Raiders WR Dont'e Thornton regularly ran with the first-team offense this spring. The Athletic's Tashan Reed lists Thornton as a starter in his 53-man roster projection, alongside Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker.
It's only June, so we're not overreacting to camp reps or roster projections. But it's notable when a fourth-round rookie is already getting first-team reps in OTAs.
Vegas' primary first-team offense this spring, per multiple reports, had Thornton and Tucker lining up on the outside, with Meyers in the slot. Second-round rookie WR Jack Bech took most of his reps as the second-team slot receiver.
There's still plenty of time for Bech to work his way into the first-team rotation ahead of Week 1. But he's no better than a late-round flier in redraft leagues right now.
Thornton, meanwhile, is worth a look at the end of drafts. The 6’5, 205-pounder averaged 25.4 yards per catch last year and blazed a 4.30-second 40 time at the Combine. That profile works especially well in best-ball leagues.
OC Chip Kelly on Thornton: "I think Dont'e is unique in terms of he's just a hair under 6-5 and he ran 4.3. There's not a lot of humans on this planet that do that. And I think if you had a draw up an outside receiver, you would pick that type of body type, someone that's got length, someone that's got a huge catch radius, but also has speed. Sometimes you can get a big guy like that, but he can't really run, so they can stay with him. So, you add that speed element to him, his ability to sink his hips, his ability to get in and out of cuts."
Ready to crush your fantasy football draft? This strategy guide takes you pick-by-pick through a perfect 12-team PPR draft, arming you with expert insights and battle-tested tactics. We'll also point out the critical mistakes you can’t afford to make.
Read More »Are your rankings lying to you? Anyone can glance at a list of names. But tiers reveal the dropoffs and sweet spots that separate smart drafters from the rest. Study them now, own your draft later.
Read More »Non-PPR drafts require a different mindset. Fail to adjust and you'll be playing catch-up all season. This strategy guide walks you through the best picks in every round of your 12-team Non-PPR draft.
Read More »This is an insider feature of Draft Sharks, please upgrade to be an Insider Member
Upgrade to Insider Member
All transactions are secure and encrypted, and we never store your credit card information.