Thornton was "at the epicenter of several schematic tricks" new OC Bill O'Brien installed at Wednesday's OTAs practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official website reports.
Analysis: Selected 50th overall in last year's NFL Draft, Thornton's rookie season started with missing Weeks 1-4 and then catching just 22 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns on 45 targets across 13 contests. His speed is standing out at OTAs, however, and Thornton's "route-running precision and pacing to create separation were better than his rookie training camp," according to Lazar. O'Brien has made it a point to feature Thornton's speed in practices. The second-year wideout will try to push Kendrick Bourne for a role in three-wide sets alongside DeVante Parker and newcomer JuJu Smith-Schuster.
May 31, 2023 4:07 PM EST
Thornton brought in three of seven targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 23-21 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
Analysis: The rookie speedster was the somewhat surprising leader in receiving yards and checked in second in targets for the Patriots on the afternoon. Thornton's touchdown grab came just past the midway point of the first quarter on a seven-yard catch, only the second of first pro season. Thornton's receiving yardage tally was also a career high, and he could once again play an important role in a critical Week 18 road battle versus the Bills.
Jan 1, 2023 4:19 PM EST
Thornton (knee) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Analysis: Given that DeVante Parker (concussion) remains out this week, Thornton should continue to see added snaps versus Miami, but with an 18/174/1 stat line on 36 targets through 11 games overall, the 2022 second-rounder isn't a high-percentage fantasy lineup option in Week 17.
Jan 1, 2023 8:44 AM EST
Thornton (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins after practicing in a limited fashion this week, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Analysis: Given that DeVante Parker (concussion) remains out this week, Thornton should continue to see added snaps versus Miami, but with an 18/174/1 stat line on 36 targets through 11 games overall, the 2022 second-rounder isn't a high-percentage fantasy option in Week 17.
Dec 30, 2022 1:38 PM EST
Thornton (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Thornton logged 52 of a possible 56 snaps on offense in this past Saturday's loss to the Bengals, while catching one of his three targets for eight yards in the contest. With no reported setbacks, Thornton's listed limitations Wednesday could well be maintenance-related. Either way, with an 18/174/1 stat line (on 36 targets) in 11 games, the rookie wideout is off the fantasy radar in most formats.
Dec 28, 2022 2:18 PM EST
Thornton was on the field for 52 of a possible 56 snaps on offense in Saturday's 22-18 loss to the Bengals, en route to catching one of his three targets for eight yards in the contest, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Despite seeing added snaps of late with DeVante Parker (concussion) sidelined, Thornton has posted back-to-back one-catch efforts. Heading into the Patriots' last two regular-season contests, the 2022 second-rounder remains off the fantasy radar in all but the deepest of formats.
Dec 26, 2022 9:00 AM EST
Thornton (knee) is listed as active for Saturday's game against the Bengals.
Analysis: With DeVante Parker (concussion) inactive, Thornton should continue to see added snaps Saturday, but with a 17/166/1 stat line on 33 targets through 10 games overall, the 2022 second-rounder remains a speculative fantasy lineup option in Week 16.
Dec 24, 2022 8:56 AM EST
Thornton (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Bengals after practicing in a limited fashion Wednesday and Thursday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Analysis: If active Saturday, Thornton could see added Week 16 snaps, with DeVante Parker (concussion) still out. However, having logged a total of 17 catches for 166 yards and a TD on 33 targets through 10 games overall, the 2022 second-rounder remains a speculative fantasy lineup option as the Patriots' stretch run approaches.
Dec 22, 2022 2:58 PM EST
Thornton (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Thornton wasn't listed on Tuesday's practice estimate, so his limitations Wednesday are worth noting. The Patriots' final injury report of the week will reveal whether or not the rookie wideout approaches Saturday's game against the Bengals with a Week 16 injury designation.
Dec 21, 2022 2:41 PM EST
Thornton logged 60 of a possible 65 snaps on offense en route to catching one of his four targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 30-24 loss to the Raiders, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Thornton saw added work in Week 15, with DeVante Parker (concussion) out, but with QB Mac Jones throwing for just 112 yards, the 2022 second-rounder -- who caught four passes in Week 14 -- didn't yield much production from a fantasy perspective. With 17 catches for 166 yards and a TD on 33 targets in 10 games, Thornton is off the lineup radar in all but the deepest of formats.
Dec 19, 2022 10:01 AM EST
Thornton, who was on the field for 52 of a possible 59 snaps on offense in Monday's 27-13 win over the Cardinals, caught four of his five targets for 28 yards in the contest, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Thornton saw an uptick in snaps Monday with Jakobi Meyers (concussion) inactive and DeVante Parker (head) limited to just six snaps on the contest. If one of both of his fellow WRs are cleared to play this coming Sunday against the Raiders, the rookie wideout will profile as a risky Week 15 fantasy lineup option.
Dec 13, 2022 8:51 AM EST
Thornton caught two of his three targets for 31 yards in Thursday's 24-10 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: The rookie wideout was on the field for 21 of a possible 54 snaps on offense in the contest, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. With 12 catches on 24 targets for 117 yards and a TD in eight games to date, the 2022 second-rounder isn't seeing steady enough volume at this stage to merit fantasy attention in all but the deepest of formats.
Dec 2, 2022 9:25 AM EST
Thornton was not targeted in Thursday's 33-26 loss to the Vikings.
Analysis: Thornton has seen his role slip in the last few weeks due to the re-emergence of Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. As a result, he played only 20 offensive snaps and failed to see a target for the first time in any of his seven games this season. He has failed to top 20 receiving yards on six occasions.
Nov 25, 2022 9:44 AM EST
Thornton logged 17 of a possible 63 snaps on offense in Sunday's 10-3 win over the Jets, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Thornton's Week 11 snap count represented a season low and for the fourth consecutive game the 2022 second-rounder caught just one pass (on two targets for five yards). Until steady volume heads his way, Thornton is off the fantasy radar while working in a New England wideout corps that also includes Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor.
Nov 21, 2022 9:39 AM EST
Thornton logged 42 of a possible 63 snaps on offense in Sunday's 26-3 win over the Colts en route to catching one of his four targets for five yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Since scoring two TDs in Week 6 against the Browns, Thornton has caught one pass in each of his last three games. The 2022 second-rounder is off the fantasy radar for now, with Jakobi Meyers being the only New England wide receiver producing consistently enough to merit weekly lineup consideration.
Nov 7, 2022 9:47 AM EST
Thornton, who was on the field for 61 of a possible 78 snaps on offense in Sunday's 22-17 win over the Jets, caught one of his two targets in the contest for 13 yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Thornton's season-high playing time total was the result of DeVante Parker (knee) being forced out of Sunday's contest after one snap. With Parker potentially being unavailable for the Patriots' Week 9 contest against the Colts, Thornton could continue to see added work this coming weekend, but until the rookie wideout sees steady volume he'll be a speculative fantasy lineup option.
Oct 31, 2022 10:31 AM EST
Thornton was on the field for 44 of a possible 52 snaps on offense in Monday's 33-14 loss to the Bears en route to catching one of his five targets for 19 yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Though Nelson Agholor (three snaps) was back in the mix after missing a game due to a hamstring injury, Thornton worked as the Patriots' No. 3 WR on Monday behind Jakobi Meyers and DeVante Parker. As the speedy rookie's two-TD effort in Week 6 suggests, Thornton has some playmaking upside, but in his current playing context he profiles as a hit-or-miss fantasy option in the weeks ahead.
Oct 25, 2022 8:03 AM EST
Thornton, who was on the field for 40 of a possible 70 snaps on offense in Sunday's 38-15 win over the Browns, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, caught four of his five targets for 37 yards with a TD and carried three times for 16 yards and a rushing score in the contest.
Analysis: Thornton saw an expanded role in Week 6 alongside Jakobi Meyers and DeVante Parker, with Nelson Agholor (hamstring) inactive and Kendrick Bourne limited to four snaps due to a toe injury. The 2022 second-rounder's volume and fantasy upside in Week 7 versus the Bears likely hinges on the availability of Agholor and Bourne, but in any case Thornton's speed gives him the potential to make plays in the coming weeks, thus making him a sleeper candidate in deeper formats.
Oct 17, 2022 9:29 AM EST
In his regular season debut, Thornton was on the field for 25 of possible 60 snaps on offense in Sunday's 29-0 win over the Lions en route to catching two of his three targets for seven yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The 2022 second-rounder missed New England's first four games due to a collarbone injury, but now that he's back in the mix, Thornton brings added speed to New England's pass-catching corps. However, with Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor (hamstring) and Kendrick Bourne also in the team's WR mix, Thornton doesn't currently have a steady path to targets.
Oct 10, 2022 11:33 AM EST
Thornton (collarbone) was activated off injured reserve Saturday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Thornton was designated to return off injured reserve earlier this week, but it's still a bit surprising to see the rookie receiver officially rejoin the active roster so soon. The 2022 second-round pick put together a dynamic training camp prior to the injury, but don't expect Thornton to be a major contributor right away especially so long as rookie QB Bailey Zappe continues to fill in for the injured Mac Jones (ankle).
Oct 8, 2022 1:53 PM EST
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