Who Should I Start? Dontayvion Wicks or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Friday, September 5, 5:31 PM

Green Bay Packers wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Savion Williams (hamstring) were both limited in practice all week and are listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report for Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the division-rival Detroit Lions. Jayden Reed (foot) is also questionable while dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot, so Green Bay's receiving corps is quite beat up heading into Week 1. Wicks and Williams appear to have a better shot at suiting up this weekend against the Lions than Reed, but even if they are active on game day and Reed isn't, Wicks would be the No. 3 wideout behind rookie first-rounder Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs. At best, the 24-year-old Wicks will be a WR5/flex option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues in Week 1, but only if Reed is ruled out.

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.