Who Should I Start? Tyler Johnson or Tyquan Thornton

Thursday, July 31, 3:41 PM

New York Jets wide receiver Tyler Johnson could enter the 2025 season as the team's WR3 behind Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. "Tyler Johnson has jumped out more in practice," Rosenblatt wrote. "[He's made] some plays after the catch and is exhibiting some athleticism that Lazard simply doesn't bring to the table." He notes that Lazard might not be a lock to make the team's 53-man roster at the end of the preseason. While this is fantastic news for Johnson, it's tough to be excited about his fantasy football prospects. The 26-year-old entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and has collected just 76 receptions for 828 yards and four touchdowns in 47 career games. Additionally, New York is set to have a low-volume passing offense with Justin Fields under center. Johnson could be an interesting best ball dart throw, but he can continue to go undrafted in traditionally fantasy setups.

Saturday, September 6, 9:09 AM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton was given a larger opportunity on Friday evening during their contest against the Chargers, following the injury to top wideout Xavier Worthy. Worthy suffered a shoulder injury in the opening quarter, which paved the way for Thornton to have a significant role in the season opener. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked his way four times, but he was only able to bring in two of them for 41 yards. His longest catch of the evening came on a 38-yard pass. While Mahomes looked his way downfield, Thornton was unable to connect consistently. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Worthy's status, as Thornton could emerge as the team's primary deep threat if he were to miss an extended period of time. However, he will be tough to trust in most formats as he will likely slot in as the No. 3 WR in the offense, behind Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster.