Ian Thomas

Ian Thomas

27-Year-Old Tight EndTE
Carolina Panthers
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Thomas' role has been relatively consistent over the course of his five seasons with the Panthers. Playing 17 games last term, he caught 21 of 30 targets for 197 yards while splitting time with Tommy Tremble. Heading into the upcoming campaign, the veteran is anticipated to feature behind starting tight end Hayden Hurst, which should keep his production around its usual, tepid level. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract with the Panthers in February of 2022.
Career-worst campaign
TECarolina Panthers
January 10, 2024
Thomas finished the regular season with five catches on nine targets for 56 yards in 12 games.
ANALYSIS
Thomas endured the worst campaign of his six-year career, with his five missed games playing a factor. Even when healthy, though, Thomas has long been a blocking tight end, not topping 200 receiving yards since his rookie year. With the Panthers having a potential out from the final year of Thomas' current contract, it remains to be seen whether he'll return to Carolina under a new front office and coaching staff.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Ian Thomas' 2023 advanced stats compare to other tight ends?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
6.2
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.35
 
% Team Air Yards
1.9%
 
% Team Targets
1.7%
 
Avg Depth of Target
8.2 Yds
 
Catch Rate
55.6%
 
Drop Rate
11.1%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
7.0
 
% Targeted On Route
13.8%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.86
 
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2023
2022
2021
2020
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2018
2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Carolina PanthersPanthers 2023 TE Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

53449%
29327%
20919%
16415%
121%
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How often does Ian Thomas run a route when on the field for a pass play?
This data will let you see how Ian Thomas and the other tight ends for the Panthers are being used. Some tight ends may have a lot of snaps, but they're not that useful for fantasy purposes because they're not actually running routes. This data will help you see when this is the case.
Ian Thomas
65 routes   9 targets
← More Blocking
% Routes Run
More Receiving →
31%
126 routes   24 targets
77%
226 routes   32 targets
42%
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Ian Thomas lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Ian Thomas Split Stats
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Thomas started a career-high 13 of 17 games last season, but he only managed 18 catches on 30 targets for 188 yards and didn't score any touchdowns. Despite that limited pass-catching profile - as well as rookie third-rounder Tommy Tremble sporting slightly better production - Thomas was re-signed on a three-year deal this offseason. That commitment figures to keep Thomas in a similar role during the upcoming campaign, with his blocking offering more value than his presence as a route runner.
After long-time Panthers tight end Greg Olsen left last offseason, Thomas was promoted to the top of the depth chart. The result was heightened expectations, but Thomas fell flat in his opportunity. In 16 games, he caught 20 of 31 targets for just 145 yards and one touchdown. In March, Carolina inked Dan Arnold to a two-year contract, moving Thomas back down the pecking order at tight end ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Stuck in Greg Olsen's shadow the last two years, Thomas enters his third season with a fantastic opportunity in a Carolina tight-end room that otherwise consists of journeymen, blocking specialists and undrafted rookies. The 2018 fourth-round pick even has experience handling an every-down role, something he was tasked with whenever Olsen got hurt. Of course, experience and results are different things, with Thomas perhaps coming up a bit short in the latter department. The Panthers essentially used him as a dump-off target, with aDOTs of 6.1 and 6.0 his first two seasons. The lack of downfield work is a bit surprising for a player with 4.74 wheels in a 260-pound frame, though Thomas hasn't done himself any favors with an 8.9 percent drop rate. Competition for targets will be fierce in an offense with Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson and Curtis Samuel.
The Panthers didn't have big plans for Thomas as a rookie, but he was capable when called upon after Greg Olsen suffered another foot injury, posting a 26-268-2 line in seven starting assignments. With Olsen's ability to stay healthy still a significant concern, it's possible Thomas becomes the team's primary tight end this fall. Thomas was merely a fourth-round pick out of Indiana after a quiet college career and a 4.74 40-yard dash, but it's notable he didn't appear totally lost in his first go-round at a complicated position. Be ready to pounce if the news breaks poorly for Olsen.
Drafted in the fourth round of this year's draft, Thomas profiles as an athletic developmental project behind Pro Bowler Greg Olsen. However, considering Olsen's injury struggles last season, as well as his advanced age, Thomas could grow in importance sooner than later.
More Fantasy News
Suiting up for Week 16
TECarolina Panthers
December 24, 2023
Thomas (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Packers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Questionable after full practice
TECarolina Panthers
Ankle
December 22, 2023
Thomas (ankle) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers.
ANALYSIS
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Logs another limited session
TECarolina Panthers
Ankle
December 21, 2023
Thomas (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Gets in limited practice Wednesday
TECarolina Panthers
Ankle
December 20, 2023
Thomas (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
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Won't play vs. Falcons
TECarolina Panthers
Ankle
December 15, 2023
Thomas (ankle) is listed as out for Sunday's game versus the Falcons.
ANALYSIS
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