Who Should I Start? Tim Patrick or Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Tuesday, December 9, 2:02 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Tim Patrick had five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown on six targets during Sunday's win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts. Patrick posted season-best marks in catches and yards while scoring his third touchdown of the year. The 32-year-old wideout saw an uptick in snaps with Parker Washington (hip) out of the lineup, playing 65.6% of the offensive snaps, his second-highest mark of the season. Patrick was acquired by the Jaguars from the Detroit Lions before the start of the regular season, and while he hasn't played a massive role, he's earned at least four targets in three of the past four games. Patrick still profiles as more of a deep-league option, but that could change if he stacks another performance like this. He'll be worth considering as a deep-league flex play in Week 15 against the New York Jets if Washington misses another game.

Monday, February 16, 5:56 PM

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. had an underwhelming rookie season, catching just 10 of his 30 targets for 135 yards through 15 games. There was plenty of preseason hype about the Tennessee product, so it was frustrating to see that he never really produced at a significant level. Part of the blame falls on Thornton himself, but we can also attribute some of it to the poor state of the Raiders' offense. Quarterback Geno Smith struggled during his first year with the team, amassing 17 interceptions and just 19 touchdowns. All signs point to Vegas drafting college football standout Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, which would put the offense in a better state and potentially lead to more upside for Thornton. He could also pick up some additional targets with veteran Tyler Lockett headed for free agency. The 23-year-old is a very intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues after his quiet season. Dynasty managers may have already grown impatient with Thornton, meaning that he could be acquired at minimal cost.