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The Minnesota Vikings expected to get wide receiver Adam Thielen back in Week 15, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He returned to practice on Wednesday, according to beat writer Chris Tomasson, after sitting out Week 14 practices.
Thielen has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 7 and aggravating early in the team’s Week 9 game. He seemed on track to return in Week 13, but a late week aggravation resulted in him being downgraded to out. He was a DNP all last week in practice.
Fantasy football analysis: Vikings WR Adam Thielen
Stefon Diggs has been the team’s leading receiver in Thielen’s absence. Laquon Treadwell and Kyle Rudolph have shown some signs of life, but Diggs has been the guy. Thielen’s return impacts Diggs, but in reality would force defenses to be a little more honest with Diggs.
The bigger benefit is for Kirk Cousins, who would have one of his best pass catching options available. There is always concern of aggravating a hamstring injury, so I can understand fantasy players being a bit hesitant. If you’ve got a deep receiver corps, you can wait a week to see if he stay healthy. If you’re shallow at receiver, you might have to just suck it up and play Thielen.