Who Should I Start? Jaylin Noel or Dont'e Thornton Jr.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Jaylin Noel News
Monday, March 16, 5:23 PM
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel's production didn't jump off the page in his first year in the NFL in 2025, but he was versatile for the Texans and should enter Year 2 with a bigger role on offense. The 23-year-old third-round pick last year out of Iowa State mostly operated as Houston's No. 5 wideout and finished with 26 receptions on 35 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (three starts). He also carried the ball six times for 12 yards. On special teams, Noel returned 29 kickoffs for 799 yards and 31 punts for 335 yards. His dynasty value in fantasy football leagues is on the rise as he gets ready for his second season in the NFL, and Noel should have a bigger role in the passing attack with Christian Kirk leaving in free agency. How big a role Noel has could be directly affected by whether Tank Dell (knee) makes a successful recovery from a career-threatening knee injury he suffered in 2024. With Dell likely being eased back into the fold, Noel could be the Texans' No. 3 pass-catcher behind Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dont'e Thornton Jr. News
Sunday, March 29, 8:41 AM
A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. struggled to establish himself as a rookie. Across 15 games (eight starts), the 23-year-old recorded just 10 catches for 135 yards and zero touchdowns on 30 targets. However, Thornton Jr. should have a significantly improved offensive ecosystem around him in Las Vegas in 2026. The Raiders hired former Seattle Seahawks play-caller Klint Kubiak as their new head coach and are also widely expected to select University of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft. Additionally, the Las Vegas wide receiver depth chart currently looks like an open competition for playing time between incumbents Thornton Jr., Jack Bech, and Tre Tucker, as well as free agent additions Jalen Nailor and Dareke Young. Thornton Jr. did not show much reason for optimism as a rookie, so fantasy managers should proceed with caution. However, he also stands out as a buy-low candidate who could likely be acquired on the cheap after his underwhelming 2025 campaign.
Jaylin Noel vs. Dont'e Thornton Jr.
Still trying to decide between Noel and Thornton Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Jaylin Noel is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Dont'e Thornton Jr. is projected to score 0.0 points.
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