Availability
Brian Thomas Jr. was one of the biggest busts of the 2025 season. He dealt with a high ankle sprain and a shoulder issue and never looked like the player we all loved during his rookie season. Once Thomas Jr. was "healthy" and Jakobi Meyers was on the roster, Thomas was relegated to a field-stretching role. In Weeks 13-18, he had only two top-24 outings in weekly scoring (WR15, WR23) with a 14.9% target share (18.1 aDOT), 47.8 receiving yards per game, 1.65 yards per route run, three red zone targets, and a 20.6% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). Could Thomas bounce back in 2026? Sure, it's possible, but with how this passing attack and receiver depth chart are composed, I don't see him returning to alpha-level usage this season. He'll likely fill the downfield role for Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence. This means he'll have massive week-to-week volatility. I'm mostly interested in Thomas Jr. in best ball formats where I don't have to stress about when to start him. I'll just enjoy the overall point total that he accumulates by the end of the season. Thomas is a WR3/4 who could easily be a WR2 by the end of the year if the big plays and touchdowns come.
Brian Thomas Jr.'s sophomore season was a major disappointment after the lofty expectations created by his explosive rookie campaign. Injuries constantly interrupted his momentum, while Jacksonville's offense increasingly funneled targets toward players like Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Brenton Strange. The talent that made BTJ a breakout star still exists, but his connection with Trevor Lawrence never consistently clicked in Liam Coen's system. Until Jacksonville proves willing to feature him more prominently again, Thomas profiles as more of a volatile upside WR3/4 than the ascending alpha many expected entering 2025.