Dont'e Thornton Jr. headshot
WR Las Vegas Raiders Out

Dont'e Thornton Jr. 2026 Fantasy Outlook

#10 Wide Receiver

23 yrs 6'5", 205 lbs Tennessee 2nd Season

Raiders#10WROut

23 yrs6'5"205 lbs

Tennessee

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Fantasy · PPR

2025 Fantasy Season

1.6FPPG · PPRWR160POS RANK-ROSTERED

2025 Regular Season

  • 135REC YDS
  • 10REC
  • 0REC TD
  • 13.5YPR
View Fantasy Football ProfileShould I start Thornton Jr.?
Next matchupWeek 10 vs. Seattle SeahawksSun Nov 15, 4:05 PM ET32nd vs. WRs, toughView matchup

Our 2026 Preseason Outlook

By the StatChasers staff. Published .

Thornton's 2025 tape reads like a one-dimensional vertical specialist: 16.6 air yards per target and a staggering 49.7 air yards per reception, yet only 10 grabs on 30 looks across 11 games. That 33.3% catch rate is alarming, and the production behind it was thin at 135 yards and zero touchdowns. A -0.401 EPA per play and 30% success rate confirm the targets sent his way actively hurt the offense, compounded by three drops and three picks thrown into his coverage.

The usage hints at a real role, 45.3% of snaps and 41.8% route participation, but a 6.1% target share and 0.20 WOPR cap any meaningful fantasy ceiling. At 22, the raw deep speed gives him a path, and if the hands and route nuance tighten, the air-yards profile could spike for big plays. As constructed, though, he's a boom-or-bust dart throw, not a startable weapon. Treat him as a late-round flier only.

What Drives Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s Fantasy Value?

His 2025 rank among the 142 receivers who played at least six games. Each bar is one receiver, best on the left; his is highlighted.

Target share

Low
6.1%target share

Downfield role

Moderate
15.5%air-yards share

Efficiency

Weak
0.56yards per route run
Average depth of target
16.6
Drop rate
10.0%
Red-zone targets
2
Route participation
41.8%
YAC per reception
3.8

What Could Change His Value

Risk

  • InjuryHe's out, coach's decision.
  • A new quarterbackKirk Cousins is now the listed starter; Geno Smith threw most of the passes through Week 9. How targets are distributed under Cousins is unknown (315 attempts so far).
  • Tough matchupsThe Seahawks in Week 10 (32nd), the Broncos in Week 11 (28th) and the Browns in Week 12 (24th) are among the stingiest defenses against WRs.
Weighing Thornton Jr. against another receiver on your roster?Compare them in Redraft Command

Dont'e Thornton Jr. Upcoming Matchups

His next four opponents, ranked by PPR points allowed to WRs this season: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.

  • Wk 10vs SEA32nd vs WRsToughSeattle Seahawks logo
  • Wk 11at DEN28th vs WRsToughDenver Broncos logo
  • Wk 12at CLE24th vs WRsToughCleveland Browns logo
  • Wk 14vs LAC5th vs WRsFavorableLos Angeles Chargers logo

A difficult stretch: three of the next four are bottom-10 matchups for WRs, with one top-10 matchup to break it up.

Fantasy playoffs (Weeks 15 to 17): vs Broncos in Week 15 (28th), vs Titans in Week 16 (1st) and at Cardinals in Week 17 (15th); one favorable, one tough.

Keep researching Donte Thornton Jr

WRs Like Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Nearby wide receivers in 2025 fantasy points per game.

WR159KeAndre Lambert-SmithLAC1.6PPG1.2Targets/G5.1Rec Yds/G0.10Rec TD/GWR159, 1.6 PPG, Los Angeles ChargersWR160Dylan DrummondATL1.6PPG1.6Targets/G6.0Rec Yds/G0.00Rec TD/GWR160, 1.6 PPG, Atlanta FalconsWR161Mason TiptonNO1.6PPG1.3Targets/G5.8Rec Yds/G0.00Rec TD/GWR161, 1.6 PPG, New Orleans Saints
You are hereWR162Dont'e Thornton Jr.LV1.6PPG2.0Targets/G9.0Rec Yds/G0.00Rec TD/GWR162, 1.6 PPG, Las Vegas Raiders
WR163Darius CooperPHI1.5PPG0.9Targets/G7.7Rec Yds/G0.00Rec TD/GWR163, 1.5 PPG, Philadelphia EaglesWR164Konata MumpfieldLAR1.5PPG1.4Targets/G5.4Rec Yds/G0.06Rec TD/GWR164, 1.5 PPG, Los Angeles RamsWR165Nick Westbrook-IkhineIND1.4PPG1.4Targets/G6.4Rec Yds/G0.00Rec TD/GWR165, 1.4 PPG, Indianapolis Colts

Dont'e Thornton Jr. Fantasy Outlook FAQ

What is Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?

Dont'e Thornton Jr. projects as a depth WR on the sideline for now for the rest of the 2026 season: waiver-wire material in 12-team PPR, 10-team PPR and half-PPR leagues. Kirk Cousins taking over at quarterback makes the near term less predictable. See his live rank in Redraft Command.

What is Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s rest-of-season fantasy ranking?

Dont'e Thornton Jr. is the WR148 in PPR points per game. That puts him in depth WR territory, waiver-wire material in 10-team PPR leagues.

Who is Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s quarterback?

Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' listed starting quarterback now. Geno Smith threw most of the passes through Week 9; Cousins has 315 attempts so far. How the targets are distributed under the new starter is the open question for Thornton Jr.'s rest-of-season value.

What is Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s projected role going forward?

Dont'e Thornton Jr. is WR2 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.

What could hurt Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s fantasy value?

Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s risks: he is out, coach's decision, Kirk Cousins has taken over at quarterback, so how the targets are shared is unsettled, the Seahawks in Week 10 (32nd) and the Broncos in Week 11 (28th) are tough matchups and his efficiency (0.56 yards per route run, 133rd of 142 WRs in 2025) limits his scoring. See his injury status and history.

How difficult is Dont'e Thornton Jr.'s remaining fantasy schedule?

Difficult: of his next four games, one comes against a top-10 matchup for WRs and three against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.

Is Dont'e Thornton Jr. a good fantasy playoff option?

His Weeks 15 to 17 opponents are the Broncos (28th in points allowed to WRs), the Titans (1st in points allowed to WRs) and the Cardinals (15th in points allowed to WRs); one of them is favorable.