Who Should I Start? Adam Thielen or Cedric Tillman

Friday, May 2, 12:02 PM

Carolina Panthers veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen said that he talked with his family, and they wanted him to play in 2025. He plans to go through a similar process after this season, which is the final year of his contract. Depending on how the 34-year-old feels and what his family thinks after the 2025 campaign, Thielen could hang up his cleats and retire. He's returning for a third season in Carolina after playing in a career-low 10 games in 2024 due to a hamstring injury. In those 10 games, he caught 48 of his 62 targets for 615 yards and five touchdowns. He should continue to be a trusted weapon for young quarterback Bryce Young out of the slot this year, but the addition of first-round rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan will surely make Thielen harder to trust as a WR3/flex in fantasy based on volume alone like he was in 2023, when he recorded the third 1,000-yard season of his career on 103 targets.

Saturday, July 26, 1:18 PM

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman (calf) is back at training camp practice on Saturday, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson. Tillman left practice early on Friday with what appeared to be calf cramping, but he's back in action a day later and shouldn't have any concerns going forward. The 25-year-old former third-rounder (74th overall) in 2023 out of Tennessee came on strong midway through last season when Jameis Winston took over at quarterback, but a concussion cut his season short. Heading into his third year in the NFL, he should be a starter in three-wide sets for Cleveland next to Jerry Jeudy and Diontae Johnson. In his two seasons with the Browns, Tillman has caught 50 of 93 targets for 563 yards and three touchdowns in 25 games (nine starts). He has opportunity, but with either Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett at QB, Tillman's fantasy upside will be limited.