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Who should I start for Week 1? Fantasy football outlooks for Dont'e Thornton Jr., Elic Ayomanor, Isaac TeSlaa. Our expert fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks.
Three intriguing rookie wide receivers, Dont'e Thornton Jr., Elic Ayomanor, and Isaac TeSlaa, are generating significant buzz in fantasy football drafts. Each has a unique story and an opportunity to make an immediate impact in Week 1.
Thornton, a former top-10 recruit, has a clear path to playing time with the Raiders. Ayomanor has earned the trust of his rookie quarterback in Tennessee, while TeSlaa has secured a key role on the explosive Lions offense.
This article will break down their matchups and opportunities to help you decide if any of these rookies are startable in Week 1.
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Should I Start Dont'e Thornton Jr. for Fantasy Football Week 1?
At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Thornton was once a top-10 high school wide receiver recruit, drawing comparisons to elite talents like Marvin Harrison Jr. After two seasons at the University of Oregon, he transferred to Tennessee, a move many saw as a necessary step for his NFL aspirations. In his senior year (2024), Thornton played in 13 games and led the team in most receiving categories with 26 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns.
He broke the 100-yard mark in three of those games, proving his big-play ability with limited volume.
The Las Vegas Raiders are a different team this year, with veteran quarterback Geno Smith under center. Given Smith's top-5 ranking in deep-ball accuracy, the Raiders needed a deep threat, and they believe they found it in Thornton as they selected him with the 108th pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
During training camp, he's earned praise from new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and his opportunity has grown exponentially with news that the team's top wideout, Jakobi Meyers, has requested a trade. If Meyers is dealt, Thornton could catapult into a key role. While Brock Bowers will command targets, Thornton's college production, despite being on a low volume, suggests his potential is through the roof.
#Raiders OC Chip Kelly on Dont’e Thornton
“He just has a great skill set. For someone that tall, that fast, he’s got a big catch radius…It’s comforting to Geno to know he’s got someone that fast, that tall out there ‘cause there’s a big body to throw to” pic.twitter.com/1LF98JB83H
— Jesse Merrick - Silver & Black Sports Network (@JesseSBSN) July 24, 2025
The Raiders face a middle-of-the-road defense in the New England Patriots in Week 1. New England will likely focus on containing Bowers, which could open up opportunities for Thornton downfield. I would consider starting Thornton in Week 1 as a boom-or-bust play.
Should I Start Elic Ayomanor for Fantasy Football Week 1?
The Tennessee Titans traded up in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select Ayomanor. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Canadian wide receiver was a standout at Stanford, where he led the team in receptions and yards in both of his seasons, finishing his college career with 125 catches for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Ayomanor has shone in training camp, building a strong rapport with fellow rookie quarterback Cameron Ward. According to Easton Freeze of A to Z Sports, Ayomanor has "emerged as one of the top target-getters in the Titans offense this camp." He appears to have solidified his spot as the Titans' number three outside wide receiver behind veterans Calvin Ridley and Van Jefferson.
Elic Ayomanor 😮💨 Remember his name.pic.twitter.com/2EGJYEYYiO
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) August 7, 2025
However, the Titans face a formidable Week 1 opponent in the Denver Broncos and their lockdown cornerback, Patrick Surtain II. If Surtain shadows Ridley, Ward will have to look elsewhere, but I have less faith in Ayomanor than Thornton. The depth chart ahead of him, which includes tight end Chig Okonkwo and veteran Tyler Lockett, on top of a tough matchup for a rookie quarterback in his first NFL regular-season game, makes Ayomanor a very risky play.
Should I Start Isaac TeSlaa for Fantasy Football Week 1?
The Isaac TeSlaa hype train is in full swing. The former Division II star, who transferred and played two seasons at the University of Arkansas, was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. TeSlaa had an incredibly consistent preseason, catching 10 passes for 186 yards and scoring in all three of the final preseason games.
After news broke that the team is trading Tim Patrick to the Jaguars, it's clear that the Lions are comfortable with TeSlaa as their WR3.
Lions have agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a trade for WR Tim Patrick in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft selection. pic.twitter.com/Avs4tML49T
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 27, 2025
In Week 1, the Lions will face a strong Green Bay Packers defense. However, TeSlaa's biggest challenge isn't necessarily the opponent but the target competition in Detroit. He's behind a stacked group of pass-catchers, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs.
While TeSlaa showed promise, the limited number of targets available for the WR3 in this offense, as evidenced by Patrick's 2024 stat line (33 catches, 394 yards, three TDs), makes it difficult to trust him in Week 1.
Who Should I Start Tool
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 1 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Dont'e Thornton Jr., Elic Ayomanor, and Isaac TeSlaa Outlooks. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 1. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 1 Player Decisions. Today's focus in on specific players - Dont'e Thornton Jr., Elic Ayomanor, Isaac TeSlaa. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 1.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player name. In the second box, search for the second player name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players that are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do, is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circle), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 1 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 1 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 1 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 1 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Dont'e Thornton Jr., Elic Ayomanor, Isaac TeSlaa compared to others:
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