After leaving the Minnesota Vikings, many believed Adam Thielen’s best years were behind him. Since signing with the Carolina Panthers a few seasons ago, however, Thielen has demonstrated continued ability to contribute effectively. In 2023, he averaged 13.6 PPR points per game and improved slightly to 14.0 PPR points per game in 2024.
While Thielen may not be a top pick in fantasy drafts this summer, he remains an important part of the Panthers’ offense, which is built around the emerging young quarterback Bryce Young.
According to Fantasy Pros, Thielen is projected as the 63rd ranked wide receiver and the 156th overall player for 2025, indicating he will likely be considered later on in draft selections this year.
Changes to Thielen’s role amid new Panthers additions
Thielen is expected to maintain a significant role, though the Panthers strengthened their wide receiver corps by drafting star receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the first round of the 2025 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL Draft. With McMillan poised to become the primary receiving option, Thielen’s target share will likely decrease this season.
As Bryce Young showed growth last year, questions remain about whether he can consistently support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers across each game. For both Thielen and McMillan to be valuable fantasy assets week to week, Carolina would probably need to rely more on passing and Young must distribute targets evenly between them.
Fantasy football implications and projected value for 2025
Though no longer a guaranteed fantasy starter like in previous seasons, Thielen continues to hold value in 2025. With McMillan expected to take on the lead receiver role as the season advances, Thielen should be viewed more as a WR4 or WR5 option rather than a dependable weekly starter. Nevertheless, he could serve as a useful depth player for fantasy teams seeking experienced wide receiver support.