Adam Thielen DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen will officially return for a 12th NFL season in 2025 after agreeing to a a revised contract with the Carolina Panthers, sources tell ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Thielen will now look to add to his 8,311 yards and 64 touchdowns in his career. The 34-year-old veteran wideout briefly contemplated retirement after the 2024 season but isn't quite ready to hang up his cleats after catching 48 passes for 615 yards and five touchdowns in a career-low 10 starts last year. A hamstring injury cost him seven games, but he still managed to lead the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. Thielen had a strong 103-1,014-4 line in 17 starts in 2023 in his first year in Carolina and has developed a strong chemistry with young quarterback Bryce Young. He's definitely an injury risk in fantasy, but when healthy, he should have a decent target floor as a WR4/flex in weekly fantasy lineups.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen has led the team in receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, yet his $8.3 million annual average salary ranks 37th among all wideouts. The 34-year-old posted a 1,000-yard campaign in 2023 before a 615-yard season in just 10 games in 2024. The veteran is reportedly wanting a new deal, but the organization is unlikely to extend him long-term due to his age. However, Joseph Person of The Athletic said the team could offer him a pay bump in the form of converting his per-game bonuses into more guaranteed money. While Thielen is past his prime, he's been a valuable weapon for young quarterback Bryce Young on a team that is lacking high-end pass catchers.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Carolina Panthers want veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen back for the 2025 campaign. Thielen hinted that he would contemplate retirement this offseason, but he recently said that he has decided to come back for another season. The 34-year-old veteran is due for more than $6 million in overall payout in the final year of his deal, but the two sides could renegotiate on a new one-year contract or extension. Fowler gets the sense that the Panthers don't plan to release Thielen. The two-time Pro Bowler played in just 10 games in 2024 due to a hamstring injury and finished with a 48-615-5 line on 62 targets. Thielen did have over 1,000 receiving yards in his first year in Carolina in 2023 and has plenty of chemistry with rising young quarterback Bryce Young. The upside is limited, but fantasy managers shouldn't discount his rapport with Young if he stays with the Panthers.