Who Should I Start? Chimere Dike or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Thursday, April 9, 5:50 AM

As a rookie in 2025, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike flirted with breaking the NFL's single-season all-purpose yardage record, eventually topping the league with 2,427 yards. He finished in the top three in both kickoff and punt return yardage, while adding an additional 423 yards in the passing game. In the rare fantasy league that rewards points for return yards, Dike is a no-brainer must-roster player and potential league-winner depending on scoring settings. In more traditional leagues, however, his fantasy value may actually be held back by what he offers the Titans on special teams. After proving himself to be such a dynamic weapon in the kicking game, Tennessee's new coaching staff would be wise to keep him in a similar role, with any contributions as a receiver viewed largely as a bonus, almost in the mold of a Kavonte Turpin in Dallas. While both players have shown flashes on offense with their game-breaking speed, there has been no banking on the type of reliable contributions needed to become a weekly starter. The Titans return fellow rookies Elic Ayomanor and Gunnar Helm for 2026 and should see the return of a healthy Calvin Ridley, after the veteran missed missed ten games with a hamstring injury and and a broken fibula that landed him on injured reserve. The team also picks fourth in the upcoming NFL Draft and has regularly been linked to the wide receivers at the top of the board.