Who Should I Start? Robert Woods or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Monday, April 28, 10:25 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran free-agent wide receiver Robert Woods to a one-year, $2 million deal on Monday, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Woods will give the Steelers a new target and a strong locker-room presence for whoever end up being their starting quarterback in 2025. The 33-year-old former Super Bowl champion will be competing for a roster spot in training camp this summer as receiving depth behind starters DK Metcalf and George Pickens. Even if Woods were able to somehow beat out the likes of Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson for the WR3 job in Pittsburgh, he's probably not going to be attractive in most fantasy leagues given the team's QB situation. The former second-rounder by the Buffalo Bills in 2013 out of USC only mustered 20 catches for 203 yards and no touchdowns in 15 games (four starts) for the Houston Texans 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.