Who Should I Start? Tyquan Thornton or Xavier Hutchinson

Tuesday, May 7, 3:03 PM

The Athletic's Chad Graff believes the New England Patriots will be content cutting both wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton this year after they added rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker with two of their first five draft picks this year. The team would have to eat more than $9 million in dead money if they decide to cut Smith-Schuster. Thornton is the only true speedster in the receiver room, but the former second-rounder in 2022 out of Baylor has been a disappointment in his first two NFL seasons. In 22 total games (12 starts), the 23-year-old has just 35 receptions on 68 targets for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Right now, Kendrick Bourne, Polk, Demario Douglas, Baker, K.J. Osborn and Jalen Reagor figure to be on the final roster at the position.

Monday, September 11, 11:07 AM

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday and finished the 25-9 loss by catching his only target for a nine-yard gain. Hutchinson was Houston's No. 5 receiver in this one with John Metchie III (hamstring) unable to play, and he saw just seven snaps on offense. The 23-year-old sixth-round selection worked behind Robert Woods, Nico Collins, Noah Brown and rookie Tank Dell on the road in Baltimore. The Iowa State has good size, which could make him a red-zone option, but he's buried too far down the Texans' receiver depth chart to be on the fantasy radar in 2023.