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5 players who Saints need to be great in 2020

By Mike Phillips

Saints receiver Michael Thomas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Saints receiver Michael Thomas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 05: Anthony Harris #41 and Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings attempt to tackle Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints during the first half in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 05: Anthony Harris #41 and Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings attempt to tackle Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints during the first half in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints x-factor: Michael Thomas

2019 was a coming-out party for Michael Thomas, who established himself as one of the top receivers in the NFL. The New Orleans Saints knew that Thomas was a pretty good player after he made consecutive Pro Bowls in 2017 and ’18, but Thomas took his game to a whole new level last season.

Thomas shattered the NFL’s record for receptions in a single season, catching 149 passes for a league-leading 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns. Those explosive numbers made him the centerpiece of the Saints’ offense, which was explosive throughout the regular season.

There will undoubtedly be a drop off in Thomas’ numbers this season since opposing defenses will double-team him constantly, but how much that dip is will be key. If Thomas is able to put up stats somewhere between his 2018 and 2019 numbers, the Saints will be just fine.

The problem comes if Thomas struggles with the added attention, which would put more pressure on everyone else to step up. Thomas is the go-to-guy for the Saints and he has to continue producing at a Pro Bowl-level for New Orleans to get where they want to go in 2020.

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