Brian Thomas Jr. or Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Thomas’s vertical upside meets Marks’s between-the-tackles path

Thomas has the more explosive route to points as Jacksonville’s primary vertical threat, but his WR-3 listing and recent snap retreat make that ceiling difficult to trust (ESPN 2026-10-02). Marks can earn work between the tackles, though his RB2 role and light receiving usage limit his floor. Their projections are virtually level; Thomas’s stronger consensus standing is balanced by Marks’s slightly better usage and matchup, so neither bench call separates from the other.

What flips it: Thomas's snaps rebounding toward his pre-Patriots role.

Sources: ESPN · Oct 2, 2026

AI editor

Brian Thomas Jr.

Brian Thomas Jr.

WR40JAXvs CIN

Projected Points

Sit
Woody Marks

Woody Marks

RB44HOUvs DAL

Projected Points

Sit

Brian Thomas Jr.’s market

REC
O/U 2.5
+121 / -155
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 26.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+340
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Woody Marks’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 33.5
-114 / -114
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 1.5
-133 / +105
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 10.5
-107 / -117
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+195
Anytime Touchdown Props →
JAX@
CINSun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
DAL@
HOUSun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Brian Thomas Jr.

Sit

WR1 and primary vertical threat. Long-striding field-stretcher with contested-catch radius; bounce-back candidate after inefficient season.

Sit — WR40 consensus, projects WR61 this week: 16% target share, 8.2 PPR projected vs CIN.

  • His field-stretching profile gives Jacksonville a big-play route to points.
  • The recent snap decline makes his upside especially dependent on a role rebound (ESPN 2026-10-02).

Latest on Thomas

Role

Brian Thomas Jr. played 23 snaps against the Patriots, down from 31 against the Broncos the week before.

Is Brian Thomas Jr.'s playing time being impacted by an emerging Jaguars rookie?ESPN, Sports Illustrated · Oct 2, 2026

Why Woody Marks

Sit

RB2 behind David Montgomery. Between-the-tackles committee back who carried 196 times for 703 yards as a rookie with light pass-game usage.

Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB44: 7% target share, 8.3 PPR projected vs DAL.

  • A between-the-tackles role gives him a path to contribute if Houston controls the game.
  • RB2 status and limited receiving work leave little cushion if the rushing role shrinks.

Head-to-head stats

MetricBrian Thomas Jr.Woody Marks
Projected points
Consensus rankWR40RB44
Opponent vs positionCIN · 15 of 323-game sampleDAL · 21 of 323-game sample
Receptions9 of 329 of 32
Receiving Yards13 of 328 of 32
Receiving TDs15 of 32—
Targets24 of 32—
Anytime TD14 of 3225 of 32
Rushing Yards—28 of 32
Rushing TDs—25 of 32
Rushing Attempts—29 of 32
Target share16%7%
Reception share13%10%
Implied total · spread24.5+2.525.0-2.5
Depth chartWR3RB2
Snap share42%45%
Start/Sit record0–1—

Recent form

Brian Thomas Jr. — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs NE
Week 2vs DEN
Week 1vs CLE

Woody Marks — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs IND
Week 2vs CIN
Week 1vs BUF

Signal breakdown

  • 8.2 vs 8.3 projected PPR pointsWoody Marks +
  • Rank 40 vs 44Brian Thomas Jr. +
  • Opponent DvP rank 15 vs 21 (32 = softest)Woody Marks +
  • Implied 24.5 vs 25.0 team pointsWoody Marks +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 42% vs 45% snap shareWoody Marks +

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