NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Michael Thomas (ankle) could miss "weeks" of the 2021 regular season. 

23 July 2021

Along with Cam Akers' Achilles injury, it's the most consequential news of the 2021 NFL season. Thomas had surgery to repair ankle ligaments in June -- a procedure with a four-month recovery timeline, according to Rapoport. Thomas, per Rapoport, could be sidelined for "weeks" in the regular season. Thomas was limited to seven games in 2020 after suffering the ankle injury in Week 1. His absence likely means an enormous target share for Alvin Kamara, who could now be as valuable as any running back in PPR formats. Kamara, in eight games with Thomas sidelined last season, averaged 8.62 targets and scored 30.9 PPR points per game. Tre'Quan Smith becomes the team's default No. 1 wideout with Thomas out, though he probably won't transform into a target hog. We'll see Smith's ADP rise in the coming weeks as Thomas' third-round ADP plunges into the middle rounds. Thomas now becomes a high-upside stash for fantasy managers who stock up on receivers early in drafts.