15, the first round of the fantasy playoffs, the Panthers get a Cowboys defense that has been allowing fantasy production, especially against the run. Unfortunately, just as Jonathon Brooks was getting introduced into the Carolina offense, he re-tore his ACL. Chuba Hubbard will continue getting high volume in the backfield with only Mike Boone and Velus Jones to back him up. In a now-proficient offense, Hubbard is a must-start RB2.
Bryce Young faces a Cowboys defense that allows the 29th-most fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs and 23rd-most to WRs. Young has a relatively low ceiling as a fantasy play. Adam Thielen has been his go-to weapon in the last two, catching 17 of 21 targets for 201 yards and a TD over that stretch. The other pass game weapons have limited outcomes, with no one pass catcher catching more than five passes over the last two contests.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
Bryce Young and Carolina offense improving, devastating setback for rookie RB
The Panthers are on the ascent in recent weeks, as evidenced by some recent tight contests against some of the league’s best teams. Carolina were just one Xavier Legette drop away from being in scoring position in the final minutes of Sunday’s game before losing to the Eagles.
Bryce Young is playing some of his best football, but still not providing at a prolific rate for fantasy. He was the QB20 in fantasy scoring in Week 14 even while compiling 29 yards rushing on seven rush attempts. The only pass catcher to record a difference-making fantasy performance was Adam Thielen, who brought in nine receptions for 102 yards. Xavier Legette drew eight targets, but caught just two for 39 yards. David Moore recorded five targets, but caught just two for 25 yards. Tight end Tommy Tremble caught the lone receiving touchdown, his only reception for two total yards receiving.
Unfortunately, rookie running back Jonathon Brooks is reported to have re-torn his ACL, the injury that landed him on IR for the early part of the season. That means Chuba Hubbard, who has seen bell cow usage with Brooks out, will continue to see difference-making usage down the stretch (Miles Sanders is also on IR with an ankle injury). Hubbard saw 26 carries and five targets in this one, and scored the Panthers other touchdown on the ground. Hubbard is in position to make an impact in the fantasy playoffs.
– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb
