Who Should I Start? Adam Thielen or Donovan Peoples-Jones

Friday, September 12, 5:25 PM

Starting Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen on Sunday would be a bet that he can recapture the magic in his first game back in Minnesota since being reacquired in a trade with Carolina, albeit one that comes with heavy risk. The Minnesota offense was brutal for three quarters in Week 1, though the Vikings did mount a dramatic comeback and go to the veteran for a key two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. However, Thielen played 57% of offensive snaps and drew only one target, which he dropped. Thielen figures to improve on the number of targets in Week 2, especially with Jordan Addison (suspension) still out, but he'll likely be in a secondary role and still attached to a first-time starter at quarterback. He should be saved for deeper formats only.

Thursday, May 15, 1:06 PM

New Orleans Saints executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis announced earlier this week that the team signed free-agent wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and safety Terrell Burgess to undisclosed one-year deals and waived safety Millard Bradford and running back Jordan Mims in corresponding moves. Both Peoples-Jones and Burgess took part in the team's rookie minicamp last weekend on a tryout basis. Peoples-Jones, 26, was a sixth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2020 out of Michigan. He was on the Detroit Lions' practice squad last year but last played in an NFL game in 2023, when he caught 13 of 25 targets for 155 yards and no touchdowns in 15 games (six starts) with the Browns and Lions. DPJ will face an uphill battle for a starting role in New Orleans as receiver depth behind Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks and Bub Means in 2025.