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    Michael Thomas 2022 NFL season props, odds: Saints receiver on track to play Week 1 vs. Falcons

    Saints wideout and former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas, working his way back from a hamstring injury, is on track to play Week 1 in Atlanta.
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    While it seems like both forever ago and yesterday, entering the 2020 NFL season Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints was considered the best receiver in the league. However, injuries have basically wrecked the former Offensive Player of the Year since then. Thomas is dealing with yet another ailment, a hamstring issue that has caused him to miss roughly two weeks of practices, but The Athletic is reporting that he is on track to start Week 1 in Atlanta. The Saints are -5.5 at Caesars Sportsbook.

    Thomas had one of the great seasons for a wideout in history in 2019 when he led the league with 149 catches (NFL record) and 1,725 yards to go with nine touchdowns on his way to being named Offensive Player of the Year and All-Pro. It was his third straight year with at least 100 catches and 1,200 yards.

    The former Ohio State star injured his ankle in Week 1 of the 2020 campaign vs. Tampa Bay and simply hasn't been the same physically. He was limited to seven games that year (40 catches, 438 yards, zero TDs) and didn't play at all in 2021 following ankle surgery. In his first four seasons, he missed just one game. At least his current issue isn't ankle-related, although players can tweak hamstrings when overcompensating for other leg/ankle issues. (According to ESPN, "Thomas did indeed show his trademark physicality and ball skills in Saints practices before the hamstring injury.")   

    Saints quarterback Jameis Winston hasn't started a game in New Orleans in which Thomas has played yet. Thomas, whose 510 receptions are an NFL record for a player through his first five seasons, will also have to share touches in 2022 with free-agent addition Jarvis Landry and rookie first-round pick Chris Olave.

    Thomas is given over/under season totals of 800.5 yards receiving and 5.5 touchdowns. He is +5500 to win Offensive Player of the Year again, +1800 to win Comeback Player of the Year (Winston is a +500 second favorite) and +4000 to lead the league in receiving yards.

    For the Week 1 matchup in Atlanta, the SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Thomas for 5.4 catches, 69 yards and 0.39 touchdowns. Thomas had two 100-yard games in his shortened 2020 season and both were against the Falcons.

    Which Fantasy Football sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade? And which QB shocks the NFL with a top-five performance? Join SportsLine now to get Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called Jonathan Taylor's huge season, and find out.             

    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

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