Who Should I Start? Kalif Raymond or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Saturday, January 4, 4:23 PM

The Detroit Lions activated wide receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) and linebacker Alex Anzalone (forearm) from injured reserve on Saturday. Raymond had been sidelined ever since Week 12, and he's expected to remain behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Tim Patrick in the pecking order upon his return this weekend. He caught just 16 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns through the 11 games for which he was healthy this season, and he remains off the fantasy radar in all leagues. Meanwhile, Anzalone is back from a six-week absence. He contributed 56 tackles and one sack when healthy, and his return provides a major boost to a Lions defense that has been decimated by injuries in 2024.

Thursday, May 29, 3:43 PM

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. flashed at the team's Thursday OTA practice, according to team reporter Levi Edwards. The fourth-round rookie out of Tennessee turned heads at the 2025 NFL Combine after posting a 4.30-second 40-yard dash time at nearly 6-feet-5 inches tall, which proved to increase his draft stock mightily. The speedster led the nation in yards per reception last season (25.4) and tallied 26 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns. Thornton might not have a significant or consistent impact right away behind Jakobi Meyers, Brock Bowers, Jack Bech, Tre Tucker, and potentially others in the target pecking order, but he has game-changing size-speed ability and could help the offense stretch the field in 2025. The 22-year-old is worth a late best ball dart throw and rookie draft flyer.