Who Should I Start? Arian Smith or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Saturday, October 11, 3:51 PM

New York Jets wide receiver Arian Smith should see the field more in Week 6 when his team takes on the Denver Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The rookie has amassed just five targets and four catches through five games in 2025. However, with the news that teammate Allen Lazard (personal) will be ruled out this Sunday, Smith should get a bit of extra run behind fellow wideouts Josh Reynolds and Garrett Wilson. The path to fantasy relevance is narrow, particularly with tight end Mason Taylor carving out a significant target share from quarterback Justin Fields. Still, New York may be forced to air it out a bit more with Denver's defense allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game to opposing ground attacks (88.4). Smith isn't an option in season-long lineup leagues, but he's worth monitoring for dynasty purposes. The former Georgia Bulldog is RotoBaller's PPR WR116 for his matchup with the Broncos.

Saturday, October 4, 6:47 PM

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. has yet to establish a consistent role in the team's offense, and his opportunities continue to dwindle as the Raiders shift toward heavier two-tight-end formations. In Week 4 against the Bears, Thornton saw just two targets and failed to record a catch, marking another quiet outing for the rookie. With Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker entrenched as the primary receivers and fellow rookie Jack Bech beginning to see occasional involvement, Thornton has fallen further down the depth chart. Until his target share increases or his role expands, fantasy managers can safely move on from Thornton in all formats. He remains a developmental stash at best, with little short-term fantasy appeal.