The Raiders rookie wide receivers are heading in opposite directions on Underdog.
The Las Vegas Raiders are not considered a team that is deep at wide receiver. Jakobi Meyers is an ever present value in best ball as he is going in round 6 on Underdog as the WR40. The offense is set to run through tight end Brock Bowers and stud rookie running back Ashton Jeanty in 2025.
With Jakobi Meyers being the best Raiders wide receiver by default, it leaves opportunity for another receiver to emerge. After the 2025 NFL Draft it was initially believed that Jack Bech would be the logical player to rise in Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly’s offense. Instead, it is Dont’e Thornton who is catching plenty of buzz as he has stood out in minicamp.
As this word has gotten out it has sent the two rookie receivers in opposite directions. In the last week on Underdog, Thornton has risen 9.7 spots into the early 17th round. Divergent from Thornton has been Jack Bech who has fallen 6.5 spots into the early 13th round.
Bech was selected in round 2 of the NFL Draft while Thornton went in round 4. There is still an appropriate gap in drafts, but as fantasy gamers get wise to Thornton’s ability the gap will certainly close. Clicking both Bech and Thornton at ADP will help build unique lineups and will be particularly unique when stacking with quarterback Geno Smith.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
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Rookie 4th Round Pick WR Dont’e Thornton is running routes with the starters, alongside Tre Tucker and Jakobi Meyers.
The Jack Bech train has halted.
Dont’e Thornton is a physical specimen. At 6’5″, he ran the fastest 40-yard dash time for a WR that tall. EVER. Thornton was not a major target earner in college, however, he was among the most efficient. He would win downfield, and had a top 2 yards per reception, and top 2 yards per route run, and top 2 yards after the catch. He is big, he is fast, he is strong, and he’s already running with the first team in OTA’s.
In most dynasty rookie drafts, he goes in the third or fourth round, and sometimes goes undrafted. Consider checking for Thornton’s availability in your Dynasty league.
Author: Bradley Stalder (@FFStalder)
The Las Vegas Raiders fourth-round pick in wide receiver Dont’e Thornton is impressing teammate Jacobi Meyers.
At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Dont’e Thornton is a large target for quarterback Geno Smith. Hailing out of the University of Tennessee, Thornton posted insane athleticism numbers, a 99th-percentile 4.30 40-yard-dash and a 100th percentile overall Speed Score of 126.5. A tall speed demon is any quarterback’s dream. The Raiders are hurting for wide receiver depth, so Thornton has a chance to earn significant playing time.
Consistency will have to show up in Thornton’s game if he wants to post better numbers than he did in college. Thornton will be a late-round flier in dynasty and best ball leagues. Should he develop any meaningful connection with Geno Smith, he will be a priority wavier wire option in all other formats.
Author: Jesse Baldwin (@J_Baldwin51)
Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders
Dont’e Thornton used all four years of his collegiate eligibility, playing two years in Oregon for the Ducks before moving on to the University of Tennessee to join the Volunteers. Las Vegas snatched him up at No. 108 in the fourth round.
Thornton was a part-time starter during all four seasons, never having started more than four games in any one campaign. Often deployed as a third wide receiver, his primary objective will be to stretch the field as he has a limited route tree, according to NFL.com. The Raiders harkened back to their late owner, Al Davis, with the selection. His eyes would have surely lit up when Thornton blazed his way to a 4.30 40-yard dash en route to the sixth-highest athleticism score among wide receivers at the combine.
The Raiders seem to know they have a raw wide receiver prospect in Dont’e Thornton. They had previously drafted receiver Jack Bech in Round 2, and still currently roster Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, and tight end Brock Bowers catching passes from Geno Smith.
The lanky 6-foot-5 Thornton finishes his college career with 65 catches for 1,426 yards (a 21.9 average) and 10 trips to the endzone. He could be deployed in specialty packages as well as being a return option when the players break camp.
Author: Sam Schneider (@BuyAndSellYou)
