DeVonta Smith’s preseason has hit a minor snag with a groin issue that’s keeping him sidelined as a precautionary measure. What’s the latest on the Philadelphia Eagles star, and is he in jeopardy of missing Week 1?
What Is DeVonta Smith’s Injury?
While any injury news can send fantasy managers into a panic, this appears to be nothing more than the Eagles exercising extreme caution with their star receiver during meaningless August games.
The organization is taking the smart approach of protecting its assets when the games don’t count, ensuring Smith will be ready when it matters most. In the preseason, any little thing is going to be treated with the utmost caution. Smith is not currently at risk of missing Week 1.
Smith has been remarkably consistent over three seasons, delivering 64+ receiving yards per game and 7+ touchdowns. How should fantasy managers approach the Eagles’ star WR2 entering the 2025 season?
Smith’s Fantasy Football Outlook
Smith is a fantastic NFL receiver who has defied his size and become an excellent threat. Still, I have never considered drafting him, even when he started to slip in my drafts. His part in the Eagles’ offense is truly what makes it unfair, an extremely well-rounded threat that could be most teams’ top option, that gets to feed on lesser cornerbacks. Unfortunately, that role doesn’t translate to fantasy.
The only way for Smith to become a legit fantasy asset is for A.J. Brown to miss significant time. The Eagles’ offense simply does not rely on a high volume of passing output, ranking 32nd, 21st, and 24th in attempts over the last three seasons. And while Brown has been dealing with a hamstring strain as of late, he is expected to be fine for Week 1, meaning Smith will remain in his WR2 role.
DEVONTA SMITH ONE-HANDED TD 😱
WHAT A CATCH ON 3RD & 22 ‼️
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/kUvbYD1gEb— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 3, 2024
Brown is the primary target here, while TE Dallas Goedert gets his fair share of touches. QB Jalen Hurts is incredibly mobile, and that’s after RB Saquon Barkley gets fed. Smith works into that equation, but it’s slim pickings after those elite options get theirs first.
Even though Smith will put up reliable numbers throughout the season, they come in inconsistent bursts. He had four top-10 finishes in 2024, weeks 8, 9, 15, and 17. Between that, he had five finishes at WR35-plus, including WR155, 74, 64, and 53 finishes throughout the season. There’s little reason to play the feast-or-famine game on a mid-round receiver with limited upside.