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Mike ClayWriter ESPN
The Houston Texans acquired WR Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos in exchange for a fourth-round pick (both teams will also trade in the seventh round selections as part of the deal).
This decision makes perfect sense for the Texans, leaders of the AFC South Division, who have a gap against DeAndre Hopkins after recently losing Will Fuller V for the season because of a torn ACL. .
Thomas, who has been field-aligned on 63% of his routes this season, will enter the rank of the team's second-largest receiver, rookie Keke Coutee taking over slots duties after his return from an injury to the thigh.
Thomas, who signed up in 2019, will be 31 in December, but remains a fantastic asset to Denver this season. The Georgia Tech product managed 7.0 targets per game and currently ranks 31st in terms of fantasy points among the big receivers. The use of Thomas is down from last season – he is about to receive 804 passing yards, which would be his lowest total since 2011 – but he has managed 64% of his targets and has an average of 7 , 2 yards per target, both being better than or close to his last season numbers.
Thomas may be replacing Fuller in training, but he is less of a quick and deep threat and more of a possession catcher. Still, Fuller managed a generous 22% target (6.3 per game) in six full games this season, which is about what Thomas plans to do (he was 20% in Denver this season).
The Texans are very offensive, but they have just posted six touchdowns, and there are a lot of points in an attack led by Deshaun Watson. Unlike Denver, Thomas is now clearly the second receiver. Its ceiling is therefore a bit limited, but Watson has shown that he could support several receivers relevant to fantasy.
Thomas, who has been a finalist in the top 16 fantastic leagues over the last four seasons, is considered a marginal WR3 option going forward. Hopkins remains an elite WR1, Coutee is on flexible radar and Watson is a strong QB1 game.
As for Denver, rookie Courtland Sutton is the big winner. The latter has played a lot this season (69% of Denver's offensive shots and 77% of assists), but was limited to a 14% target (4.6 per game) behind Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
Sutton's catch rate, which is 46%, is low, but it has been used much less in the battlefield because the average depth of its 14.5 targets is the eighth on 71 receivers with more than 30 targets this season. His average 19.1 yards per pass is just over DeSean Jackson (22.8). Sutton caught 17 of 37 targets for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Its target share is expected to rise by 20% in the rest of the country, which can certainly lead to the production of the top 30 (if not more). Sutton should be in 100% of the leagues with at least 10 teams in every row. This is a flexible option against Houston during the 9th week.
Sanders, by the way, is solidified as the # 1 wide receiver of the team and remains a solid weekly WR2 option. Keep an eye on the free agent Tim Patrick of 2017, who has not yet been drawn, in the deeper leagues of the dynasty, while he plans to run outside. in sets of three widths.
Projections for the rest of the season:
Sutton: 8 games, 55 targets, 31 receptions, 458 yards, 3 touchdowns
Thomas: 8 games, 52 targets, 32 receptions, 407 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Coutee: 8 games, 39 targets, 26 receptions, 302 yards, 2 touchdowns
Hamilton: 8 games, 33 targets, 20 receptions, 267 yards, 2 touchdowns
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