The NFL's 10 Best Deep-Ball Wide Receivers in 2017
9. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
Deep Targets: 44 | Target NEP per Target: 0.82 | Success Rate: 56.82%
Adam Thielen made this list last year, as well, potentially foreshadowing his 2017 breakout season. Dude's just a talented wideout.
What made Thielen's year so impressive is the efficiency he posted while also getting serious volume. His 44 deep targets ranked fifth in the league, giving the Minnesota Vikings' quarterbacks plenty of opportunities to make mistakes. That just didn't happen as only one of those throws resulted in an interception.
The other aspect that blows you away about Thielen is that he has made this list in consecutive years while playing with two different quarterbacks. Both Sam Bradford and Case Keenum picked apart defenses while utilizing this guy, and it's possible there will be another voice barking out signals in 2018. Should Thielen have a preference between the two?
Here's a look at each quarterback's metrics when targeting Thielen deep over the past two years. It appears we have a runaway winner.
| Targeting Thielen Deep | Attempts | Target NEP | Target NEP per Target | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Bradford | 30 | 50.97 | 1.70 | 70.00% |
| Case Keenum | 38 | 24.10 | 0.63 | 52.63% |
Yowza. Even though Keenum had eight more deep throws to Thielen, Bradford racked up more than twice as many expected points on those throws. We know Bradford's knees are a major risk, but if healthy, it does seem as if he would be the best option for this team. But if Thielen can make this list again in 2018 with Teddy Bridgewater or somebody else at the helm, we might as well just accept him as our new overlord of deep balls.
