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

Friday, September 5, 10:54 PM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins looks to be stepping into the role that Nelson Agholor played over the last couple of seasons. That isn't saying too much, as Agholor only amassed 231 yards and two touchdowns on 14 receptions last year. Hopkins is obviously the better talent of the two, but the 33-year-old finished as the WR48 last season and totaled 56 receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns. He'll likely flash in a few games this season, but will ultimately be hard to trust week-to-week. He's not recommended in 12-team leagues for Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, especially with the six-point projection on RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings.

Friday, September 5, 7:21 PM

Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. enters Week 1 as one of the more intriguing sleepers of the 2025 draft class. The 6'5" playmaker earned a starting role ahead of Amari Cooper's retirement and will face a Patriots secondary that could be without cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Thornton's size and downfield ability have made him a favorite target for quarterback Geno Smith throughout camp, flashing legitimate big-play upside. While his early-season role carries promise, the Raiders are still expected to lean on their running game, limiting his immediate fantasy ceiling. Thornton should be stashed on benches with the potential to develop into a key contributor.