Who Should I Start? DeAndre Carter or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Sunday, September 21, 12:32 PM

Cleveland Browns wide receiver DeAndre Carter (concussion) and kicker Andre Szmyt (calf) are both active and ready to go for Week 3's matchup against the Packers. Carter had to leave last week's game with a concussion, and Szmyt popped up on the injury report on Friday with a calf injury. He underwent an MRI, but everything looked good, so he's available as an emergency option at the position if needed. Carter has not played an offensive snap yet for the Browns, but he is an important special teams contributor, and he should be back in that role on Sunday after clearing the concussion protocol.

Wednesday, December 31, 12:25 AM

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. has had a quiet rookie season, recording 10 catches (29 targets) for 135 yards and zero touchdowns in 14 games. Thornton earned steady playing time out of the gate -- 61.8% of the snaps over the first five weeks -- and drew at least two targets in each game. Known for his speed and big-play ability as a prospect, he showcased his explosiveness for the Raiders in the first three games of his career, hauling in five of his 12 targets for 94 yards. The Tennessee product posted a 25% explosive-catch rate, tied for the highest in the league among receivers with at least 12 targets during that span. The rookie fourth-rounder's snaps eventually faded, beginning in Week 11, where he played on only 38.3% of snaps and gradually declined every week until bottoming out to 7.4% in Week 16. However, in Week 17, with the Raiders competing for the No. 1 overall pick, Thornton's snaps spiked to 78%. He recorded just two catches (four targets) for 12 yards, but he had his most receptions and targets in a game since Week 3. Looking to 2026, Thornton profiles as a big-play threat who is unlikely to be a consistent producer week to week.