In Minnesota, Thielen is the Carlton Banks and Justin Jefferson is the Will Smith, vengeful slaps applied to Chris Rock not included. There’s no question that Thielen is second fiddle, but after Jefferson’s 184-yard performance against the rival Packers, he is sure to draw coverage almost exclusively by Darius Slay, one of the finer cover men in the league. If that scenario unfolds, expect Thielen to primarily draw the attention of former Giant James Bradberry, a DB who performed admirably in Week 1 by surrendering a mere 40.6 passer rating to his Lions assignments. Still, in a Monday night affair with a projected total exceeding 50, Kirk Cousins should toss tight spirals consistently. Last Sunday, the Eagles conceded 13 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns to Jared Goff and Lions wide receivers.
Though Thielen may play an auxiliary role, the crafty veteran remains an elite red-zone weapon. Last Sunday against Green Bay, he lured just four targets, catching three balls for 36 yards. His lowly aDOT (6.8) and zero touchdowns were uninspiring, but the Packers offered little defensive resistance, especially on No. 18. Cousins scored easily on layups as Green Bay DBs were seemingly allergic to defending the most dangerous weapon on the field. Philly won’t be that naive, but given the shootout appeal and Thielen’s penchant for getting space inside the red-zone, a six-point spike is a distinct possibility.
Fearless Forecast: 5 receptions, 58 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.3 fantasy points