Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Ian Thomas


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
5.3 0.0 0.0 2.4 21.5 0.1

Jonnu Smith News

Steelers Releasing Jonnu Smith

Wednesday, March 4, 2:14 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers are releasing tight end Jonnu Smith on Wednesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move will save the Steelers $7 million against the salary cap, and Smith will now become an unrestricted free agent. Smith, 30, was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, putting up career-highs in catches (88), targets (111), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (eight) in 17 games. He came crashing back down to Earth in 2025 with Pittsburgh while sharing targets with Pat Freiermuth, though, as he finished with only 38 receptions for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 54 targets in 17 regular-season games. Smith may never be as good as he was in 2024 in Miami, but a move out of the Steel City is a good thing for his fantasy value going into the 2026 campaign. Smith's departure is also great news for Freiermuth's ceiling.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.4 0.0

Ian Thomas News

Raiders Add Tight End Ian Thomas

Tuesday, March 25, 1:32 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end Ian Thomas (calf) to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Thomas will head to the AFC West after spending the first seven years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers after they selected him in the fourth round (101st overall) in the 2018 NFL draft out of Indiana. The 28-year-old never really established himself as a fantasy asset in Carolina, with his best season coming in his rookie campaign with a 36-333-2 line on 49 targets in 16 games (six starts). Thomas landed on Injured Reserve in 2024 with a calf injury and only caught three of six targets for seven yards in five games (two starts). He scored four touchdowns in his first three seasons but hasn't found the end zone since. In Vegas, he'll provide TE depth behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and will remain off the fantasy radar.


Jonnu Smith vs. Ian Thomas

Still trying to decide between Smith and Thomas? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Jonnu Smith is projected to score 5.3 points this week while Ian Thomas is projected to score 0.4 points.