Who Should I Start? Calvin Ridley or Brian Thomas Jr.

Friday, October 17, 2:54 PM

When the Tennessee Titans welcome former coach Mike Vrabel and his New England Patriots back to Nashville on Sunday, they will be without top wide receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring). Ridley has dealt with knee and elbow injuries over the past two weeks, but it is the hamstring injury sustained in the team's Week 6 loss to the Raiders that held him out of practice this week, and he has now been ruled out. In a week with headlines already swirling around Vrabel's return, the Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan after less than a season and a half at the helm and could have used a steadying presence on offense. While rookie Elic Ayomanor should see an increase in target share with Ridley sidelined, it's hard to trust any Titans pass catchers. However, for fantasy managers in a pinch, Chigoziem Okonkwo, coming off a six-catch game, could be a sneaky start against a Patriots defense that has struggled to defend tight ends.

Sunday, October 12, 10:13 PM

After a slow start to the 2025 season, his second year in the NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has heated up the last two weeks. In the 20-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Thomas had eight catches on 10 targets for a season-high 90 yards and his first touchdown of the year. He led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards. Thomas' eight catches were the most he's had in a game this season, and he's now caught 12 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets in the last two weeks. Fantasy managers are hoping that the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher is just starting to find his groove with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Thomas had over 1,200 yards receiving and 10 total touchdowns in 2024, so we know what he's capable of. He'll be a must-start in a Week 7 matchup in London against the Los Angeles Rams.