News: The Denver Post reports that Broncos tight end Julius Thomas, who saw his rookie season ruined by a severe Week 2 ankle injury last September, had surgery to repair ligaments this past week. Thomas will begin his recovery as the Broncos are set to open their offseason program April 16. Thomas will be limited to work with the team’s training and medical staff as the Broncos go through their offseason conditioning and team workouts over the next two months. Thomas finished the season with one reception for 5 yards — against the Bengals in the game he suffered the injury. He was gameday inactive for 11 games in the regular season in 2011.
Analysis: Thomas has plenty of potential if he can stay healthy, but the Broncos added two tight ends this offseason in Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen. Thomas will have to compete for playing time and has minimal Fantasy value. Ignore him in most formats on Draft Day.
News: Denver rookie TE Julius Thomas had his walking boot removed and his ankle sprain is improving, reports the Denver Post on Monday following Week 3 of the NFL season. Thomas did not play Week 3 after suffering the injury in the Week 2 game against the Bengals.
Analysis: Thomas could still miss the Week 4 game at Green Bay, but the good news is that he's improving. Thomas has one catch for 5 yards this season as a rookie for the Broncos. He has low-end Fantasy value at this time and should be left on waivers for Week 4.
News:The Denver Post reports Broncos TE Julius Thomas is expected to miss at least two weeks with a high ankle sprain he suffered Sunday against the Bengals.
Analysis: Thomas has just one catch for 5 yards in his first two NFL games. He is a backup TE and has no Fantasy appeal at this time.
News: Denver rookie TE Julius Thomas injured his ankle after making a 5-yard catch on Sunday against Cincinnati. He limped off the field after getting tackled. He was listed as questionable to make a return.
Analysis: Thomas joins a long list of injured Broncos. While he showed some promise during the preseason, the rookie still has some work to do. He could be a nice option for Kyle Orton this year, but he's not worth picking up just yet. Fantasy owners should just keep an eye on him for now.
News: Rookie TE Julius Thomas continues to receive significant first-team snaps with the Broncos. But while Thomas has shown promise as a receiver, he'll have to quickly get through the growing pains as a blocker in order to stay relevant. Thomas, a college hoops star who's played high-level football for only 15 months, fanned on a block that led to a sack against Dallas in Thursday night's game.
Analysis: Thomas didn't make a catch (he wasn't even targeted) and was called for a penalty. Thomas is a player worth keeping tabs on in Fantasy, but it's tough to draft him in seasonal formats because all he is right now is potential.
News: Broncos rookie Julius Thomas is running with the starters in two-tight end formations, culminating a two-minute drive with a touchdown Tuesday. Count QB Kyle Orton as impressed with Thomas' feel for football, despite having played only one season in college. "A lot of young kids, they’re running around but they don’t necessarily know when they're open," Orton said. "He’s got that about him, where he knows when he's open and where I want to go with the football."
Analysis: Fifteen months ago, Thomas -- a converted basketball player -- couldn't identify basic football concepts such as 'leverage' having not played football since eighth grade until a senior gridiron trial at Portland State. But apparently he has been a quick learn. The Broncos really hope Thomas develops into Tony Gonzalez, who was another former college basketball player that has found a niche in the NFL as a tight end. Thomas is a player worth keeping tabs on in Fantasy, but it's tough to draft him in seasonal formats because all he is right now is potential.
News: The Denver Post reports Wednesday that the Broncos have reached an agreement to sign TE Julius Thomas, a fourth-round pick from Portland State, to a four-year deal. The $2.5 million contract will start out at the league's minimum in the first season if he makes the roster.
Analysis: Thomas is not only expected to make the team, but he is expected to develop into the starting TE quickly. Richard Quinn, who has one catch in two seasons, will start at blocking tight end and Dan Gronkowski will start at receiving tight end until Thomas is ready. Because of their confidence in Thomas, the Broncos are unlikely to pursue a front-line tight end in free agency. "Definitely good news for me," Thomas said in late June. "It's something I'm used to, though. I was on the fast track my last year in college. I know I have a long way to go, though. That's why I called Brady (Quinn)." Fantasy owners should keep an eye on how far the athletic Thomas comes in training camp, though he is considered to be just a late-round pick in dynasty/keeper leagues this year.
News: The Denver Post reports the Broncos are counting on rookie TE Julius Thomas, a fourth-round pick from Portland State, to develop quickly. Richard Quinn, who has one catch in two seasons, will start at blocking tight end. Dan Gronkowski will start at receiving tight end until Thomas is ready. Because of their confidence in Thomas, the Broncos are unlikely to pursue a front-line tight end in free agency. "Definitely good news for me," Thomas said. "It's something I'm used to, though. I was on the fast track my last year in college. I know I have a long way to go, though. That's why I called Brady."
Analysis: Although Thomas is raw as he played four years of basketball before playing a fifth athletic season of football at Portland State, he is smart. Both his parents earned college degrees and his father is a high school principal. We don't expect him to develop into a quality Fantasy option as a rookie, but he does have potential. He is worth drafting with a late-round pick in dynasty/keeper leagues this year.
