Ian Thomas (TE, CAR) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Greg Olsen was on the receiving end of one of the nastiest hits of the season in Week 13 and that made him enter concussion protocol. He couldn’t recover in time for this past Sunday’s match and that put Ian Thomas in the no. 1 tight end spot for the Panthers. Thomas already flashed some good traits in his 32 snaps in Week 13 (four receptions, 24 yards on limited time), but he definitely exploded this Sunday going for 57 yards and a touchdown on five receptions (on a massive 10 targets).

You read it right. Thomas was targeted 10 times by Kyle Allen this weekend against Atlanta and that should be reason enough as to consider Thomas a go-to play at the tight end spot going forward (if Olsen remains out) just on pure volume and chances. Up until his concussion game, Olsen had been targeted 10, five, and seven times in his three matches prior to that one. That means that Allen looks often for his tight end, so Thomas should keep getting looks in the remaining games.

Thomas had not played more than 15 snaps in any game this season until he had to back up Olsen in Week 13, so he had been a non-factor in Carolina and fantasy leagues. His 16.7 points this past weekend might be his ceiling as he was helped by a touchdown, but even without it, he would have scored 10-plus points, a more than reasonable amount if you’re streaming the position.

With Olsen potentially missing more time, Thomas becomes one of the best options available for free at the position. Carolina has a really soft schedule in terms of defenses against tight ends (Seattle, 31st; and Indianapolis, 22nd) so Thomas could keep his scoring up easily. You will find names in the waiver wire with better and larger track records, but with Thomas thrust into the no. 1 tight end role and the schedule Carolina has ahead I’d advise picking him up and streaming him in both games if you make it to your league’s championship game and definitely this next weekend against a cupcake against TEs as the Seahawks Defense is.