Thomas
TE · LV @ NYJ
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ETLatest report: Limited · shoulder
Projected points1.4ptsUsage estimate
Hawes
TE · BUF vs BAL
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points1.6ptsUsage estimate
Toss-up
Bench
Ian Thomas or Jackson Hawes: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Need a safe week? Ian Thomas. Swinging for a big week? Jackson Hawes.
- Confidence
- Lower
- Toss-up
Case for Hawes
Thomas has the safer floor (0.7 to 0.3); Hawes has more upside (a ceiling of 4.1 to 2.3).
Flips if
If Ian Thomas is ruled out or inactive, start Jackson Hawes.
Risk
Ian Thomas was limited in practice: check the final injury report and the inactives, posted about 90 minutes before kickoff. As of Fri 7:00 PM ET
Highlights
ThomasToss-upTE · LV @ NYJUsually 2.4−1.1pts this week
Helps him
- OutBaileyEdgeHe faces a Jets defense without linebacker David Bailey.
Hurts him
- −1.0ptsroleHe’s expected to play fewer snaps this week than he has lately.
- −0.6ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran below this year’s pace.
- 2%targetsHe draws only 2% of his team’s targets.
- 0.7per gameHe sees only 0.7 targets a game.
HawesFirst outTE · BUF vs BALUsually 0.0+1.6pts this week
Helps him
- +1.1ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
- +0.7ptspaceMost players at his position produce more than he has, so we expect him to bounce back some.
- 28.8team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score 28.8 points, a high scoring spot.
Hurts him
- 1%targetsHe draws only 1% of his team’s targets.
- 0.2per gameHe sees only 0.2 targets a game.
Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.
Stat comparison
Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.
Stat
Scoring
ProjectionThomas: 1.4Hawes: 1.6 (best)
Projected team pointsThomas: 22.0Hawes: 28.8 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameThomas: 0.0Hawes: 0.0
Role
Snap shareThomas: 33%Hawes: 39% (best)
Usage worthptsThomas: 1.1 (best)Hawes: 0.3
Target shareThomas: 2% (best)Hawes: 1%
Targets / gameThomas: 0.7 (best)Hawes: 0.2
Air yards shareThomas: 1%Hawes: 2% (best)
Vacated targets this weekThomas: 3.0 (best)Hawes: 0.0
RZ target shareThomas: 0%Hawes: 0%
Inside 10 target shareThomas: 0%Hawes: 0%
Catch rateThomas: 100%Hawes: 1 target
Usage worth vs scoredThomas: Earned by usage 1.1Scored 2.4Hawes: Earned by usage 0.3Scored 0.0
WOPRThomas: 0.03Hawes: 0.03
Range
FloorThomas: 0.7 (best)Hawes: 0.3
CeilingThomas: 2.3Hawes: 4.1 (best)
Points from TDssteadier when lowerThomas: 35%Hawes: 0 pts
Big weeks (15+ pts)Thomas: 0%Hawes: 0%
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterThomas: 80% (best)Hawes: 92%
SteadinessThomas: Volatile (best)±4.4 pts · 5 gamesHawes: Volatile±2.7 pts
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmThomas: CHawes: C
Game scriptThomas: Expected to trailHawes: Expected to lead (best)
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterThomas: 1.1Hawes: 0.9 (best)
Defense funnelThomas: NeutralHawes: Pass
Opp pass yds allowedThomas: 5th (tough)Hawes: 15th (average) (best)
Starting QBThomas: Cousins (Active)Hawes: Allen (Active)
Opp defender outThomas: Bailey (LB)Hawes: Robinson (LB)
Roof / surfaceturfThomas: OpenHawes: Open
Rest / scheduleThomas: NormalHawes: Off a bye
Opp paceThomas: 28th (slow)Hawes: 17th (average) (best)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameThomas: 0.1 (best)4th (tough)Hawes: 0.01st (tough)
Opp catch rate allowedThomas: 72%14th (average)Hawes: 76% (best)25th (soft)
Form
Last 3 avgThomas: 1.2 (best)Hawes: 0.0
Last 5 avgThomas: 3.0 (best)Hawes: 0.0
vs seasonThomas: −1.2 (Cooling)Hawes: 0.0 (best)
Yards per route runThomas: 1.67 (best)Hawes: 0
Receiving aDOTThomas: 5.0Hawes: 1 target
Target share trendThomas: SteadyHawes: No usage yet
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterThomas: TE64Hawes: TE60 (best)
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.