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Minnesota Vikings

Vikings release Adam Thielen

The Vikings are moving on from Adam Thielen. They released him today, looking to clear up salary cap room for the 2023 season.

Thielen, 32, had a $20 million cap number for the upcoming season. He’s now free to sign with any team, and he’s indicated he intends to keep playing. The Vikings had approached him about returning at a lower number, but the two sides apparently couldn’t agree on his value.

Thielen is a local legend. He grew up in the area and played his college ball at Minnesota State. He signed with the Vikings after catching their eye at a tryout camp. He spent 10 years with the team, catching 534 passes, 3rd-most in franchise history behind Cris Carter and Randy Moss.

For fantasy purposes, Thielen’s most notable work came around the goal line. He’s always excelled in that part of the field, with his smarts, sure hands and toughness. If Thielen signs with a new team, the first order of business will be to gauge whether he can continue to be a factor in that area.

Over the last five years, Thielen has caught 36 passes inside the 10-yard line, 3rd-most in the league behind Davante Adams and Travis Kelce. No other player has caught more than 30. And only Adams and Kelce have caught more scoring passes in that area since 2018.

Over the last five years, Thielen has scored on over 60 percent of the passes thrown his way inside the 10 (that includes 26 touchdowns and 3 2-point conversions). In the same time period, 48 other players have seen at least 25 targets in that part of the field. Only one (Tyler Lockett) has scored on a higher ratio of passes, and only five others have scored on over half of their targets. (Those guys are tagged with black dots.)

I don’t expect Thielen to be a big factor in 2023. He’ll be 33 in August. But let’s see where he signs.

TARGETS INSIDE THE 10-YARD LINE (last 5 years)
PosPlayerTgtComEZTD2PtEZ Pct
TETravis Kelce, K.C.68423028244.1%
WR• Davante Adams, G.B.-L.V.61443432255.7%
WR• Mike Evans, T.B.53282726150.9%
WRChris Godwin, T.B.50302118342.0%
WRAdam Thielen, Min.48362926360.4%
WRCooper Kupp, LAR48302121043.8%
WRStefon Diggs, Min.-Buff.45251817140.0%
TEZach Ertz, Phi.-Ari.44282218450.0%
WRKeenan Allen, LAC44251716138.6%
WRDeAndre Hopkins, Hou.-Ari.44221514134.1%
WRJustin Jefferson, Min.4317129327.9%
TE• Mark Andrews, Balt.40252219355.0%
WRAllen Robinson, Chi.-LAR40151211130.0%
WRMike Williams, LAC39151311233.3%
TEAustin Hooper, 3 tms38251916350.0%
WRTyreek Hill, K.C.-Mia.38231818047.4%
WRChristian Kirk, Ari.-Jac.37221312135.1%
TETyler Higbee, LAR35231615145.7%
WRMarvin Jones, Det.-Jac.35181414040.0%
WRAmari Cooper, 3 tms34151212035.3%
WRJarvis Landry, Cle.-N.O.34191110132.4%
WRMichael Thomas, N.O.33211313039.4%
WRDK Metcalf, Sea.33141312139.4%
TEGeorge Kittle, S.F.32171211137.5%
WRA.J. Green, Cin.-Ari.32976121.9%
TEDarren Waller, L.V.31171211138.7%
TEMike Gesicki, Mia.3012109133.3%
WRKenny Golladay, Det.-NYG301399030.0%
TE• T.J. Hockenson, Det.-Min.29171612455.2%
WRJuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt.-K.C.29181110137.9%
TEJared Cook, 3 tms28181210242.9%
WRRobert Woods, LAR-Ten.28151211142.9%
WREmmanuel Sanders, 4 tms28171110139.3%
TEJimmy Graham, Sea.-Chi.28151110139.3%
TEGerald Everett, 3 tms2814119239.3%
RBAustin Ekeler, LAC2823109135.7%
WR• Tyler Lockett, Sea.27221715263.0%
WR• Calvin Ridley, Atl.27161412251.9%
TEHunter Henry, LAC-N.E.27161312148.1%
WRDJ Moore, Car.27121110140.7%
WRCourtland Sutton, Den.271065122.2%
WRDiontae Johnson, Pitt.2615107338.5%
WROdell Beckham, 3 tms26121010038.5%
WRHunter Renfrow, L.V.261699034.6%
WRBrandin Cooks, LAR-Hou.261588030.8%
WRCurtis Samuel, Car.-Was.261266023.1%
TEDawson Knox, Buff.25171111044.0%
WRTyler Boyd, Cin.25131110144.0%
TEKyle Rudolph, 3 tms2512119244.0%

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index