Who Should I Start? Hunter Renfrow or Arian Smith

Saturday, July 26, 3:05 PM

According to NFL.com, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales says veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow is "playing at top form" in camp. While Tetairoa McMillan, Adam Thielen, and Xavier Legette are all expected to be the top three receivers for the Panthers in 2025, Renfrow is making his presence felt in camp and could easily work his way into the rotation more often if he continues to impress. Renfrow had a career year with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, where he caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2022 and 2023 with the Raiders, he combined for 585 yards and two touchdowns. In 2024, Hunter Renfrow did not play football due to a battle with ulcerative colitis, a medical condition that impacted his weight and energy levels. The Panthers signed him to a one-year contract in 2025, and he appears to be making the most of his opportunities. At this time, he is still not relevant in most fantasy formats, but his presence could hinder the ceiling of Thielen and Legette should they lose opportunities to Renfrow if he makes the team.

Saturday, July 26, 10:05 PM

New York Jets wide receiver Arian Smith "is catching the eye of his teammates and coaches in training camp." The wideout, selected as the No. 110 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, finished his final collegiate season by amassing 817 yards and four touchdowns off 48 receptions. Since his arrival in New York, Smith has received praise because of his work ethic while having no issues "absorbing information." "He takes a lot of stuff in," said fellow wide receiver Josh Reynolds. "He is a good student and he transfers it to the field." Without question, Garrett Wilson is expected to remain the team's most productive receiver. However, it appears the No. 2 spot is up for grabs. While Smith may not see consistent playing time early on in the 2025 campaign, that could change if he continues to impress throughout training camp and during the season. Granted, Smith doesn't have any value in most redraft formats at the moment, but he's worth grabbing later in rookie drafts by those who can afford to be patient.