Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Trevor Lawrence

Friday, September 5, 7:05 PM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith opens his tenure in silver and black with a favorable Week 1 matchup against the Patriots. New England's secondary is thin after releasing Jabrill Peppers and with Christian Gonzalez battling a hamstring injury, leaving exploitable holes in coverage. Smith's experience should help him move the ball, but questions remain about his supporting cast outside of second-year tight end Brock Bowers. The Raiders are expected to lean heavily on the run game, which caps Smith's fantasy ceiling. While the matchup is intriguing, Smith remains a risky play and is best avoided as a streaming option to open the season.

Tuesday, September 2, 12:06 PM

Jackonville Jaguars second-year wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. said that his chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence is even stronger this year. "I feel like we've definitely got a lot closer, whether it's football or off the field, like all the little things," Thomas said. "I feel like our chemistry is growing on the field, and I feel like it's going to continue to grow throughout the season." Despite Lawrence missing seven games in 2024 due to head and shoulder injuries, Thomas amassed an impressive 87 catches on 133 targets for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games in his rookie season. Although many players have the dreaded sophomore slump, Thomas figures to be immune, playing more out of the slot in new head coach Liam Coen's offense. As long as the former LSU star doesn't miss time with injuries, he should finish as a top-10 fantasy wideout again in 2025.