Michael Thomas Injury Update Raises Huge Red Flag Around Fantasy Outlook

Anyone who spent a first-round fantasy football pick on New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas was surely disappointed in Week 1, when he turned in just 3 receptions for 17 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It turns out he got hurt in that game, and suddenly his fantasy football outlook has taken a huge hit.

A high-ankle injury is no joke for a skill position player. It doesn't sound like this is the kind of dreaded high-ankle sprain that can sideline players for weeks, but it's still not good news.

Playing hurt could severely reduce Thomas' effectiveness, especially because his fantasy value tends to rely on volume as opposed to the kind of big-play ability that could see him salvage a day on one or two big catches.

If anything, it would probably be better for his long-term fantasy value if he sits out this week and returns closer to full strength, rather than playing hurt and risking a prolonged fight through the injury.

Emmanuel Sanders and Tre'Quan Smith Fantasy Outlook

If Thomas misses any time, both Emmanuel Sanders and Tre'Quan Smith will see their fantasy football outlook soar.

Sanders' 5 targets were tied with Thomas for the most among Saints wideouts on Sunday, and Smith actually out-snapped Sanders 44 to 33. They would both stand to see a huge up-tick in targets if Thomas sits out any games.

For the time being we'll have to take a wait-and-see approach on the situation, especially because the Saints don't play until Monday Night Football in Week 2.

The late kickoff could make this an especially tough spot for fantasy football managers, so if you're hoping to start Thomas, make sure you have another viable WR option on your bench to pivot to this week. Luckily, there are some good ones likely available on the waiver wire.

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Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.