After bursting onto the scene in 2017 and finishing top 10 in the league in receptions and receiving yards, Adam Thielen has one-upped himself in 2018. He leads the NFL in both categories this season and has surpassed 100 yards in each of his first 6 games so far, averaging almost 10 receptions per game in the process. He’s clearly developed the same type of chemistry with Kirk Cousins that he had with Case Keenum, and he’s on pace for a historic year through 6 weeks.
Oh, that 100 yards in each of his first 6 games thing? Yeah, nobody in the Super Bowl era has ever done that. Pretty incredible, especially considering this guy was an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State just a few years ago. Thielen has quickly become one of the most dynamic WRs in football, not only racking up a ton of receptions from the slot but turning them into big yards. Along with leading the league in receptions and yards he’s also tied with Antonio Brown for the league lead with 66 targets, and there are absolutely no signs anywhere that his usage will drop one iota anytime in the near future.
Head coach Mike Zimmer (obviously) has nothing but positive reviews for Thielen to this point in the year. He told the media after the game he doesn’t ever think there’s a ball that Thielen can’t come down with, and added:
“That’s how he is in practice every day. Adam has a great heart, he’s a really tough kid. He comes over to me and talks to me during the game about stuff that’s going on, and it’s always about, ‘These guys can’t guard me,’ and all the stuff like that.”
Thielen’s historic streak should continue at least another 2 weeks, as the Vikings play the Jets in Week 7, who have allowed the most yards to opposing slot receivers in the league in 2018, and the Saints in Week 8, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing receivers. He’s a 100% matchup-proof starter for the rest of the season, and if you drafted him anywhere near his 2018 ADP of 34, give yourself a few pats on the back for that one.
