Ian Thomas Fantasy Overview

Raiders TE Brock Bowers (knee) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Colts. The team rested him on Thursday and Friday, but the knee did not respond as hoped. We’ll keep you updated on Bowers’ status this coming week. With TE Michael Mayer out with his concussion, Vegas is down to TEs Ian Thomas and Albert Okwuegbunam. Neither is a viable fantasy play. We should see more targets funneled to the Raiders’ WRs and RBs today.

Panthers TEs Tommy Tremble (hamstring, back) and Ian Thomas (calf) have been ruled out for Sunday's opener vs. the Saints.

ESPN's David Newton says Panthers TE Ian Thomas "has stolen the spotlight [this spring] at a position that is featured in Dave Canales' passing game." The Panthers ranked just 28th in total TE receptions last season (59), with Tommy Tremble's 23 catches leading the group -- and ranking just sixth on the team. Thomas managed only 5 receptions on 9 targets over 12 games after getting a contract extension last offseason. Thomas has 116 career receptions through six years with the Panthers. But the 49 targets and 36 catches of his rookie year remain career highs. He hasn't topped 31 targets, 21 receptions, or 197 yards in a season since.

The Panthers selected Texas TE Ja’Tavion Sanders with the first pick of Round 4. He’s been overshadowed in this class by TE Brock Bowers, but Sanders is a damn good prospect in his own right. A five-star recruit and top-30 overall player in the 2021 class, Sanders broke out as a sophomore in 2022. He ranked second on that Longhorns team in catches (54), third in receiving yards (613), and second in TDs (5). Last year brought a career-high 682 receiving yards, despite the arrival of WR Adonai Mitchell. Sanders averaged a big 15.2 yards per catch, fueled largely by 7.7 yards after catch per reception. He’s a fluid athlete with plus speed, capable of making plays at all three levels of the field. Sanders also possesses nice ball skills and reliable hands. He was charged with just four drops (3.9% drop rate) over the last two seasons. Sanders needs to clean up his route running and consistency as a blocker. But he has all the tools to develop into a perennial top-12 fantasy TE. Sanders finds plenty of opportunity in Carolina, where he joins a TE room alongside Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, and Stephen Sullivan. The rookie has a good chance to win the Week 1 starting job.