Thomas
TE · LV @ NYJ
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ETLatest report: Limited · shoulder
Projected points1.4ptsUsage estimate
Vannett
TE · BAL @ BUF
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points1.3ptsUsage estimate
Toss-up
Bench
Ian Thomas or Nick Vannett: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Ian Thomas gets the nod over Nick Vannett.
- Ahead by
- +0.1pts
- over Vannett
- Confidence
- Lower
- Toss-up
Case for Vannett
The case for Vannett is an offense expected to score more (25.8 points to 22.0) and a softer pass defense.
Flips if
If Ian Thomas is ruled out or inactive, start Nick Vannett.
Risk
Ian Thomas was limited in practice: check the final injury report and the inactives, posted about 90 minutes before kickoff. As of Fri 8:00 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.
VannettFirst outTE · BAL @ BUFUsually 0.0+1.3pts this week
Helps him
- +0.7ptspaceMost players at his position produce more than he has, so we expect him to bounce back some.
- +0.6ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
Hurts him
- 0%targetsHe draws only 0% of his team’s targets.
- 0.0per gameHe sees only 0.0 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: 1.4 (best)Vannett: 1.3
Projected team pointsThomas: 22.0Vannett: 25.8 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameThomas: 0.0Vannett: 0.0
Role
Snap shareThomas: 33%Vannett: 8%
Usage worthptsThomas: 1.1Vannett: 0 targets
Target shareThomas: 2%Vannett: 0%
Targets / gameThomas: 0.7Vannett: 0.0
Air yards shareThomas: 1%Vannett: 0 targets
Vacated targets this weekThomas: 3.0 (best)Vannett: 0.7
RZ target shareThomas: 0%Vannett: 0 targets
Inside 10 target shareThomas: 0%Vannett: 0 targets
Catch rateThomas: 100%Vannett: 0 targets
Usage worth vs scoredThomas: Earned by usage 1.1Scored 2.4Vannett: 0 targets
WOPRThomas: 0.03Vannett: 0
Range
FloorThomas: 0.7Vannett: 0.6
CeilingThomas: 2.3Vannett: 2.2
Points from TDssteadier when lowerThomas: 35%Vannett: 0 pts
Big weeks (15+ pts)Thomas: 0%Vannett: 1 game
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterThomas: 80%Vannett: 1 game
SteadinessThomas: Volatile±4.4 pts · 5 gamesVannett: 1 game
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his positionThomas: C (best)2026, 7 gmVannett: D+2026, 6 gm
Game scriptThomas: Expected to trail (best)Vannett: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterThomas: 1.1Vannett: 1.0 (best)
Defense funnelThomas: NeutralVannett: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedThomas: 5th (tough)Vannett: 31st (soft) (best)
Starting QBThomas: Cousins (Active)Vannett: Huntley (Active)
Opp defender outThomas: Bailey (LB)Vannett: None listed
Roof / surfaceturfThomas: OpenVannett: Open
Rest / scheduleThomas: NormalVannett: Normal
Opp paceThomas: 28th (slow)Vannett: 24th (slow) (best)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameThomas: 0.14th (tough)Vannett: 0.7 (best)23rd (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedThomas: 72% (best)14th (average)Vannett: 68%8th (tough)
Form
Last 3 avgThomas: 1.2 (best)Vannett: 0.0
Last 5 avgThomas: 3.0 (best)Vannett: 0.0
vs seasonThomas: −1.2 (Cooling)Vannett: 0.0
Yards per route runThomas: 1.67Vannett: 0
Receiving aDOTThomas: 5.0Vannett: 0 targets
Target share trendThomas: SteadyVannett: No usage yet
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterThomas: TE64 (best)Vannett: TE67
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.