Who Should I Start? Isaac TeSlaa or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Friday, September 5, 6:17 PM

Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (illness) does not carry an injury designation into their Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The rookie wideout was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday. However, he was able to log a full session on Friday and avoid a questionable tag into the weekend. TeSlaa was selected in the third round (70th overall) in this year's NFL Draft out of Arkansas. During the preseason, TeSlaa flashed immense potential and made a strong case to open the season in a prominent role. Earlier in August, the Lions opted to trade veteran wideout Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which opened the No. 3 spot for either TeSlaa or Kalif Raymond. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his workload in the opener, as he could be worth adding in deeper 3-WR leagues if he were to carve out a significant role. However, for the time being, he is best to keep out of starting lineups, playing in a crowded offense.

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.