Silver Minings: Dont’e Thornton Jr. named rookie to draft in fantasy football

We’re into the second half of August, which means fantasy football drafts are heating up. While players like tight end Brock Bowers, running back Ashton Jeanty and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers are obvious targets from the Las Vegas Raiders, NFL Media took a stab at highlighting 17 later-round rookies to keep tabs on. One Raider was listed: wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr.

“As a 6-foot-5 receiver who ran a 4.30 40-yard dash at the combine, Thornton drew comparisons to Calvin Johnson and DK Metcalf,” Michael Florio of NFL Media, not Pro Football Talk, wrote. “Aggressive comps for a fourth-round pick, no doubt, but the truth is that few human beings are this big and this fast. The Raiders are searching for a viable receiver to complement veteran Jakobi Meyers. Thornton’s ability to stretch the field should make life easier underneath for Las Vegas — creating plenty of space for dynamic tight end Brock Bowers — so do not be surprised if he sees regular playing time. Thornton likely will be a bit of a boom-or-bust, but he certainly brings upside.“

While Raider Nation has known about the Tennessee product for a while now, the secret is starting to get out nationally. So, you might have to target him a little earlier than expected in your upcoming fantasy drafts.

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Trade Aidan O’Connell?: “[O’Connell] provides Las Vegas a backup who has seen regular-season action and knows the trials and tribulations of being an NFL quarterback — all of which [Cam] Miller doesn’t possess, yet,” Silver and Black Pride’s Ray Aspuria wrote. “…But there are three other factors that make trading O’Connell a prudent move: Age, longevity, and style.”
• 5 things to watch against 49ers: “The Raiders’ tackling was abysmal in a Week 1 23-23 tie at the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle ran for 170 yards and the Raiders just couldn’t wrap up,” S&BP’s Bill Williamson wrote. “Raiders coach Pete Carroll said the issue was ‘concerning’ and it ‘stunk’. Yet, the team’s first-year coach is hopeful that the tackling issues were a byproduct of the team not tackling in training camp. So, improvement is needed this week.”
• Good and bad from joint practice: “Both during one-on-ones and in 11-on-11 drills, the Raiders’ starting offensive line looked solid,” The Athletic’s Tashan Reed wrote. “…It was a pass-happy session, but the O-line did spring running back Ashton Jeanty for a nice chunk gain during team drills. Quarterback Geno Smith was rarely pressured and had plenty of time to throw.”
• Michael Mayer ready to break out: “‘I think that’s very important, just in terms of, ‘All right, I made a mistake, don’t dwell on it. Don’t let it roll into another mistake or another mistake,’ Mayer said”, via Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore. “‘Move on. Do the best you can in the next play. Keep your head high. Have fun, smile, laugh, things like that.’”