Who Should I Start? Kristian Wilkerson or Tyquan Thornton

Saturday, August 24, 10:36 AM

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson made a solid impression in the Raiders' preseason finale, snagging three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 24-24 tie to the San Francisco 49ers. While this performance boosts his chances of making the final roster, fantasy managers should temper their expectations. Even if Wilkerson secures a spot, he's likely to be no higher than fifth or sixth on the depth chart. In the Raiders' offense, this translates to minimal regular-season opportunities, barring multiple injuries ahead of him. His preseason touchdown showcases some red-zone potential, but Wilkerson's fantasy relevance will be severely limited with established targets like Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers ahead of him. At best, he's a name to remember for deep dynasty leagues or as a potential in-season waiver wire option if injuries decimate the Raiders' receiving corps. For now, Wilkerson remains off the radar in all but the deepest of fantasy formats.

Thursday, June 19, 6:31 PM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has made a good impression with his new team this offseason. "I like Tyquan. I like the way he approached things. He's got the quarterback's trust. That's an important thing. He's gotten some valuable reps here. So far, so good. I'd like to see him in a game situation," head coach Andy Reid said. Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie Jalen Royals are virtual locks to make the 53-man roster, but Thornton could have a leg up for another spot with training camp approaching. He'll be competing with the likes of Skyy Moore and Nikko Remigio. Thornton, a former second-rounder by the Patriots, has speed to spare and has developed strong chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The fact that he's also been involved on special teams increases the chances of him winning the No. 6 receiver role this summer.