Who Should I Start? Michael Thomas or D.J. Chark

Wednesday, March 13, 5:56 PM

Wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) is no longer under contract with the New Orleans Saints, according to a source, and is now officially a free agent. It was a formality this offseason since his deal was only really for one year. The 31-year-old was designated as a post-June 1 cut by the Saints. Thomas missed the final seven games of the 2023 season due to a knee injury and isn't likely to have a very robust market given all of the injuries he's endured since leading the NFL in receptions (149) and receiving yards (1,725) in 2019, the last year he was named to the Pro Bowl. Since then, the former second-round pick by the Saints in 2016 out of Ohio State has played in only 20 games and has caught 95 passes for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns.

Friday, April 19, 2:05 PM

Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., one of the top free-agent receivers available with less than a week until the NFL draft, spent Thursday on a visit with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to a source. The Chargers may draft a receiver as early as the fifth overall pick next Thursday night, but they still need starters and Chark could be an option to help build depth at the position now that Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both gone. The 27-year-old Chark had a 1,000-yard season with the Jaguars in 20219 and scored eight touchdowns, but injuries and inconsistency have limited him in four years since and he hasn't been reliable for fantasy managers. Chark might be intriguing as a late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts if he were to land in LA, but it would also depend on what the Chargers do at the position in the upcoming draft.