Thielen agreed to a three-year, $25 million contract with the Panthers on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Thielen spent the first nine years of his career in Minnesota and drew 100-plus targets in four of the last six seasons. He secured 70 of 107 targets for 716 yards and six touchdowns with the Vikings last year but was let go earlier in March so Minnesota could free up cap space. After failing to top 1,000 yards in each of the last four seasons, the 32-year-old should have an opportunity to serve as the leading receiver in Carolina after the Panthers traded DJ Moore to the Bears as part of a deal to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, which the team is expected to use on a quarterback.
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Adam Thielen: Moving on from Minnesota
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The Vikings are releasing Thielen on Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Thielen, a former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State, logged a remarkable 10-year stretch with the Vikings but will now have to continue his NFL career elsewhere. The two-time Pro Bowler and Minnesota discussed a potential contract restructure, per Pelissero, but the 32-year-old will ultimately test free agency as one of the top veteran wide receivers on the market. Though Thielen's statistical production declined across 17 appearances in 2022, he still managed to record 70 catches for 716 yards and six touchdowns.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Gains 50 yards in playoff loss
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Thielen had three receptions (four targets) for 50 yards in Sunday's 31-24 wild-card round loss to the Giants.
Thielen was Minnesota's second-leading receiver despite finishing fourth in targets Sunday. The 32-year-old appeared to lose a step in 2022, experiencing a decline in receiving yards (716) and touchdowns (six) despite playing four more games than last season. The deadline acquisition of T.J. Hockenson also cut into the veteran wideout's production. Thielen's natural decline coupled with a smaller role on offense should have the former fantasy star's stock down in 2023.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Has sixth touchdown catch
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Thielen logged two receptions (on three targets) for eight yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 29-13 win versus the Bears.
Thielen had a touchdown catch in the first quarter and then sat in the second half as Minnesota rested most starters ahead of the playoffs. He finished the season with six touchdowns, down significantly from the 14- and 10-touchdown seasons he posted the prior two years, even though his other receiving stats were mostly similar to those campaigns.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: WRs to Sit
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There's always the chance the Vikings try to get Thielen going this week to make sure he's ready for the playoffs, but he's been brutal of late and should not be started in the majority of leagues. In his past two games against the Giants and Packers, Thielen has combined for three PPR points on two catches for 22 yards on nine targets. He also had just four catches for 27 yards on seven targets against the Bears in Week 5. At best, Thielen is a low-end No. 3 receiver in PPR in Week 18.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Just one catch in blowout loss
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Thielen had one reception for 16 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss at Green Bay.
Thielen's role in the offense has declined the past three games while T.J. Hockenson's grows larger. Thielen has just five receptions and 15 targets his last three games, while Hockenson has 37 targets. Neither player may get many targets this week against Chicago as Minnesota may decide to rest or even bench their starters ahead of the playoffs.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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The Vikings have a strong passing offense and should be expected to put up some numbers on Green Bay. But that's something they've been doing without leaning on Thielen. It would be nuts to expect them to suddenly bake Thielen into a large part of the gameplan, especially since he's not separating from coverage like he used to. Might he score? Sure, but the downside is too great to ignore. I'd rather start Richie James, Diontae Johnson and Greg Dortch in PPR.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Catches one pass in win
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Thielen caught one of five targets for six yards in Saturday's 27-24 win over the Giants.
Thielen's underwhelming performance came on a day when quarterback Kirk Cousins attempted 48 passes. Though his five targets were a slight improvement from the four looks he saw in Week 15, the veteran was able to reel in just one catch. Meanwhile, both Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson tied for a team-high 16 targets and turned in outstanding fantasy performances. The Vikings remain a high-volume passing offense, so Thielen will look to bounce back when the Vikings visit the Packers in Week 17.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Flex Starter (Lineup Decisions)
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If you start Thielen, you're hoping he scores. That's basically the gist of it because he hasn't had even 75 yards in a game this season and has just five with six-plus receptions. And last week he was a complete non-factor for three and a half quarters in a game the Vikings were chasing points in. I'd sit him if the matchup were tougher, but it's not, so consider him flex-worthy. I'd start him over wideouts seriously impacted like weather (like the Saints and Browns) as well as over Diontae Johnson, Drake London and Marquise Brown.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Heats up late in comeback win
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Thielen caught three of four targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 39-36 overtime win over the Colts.
Thielen wasn't targeted until halfway through the fourth quarter, which was odd considering he had caught at least two passes in every previous game this season while seeing fewer than seven targets only twice in the last 12. The 32-year-old receiver got going late, bookending a six-play drive with a 19-yard catch and a one-yard touchdown to cut what was once a 33-point deficit to eight. In the final minute of overtime, Thielen helped get Minnesota in range for a game-winning field goal with a 21-yard catch. He'll look to recapture a more prominent role in Week 16 against the Giants.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Finds end zone in Week 14 loss
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Thielen secured seven of eight targets for 65 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 34-23 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
Thielen finished second in receptions and targets while checking in third in receiving yards on the afternoon for the Vikings. The veteran wideout made an impact with a 23-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarter as well, bringing Minnesota to within eight points at the time. Thielen's production has some ebb and flow to it, but he's now posted tallies of five or more catches in four of the last seven games going into a Week 15 home matchup against the Colts on Saturday afternoon.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: WRs to Start
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Thielen had a good game against the Lions when these teams met in Week 3 with six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. He has four games this season with at least eight targets, and he has scored at least 15 PPR points in each outing. I expect this game to be a high-scoring affair, and hopefully Thielen will be heavily targeted by Kirk Cousins. The Lions have struggled with opposing receivers of late, allowing 50 catches for 643 yards and three touchdowns in the past three weeks against the Giants, Buffalo and Jacksonville. Over that span, six receivers have scored at least 13 PPR Points, and I expect this to be a solid week for Thielen and Justin Jefferson at Detroit.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Candidly, you should start Cousins if you think he can score, or if you think he can beat the Lions secondary several times. I'm not convinced he can do either of those things, but because the game figures to be high scoring, there's a chance for it. You could flex Thielen but I'd rather take my shots with upside receivers like Gabe Davis, Darius Slayton and Nico Collins.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Musters two catches Sunday
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Thielen reeled in two of six targets for 27 yards during Sunday's 27-22 win against the Jets.
After tallying at least three catches and 30 receiving yards in eight of the Vikings' first nine games of the season, Thielen has fallen short of both thresholds in two of the last three, with the exception a 9-61-1 line on 10 targets during a Thanksgiving Day win versus the Patriots. His snap share (86 percent) was in line with the rest of his outings this season, but the fact he's in an offense with one of the league's top wide receivers in Justin Jefferson appears to have relegated the 32-year-old to TD-dependent status at this point in his career.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: WRs to Sit
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Thielen had a big game against the Patriots in Week 12 with nine catches for 61 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. He scored 21 PPR points, but prior to that outing he combined for 22 PPR points in his previous three games against Washington, Buffalo and Dallas. The Jets are No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and they've only allowed one touchdown to a receiver since Week 8. Thielen is just a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in most leagues in Week 13.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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If you're looking for 15 PPR points from Thielen this week, you better hope he scores again. He hasn't scored in consecutive games yet this year. The Jets secondary is tough and their pass rush figures to complicate the issue for Kirk Cousins, which might buy Thielen some receptions but not much else. He could land at 13 PPR points, which makes him a decent PPR flex (I'd start him over Allen Lazard), but I'd rather go with Michael Pittman, Christian Watson and Zay Jones.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Resurgent effort in Week 12 win
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Thielen secured nine of 10 targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 33-26 win over the Patriots on Thursday night.
Thielen tied Justin Jefferson for the team lead in receptions and finished second to his star teammate in receiving yards and targets. The sure-handed veteran wideout's catch total was a season high, and it marked his first time over the 50-yard mark in three games. Thielen's third touchdown of the season, a 15-yard score with 9:34 remaining, also proved to be the difference in the game, making it a highly productive all-around night. Thielen's first opportunity to build on Thursday's performance comes in a Week 13 home matchup against the Jets a week from Sunday.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Sit 'Em
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The addition of T.J. Hockenson has been tough for Thielen, and he just had his worst game of the season in Week 11 against Dallas with two catches for 25 yards on three targets. He's now scored nine PPR points or less in three games in a row since Hockenson joined the Vikings, and he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6. The Vikings are playing in a prime-time game, which doesn't bode well for Kirk Cousins, and the Patriots defense should harass Cousins without left tackle Christian Darrisaw (concussion). Thielen should have another down outing, and he's only worth using as a No. 3 receiver in deeper leagues in Week 12.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Quiet game as offense sputters
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Thielen had two receptions (three targets) for 25 yards in Sunday's 40-3 loss to the Cowboys.
Minnesota's entire passing offense was shut down by Dallas, resulting in mediocre stat lines from Thielen and the rest of the starting unit. The veteran slot man was providing serviceable fantasy results prior to this dud, so fantasy managers shouldn't react too heavily to a blowout game script. Thielen will look to turn things around on a short week when the Vikings take on the Patriots on Thursday.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: WRs to Sit
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In two games with T.J. Hockenson on the Vikings, Thielen has combined for eight catches for 116 yards and no touchdowns on 14 targets. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6 and has just two touchdowns on the season. He did have a big game against Dallas last year in Week 8 with six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, but it's tough to trust him now as anything more than a No. 3 receiver in the majority of leagues. Cousins is locked in on Justin Jefferson, understandably so, and Hockenson has taken over as the No. 2 option in the passing game. Thielen can still be good, but without a touchdown he might not be great.
