The Philadelphia Eagles will be without star wide receiver DeVonta Smith during their Week 12 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Let’s examine why Smith isn’t available for this Sunday Night Football showdown.
Why Isn’t DeVonta Smith Playing in Week 12?
Smith is dealing with a hamstring injury, and he never practiced this week.
This represents a regression for the Eagles’ WR2. Smith was a DNP for last week’s Wednesday practice but returned for limited sessions on Thursday and Friday. He posted four catches for 29 yards in Philadelphia’s Week 11 win over the Washington Commanders.
It’s possible that Smith returned to game action too quickly. Hamstring injuries can often linger, and if Smith aggravated his issue last Sunday, he could be starting a multi-week problem.
A.J. Brown’s already massive target share will only expand with Smith sidelined, while Jahan Dotson should step into the Eagles’ WR2 role.
Fantasy Impact of Smith’s Absence
Brown hasn’t been quite the star you were hoping for when you drafted him in your fantasy league this summer. Not only did he miss several weeks earlier in the season, he doesn’t have more than six catches in a game this season and has failed to score in four straight.
Take a deep breath and understand that the advanced metrics are working in your favor as we come down the stretch.
Brown’s on-field target share is spot on with expectations (26.1% this season; career rate: 25.9%), and his efficiency is on a career pace in every measure (fantasy points per target, yards per route, and EPA per opportunity).
The overall pass volume in Philadelphia has been the problem, and that may not correct itself; if it does, Brown has the potential to be the top-scoring player at the position the rest of the way.
The Eagles face four viable quarterbacks over the next five weeks (Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Jayden Daniels — this time not on a goofy short week), and that could result in this team getting pushed at a level we haven’t seen lately.
Saquon Barkley is being used as a bell cow and has played in the postseason one time in his career. Could the Eagles opt to manage his reps down the stretch of the regular season, thus opening up more opportunities for Brown and this passing game? Could Smith’s absence help Brown get more involved?
Regardless, Brown is a locked-in WR1 who you’re starting every week. It’s hard to trust any other Eagles wide receivers, but no Smith could also mean more targets for Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert.