Panthers WR Adam Thielen said this week that he’ll consider retiring after the 2025 season. Thielen initially signed with the Vikings as a UDFA back in 2013. He turns 35 in August and is only under contract for the upcoming season.
2025 Fantasy Football Impact
Thielen made only 10 appearances last year because of a Week 3 hamstring injury. He proved useful when healthy, finishing as a top-18 fantasy WR in four of his final six games.
A late-season surge from Bryce Young certainly helped. The former top pick ranked 6th in PFF passing grade and 3rd in Big Time Throw rate over the final six games. We look for further improvement in year two alongside HC Dave Canales.
In total, Thielen racked up 48 catches, 615 yards, and 5 TDs. His yards per catch (12.8) and yards per route run (2.06) were his highest since 2019. Thielen's hands showed no decline, either, as he tallied just a 4% drop rate.
Still, Carolina signaled that it wants more from the WR corps. Tetairoa McMillan arrived as the 8th overall pick. And Canales talked up Xavier Legette pre-draft as a hyper-athletic “playmaker.”
Current projections have Legette and Thielen tied for second on the team in targets. See where those guys sit in our 2025 PPR WR rankings.