The Houston Texans have acquired WR Demaryius Thomas from the Denver Broncos in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick (the two teams will also swap seventh-round picks as part of the deal).
The move makes a lot of sense for the AFC South-leading Texans, who have a void opposite DeAndre Hopkins after recently losing Will Fuller V for the season because of a torn ACL.
Thomas, who has lined up on the perimeter on 63 percent of his routes this season, will slide in as the team's No. 2 wide receiver, with rookie Keke Coutee handling slot duties once he returns from a hamstring injury.
Thomas, who is signed through 2019, turns 31 years old in December but has still been a fantasy asset in Denver this season. The Georgia Tech product was handling 7.0 targets per game and currently sits 31st in fantasy points among wide receivers. Thomas' usage is down from recent seasons -- he's on pace for 804 receiving yards, which would be his lowest total since 2011 -- but he has hauled in 64 percent of his targets and is averaging 7.2 yards per target, both of which are better than or close to his numbers from the past few seasons.
Thomas may be replacing Fuller in the lineup, but he's less of a speedy, deep threat and more of a possession receiver. Still, Fuller was handling a generous 22 percent target share (6.3 per game) in six full games this season, which is roughly where Thomas figures to land (he was at 20 percent in Denver this season).
The Texans operate a run-heavy offense, but they're fresh off a game in which they scored six touchdowns, and there's massive scoring upside in an offense led by Deshaun Watson. Unlike in Denver, Thomas is now clearly a No. 2 receiver, so his ceiling is limited a bit, but Watson has shown he can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers.
Thomas, who has finished as a top-16 fantasy receiver each of the past four seasons, is best viewed as a fringe WR3 option moving forward. Hopkins remains an elite WR1, Coutee is on the flex radar and Watson is a strong QB1 play.
As for Denver, rookie Courtland Sutton is the big winner. The second-rounder has been on the field plenty this season (69 percent of Denver's offensive snaps and 77 percent of pass plays) but has been limited to a 14 percent target share (4.6 per game) behind Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
Sutton's catch rate of 46 percent is poor, but he has been utilized downfield a ton, as his 14.5 average depth of target ranks eighth out of 71 receivers with 30-plus targets this season. His average of 19.1 yards per reception trails only DeSean Jackson (22.8). Sutton has caught 17 of 37 targets for 324 yards and two touchdowns. His target share figures to rise closer to 20 percent the rest of the way, which surely can allow top-30 production (if not more). Sutton should be rostered in 100 percent of leagues with at least 10 teams and is a flex option against Houston in Week 9.
Fellow rookie DaeSean Hamilton is also worth an add in 12-team leagues, as he's expected to be third in line at that position. Hamilton projects as a slot receiver, which could mean Sanders will see more perimeter work and thus tougher matchups going forward. Hamilton has been targeted only three times on 97 snaps and is currently battling a knee injury.
Sanders, by the way, is solidified as the team's No. 1 wide receiver and remains a solid weekly WR2 option. Keep an eye on 2017 undrafted free agent Tim Patrick in deeper dynasty leagues, as he figures to get some run on the outside in three-wide sets.
Rest-of-season projections:
Sutton: 8 games, 55 targets, 31 receptions, 458 yards, 3 touchdowns
Thomas: 8 games, 52 targets, 32 receptions, 407 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Coutee: 8 games, 39 targets, 26 receptions, 302 yards, 2 touchdowns
Hamilton: 8 games, 33 targets, 20 receptions, 267 yards, 2 touchdowns