Thornton could be a playmaker for the Raiders this season, but he has a lot to prove in Fantasy and reality in his sophomore campaign in 2026. He is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues, but he could be a waiver-wire addition during the year. Las Vegas has a relatively weak receiving corps on paper coming into the season, with Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker and Jack Bech atop the depth chart. Thornton, if he earns enough playing time and targets, could prove to be a valuable weapon for the Raiders, but he's coming off a disappointing rookie year in 2025 with 10 catches for 135 yards on 30 targets. We'll see if new coach Klint Kubiak and the new quarterback duo of Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins can rely on Thornton, and if that happens, then he could be a waiver-wire addition as the season goes on.
Thornton (undisclosed) did not participate in Sunday's practice, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Thornton was present at the Raiders' facility doing work off to the side out of pads. The wide receiver missed Thursday's preseason opener against the Cardinals and will continue to miss valuable reps as he recovers from a minor issue. The missed reps allow Malik Benson and Jack Bech to extend their lead in the competition for the No. 3 receiver spot, with Benson in particular pulling ahead as he continues to see reps with the first-team offense.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Set to return during preseason
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) did not play in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Cardinals.
The wide receiver exited last Friday's practice with an injury. Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reported that Thornton is expected to return to the field at some point during the preseason, but there is no specific week targeted. The Raiders' receiving room is currently wide open, and the more time the 23-year-old misses, the harder it will be to take one of the top slots.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Still dealing with injury
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) did not participate at the Raiders' training camp practice Tuesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Thornton left practice early last week Friday after presumably suffering some type of injury, and he still hasn't been able to make his way back onto the practice field. If he can't play in Thursday's preseason contest versus the Cardinals, it could open up more opportunities for rookie sixth-rounder Malik Benson and offseason free-agent acquisition Dareke Young.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Leaves Friday's practice early
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) exited Friday's practice early, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Thornton, who is coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 10 passes for 135 yards on 30 targets over 15 games, is competing with Jack Bech and Malik Benson for slotting in a Las Vegas WR corps that's led by Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor. Any missed time won't help his cause, but in any case the team's No. 3 option at the position may not see heavy volume in 2026, with two-TE sets featuring Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer likely to be used frequently this season.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Ends rookie season with 10 catches
Rotowire
Thornton finished his rookie campaign with 10 total receptions for 135 yards on 30 targets over 15 games.
Thornton was expected to be more of a developmental project when the Raiders selected him 108th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, but a 10-135-0 receiving line for the 6-foot-5, 205-pound burner was still a major disappointment considering the underwhelming target competition in Las Vegas. That being said, Thornton could compete for a starting WR role on the outside across from Tre Tucker in 2026 if the new regime doesn't address the position in the offseason, though tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is set to remain a focal point in the passing game as well. Nonetheless, fellow rookie receiver Jack Bech was a slightly more productive option than Thornton down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Four targets in blowout loss
Rotowire
Thornton caught two of four targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Giants.
Thornton filled the WR2 role behind Tre Tucker with fellow rookie Jack Bech (back) sidelined for Sunday's contest, but Thornton averaged just 3.0 yards per target while playing 78 percent of the Raiders' offensive snaps. If Bech manages to return for a Week 18 matchup against the Chiefs, Thornton's involvement could diminish.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Logs four snaps in defeat
Rotowire
Thornton was not targeted in Sunday's 23-21 loss to the Texans.
Thornton played just four offensive snaps in the Raiders' ninth consecutive defeat, while fellow rookie receiver Jack Bech caught two of three targets for 43 yards in the WR2 role behind Tre Tucker. Thornton has not caught a pass since Week 13, and he's even ceded playing time to punt returner Alex Bachman.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Not targeted against Philadelphia
Rotowire
Thornton failed to record a single target in Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Eagles.
Thornton played just eight of the Raiders' 42 offensive snaps, behind fellow wide receivers Tre Tucker (39), Jack Bech (34) and Tyler Lockett (32). The rookie wideout has had an underwhelming start to his career, recording just eight receptions on 25 targets for 123 yards in 12 appearances. Thornton should continue to develop, but it appears the Raiders are unlikely to expand his role in the final stretch of the season. The Tennessee product remains far off the fantasy radar heading into a Week 16 matchup against the Texans.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Cleared for Week 15
Rotowire
Thornton (concussion) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
After being limited Wednesday, Thornton worked fully Thursday and Friday, and in the process he progressed through the NFL's concussion protocol. However, with an 8-123-0 line on 25 targets through 11 games, Thornton is off the fantasy radar while working in a Las Vegas WR corps that also includes Tre Tucker, Jack Bech and Tyler Lockett.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Full practice Thursday
Rotowire
Thornton (concussion) practiced fully Thursday.
Thornton was limited at practice Wednesday, but his return to a full session a day later has him on track to play Sunday against the Eagles, barring any setbacks. Friday's injury report will reveal whether the wideout heads into the weekend with an injury designation, but with an 8-123-0 line on 25 targets through 11 games, Thornton is off the fantasy radar.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Ruled out for Week 14
Rotowire
Thornton (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Thornton suffered a concussion in the Raiders' Week 13 loss to the Chargers and couldn't practice at all during the week. That suggests he hasn't made much progress through the league's concussion protocol. Jack Bech is expected to have a chance to step up in Thornton's absence.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Sidelined at practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Thornton (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday.
Thornton, who was forced out of the Raiders' Week 13 loss to the Chargers after recording 14 snaps on offense, has two more chances to practice in advance of Sunday's game against the Broncos. If he's unable to gain clearance to play this weekend, added WR snaps alongside Tre Tucker would be available for Tyler Lockett and Jack Bech.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Makes 14-yard catch in loss
Rotowire
Thornton caught one of two targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Browns.
Thornton continues to fill the Raiders' WR3 role ahead of fellow rookie Jack Bech, but once again, a 38 percent offensive snap share didn't translate to much fantasy production for Thornton. Meanwhile, Ashton Jeanty (ankle), Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker combined to see 27 total targets from quarterback Geno Smith. Thornton figures to remain a decoy against the Chargers in Week 13.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Inactive Sunday
Rotowire
Thornton is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
With Thornton the odd man out in Week 9, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Tyler Lockett and Alex Bachman will handle the Raiders WR duties versus Jacksonville. Through seven games to date, Thornton has caught five of his 19 targets for 94 yards.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Fills in for Meyers
Rotowire
Thornton was unable to haul in any of his three targets in Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Chiefs.
Thornton actually had a pair of would-be first down receptions wiped out by penalties, but he ended the contest with a zero in the box score because of the flags. Nonetheless, his playing time surged with Jakobi Meyers (knee) and Brock Bowers (knee) sidelined, as Thornton logged 86 percent of the Raiders' offensive snaps. Meyers is tracking to return after the Week 8 bye, so Thornton figures to continue competing with Jack Bech for the WR3 role.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Logs two offensive snaps in win
Rotowire
Thornton was not targeted in Sunday's 20-10 win over the Titans.
Thornton played just two offensive snaps in the Raiders' comfortable win, while fellow rookie Jack Bech remained in the WR3 role behind Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. Thornton has gone three consecutive games without a reception, becoming an even tougher stash on deep fantasy benches with Las Vegas' bye approaching after a Week 7 contest in Kansas City.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: First game without a reception
Rotowire
Thornton was unable to haul in either of his two targets in Sunday's 25-24 loss to the Bears.
Thornton posted a zero in the fantasy scoring column, while quarterback Geno Smith struggled to get much of anything going through the air, completing 14 of 21 pass attempts for just 117 yards. On a more positive note for Thornton, he continues to retain the WR3 role behind Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, with fellow rookie Jack Bech logging only five offensive snaps Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Four targets in Sunday's loss
Rotowire
Thornton caught two of four targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 41-24 loss to the Commanders.
Thornton matched Jakobi Meyers' four targets, but fellow wideout Tre Tucker erupted for an 8-145-3 receiving line on nine looks from quarterback Geno Smith, who produced 289 passing yards on just 19 completions in the Raiders' defeat. Thornton has been targeted exactly four times in each of Las Vegas' first three games, and he remains ahead of fellow rookie Jack Bech in the WR3 role with a Week 4 tilt against the Bears looming.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Records one catch against Chargers
Rotowire
Thornton caught one of four targets for 20 yards in Monday's 20-9 loss to the Chargers.
Thornton continued to operate as the Raiders No. 3 wide receiver Monday while playing 57 of the Raiders' 70 offensive snaps behind both Jakobi Meyers (65) and Tre Tucker (64). The rookie wideout saw four targets for the second straight week, so it appears that Las Vegas is intent on getting him the ball as a dynamic playmaker. With that said, Thornton likely faces a tough path to consistent fantasy production in an offense still trying to find its footing early in the season. Nonetheless, the 22-year-old will look to have more of an impact in Week 3 when the Raiders visit the Commanders.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Four targets in debut
Rotowire
Thornton caught two of four targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 20-13 win over the Patriots.
As expected, Thornton played ahead of fellow rookie Jack Bech in the WR3 role behind Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, with Thornton even producing a timely 36-yard reception when the Raiders were facing a crucial third-and-20 from their own 25-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Thornton ultimately played 38 of a possible 63 offensive snaps in his NFL debut, but his involvement could increase against the Chargers in Week 2 if All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is sidelined.
