Who Should I Start? Jordan Whittington or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Tuesday, August 5, 8:58 PM

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington flashed as a rookie in 2024 when Puka Nacua went down with an injury. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer writes that Whittington is a "tough, strong special-teamer, and has shown an ability to separate in camp." The Rams' top two receivers will be Nacua and veteran Davante Adams, but Whittington is battling for the WR3 role this summer, with Demarcus Robinson and Tut Atwell being his primary competition. The 24-year-old former sixth-rounder was also a standout at last year's camp, only to catch 22 of 28 targets for 293 yards and no touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (three starts). However, he did have 62 or more yards in each of the three games he had over 30 offensive snaps. Whittington is one to watch for now in standard-sized fantasy leagues, but he could quickly become a priority waiver addition if one of Nacua or Adams gets injured.

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.