DeVonta Smith still hasn’t practiced for the Eagles through Thursday, October 1, with a hamstring injury, immediately putting his Sunday status in serious doubt. While the team only had a walkthrough on Wednesday, playing after Night Football, fantasy managers are already being told to err on the side of caution with this guy. We’re talking about a top-10 NFL wide receiver, and his absence would completely flip the script on Philly’s Week 4 plans.
Philly’s Receiving Corps Is Getting Thin, Fast
With Smith on the sidelines, the Eagles’ pass-catching depth is looking incredibly shaky. We already know Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks are healthy and expected to start, but here’s the kicker: Hollywood Brown, another key receiver, also missed practice on Thursday! If both Smith and Brown are out, the pecking order shifts dramatically. Elijah Moore and Darius Cooper suddenly become the only other pass-catchers expected to have a meaningful role. They even had to sign veteran free agent Zach Ertz less than two weeks ago just to replace Dallas Goedert. This isn’t exactly game-breaking depth, is it?
If Smith and Brown are sidelined, the yard-share changes are wild. Dontayvion Wicks’ share jumps from 26.5% to a whopping 35%, making him a high-end WR2 and an absolute must-start. Makai Lemon, the rookie, sees his share almost double from 13.5% to 29%, pushing him into low-end WR2 territory and definitely worth starting on upside alone. Lemon grabbed 4 targets, 3 receptions, and 29 yards in Week 3, and he’s only going to see increased involvement as his rookie season rolls on and that chemistry builds. Even Saquon Barkley’s target share climbs from 5.5% to 8%, and Darius Cooper goes from 3.5% to 8%. Ertz, though, is projected for a mere 6% share, which tells you he’s not the answer.
Run Game Ramps Up, Barkley Becomes the Anchor
You know what happens when a team’s pass-catchers get banged up? They run the ball. Hard. The Eagles were already projected to be the third most run-heavy team in the NFL *with* Smith active. Sure, their run rate ranked just 18th through three games, but that’s misleading. They trailed the Bears wire-to-wire last week, forcing them to throw 60% of the time. In their two prior games, they had a pass rate of 54.2% and 45.8%, which lines up way closer to a 45.5% ground attack projection. If Smith is out, Philly will revert to a heavier run script, without a doubt. We’re talking about trusting Saquon Barkley in *most* high-leverage situations. I can totally see them running the ball around, if not more than, 50% of the time. Get ready for a Barkley show, folks.
The Eagles host the LA Rams in Week 4. They’re already projected losers by a small margin, but you can bet that margin widens if Smith, a legit top-10 NFL wideout, misses this game. That widening margin means they’re going to be even more desperate to control the clock and lean on the run. So, while the Eagles’ offense without Smith is going to be volatile, it’s a high-upside, high-risk play for Wicks and Lemon, given their weak depth chart. Barkley’s volume is too good to ignore. Expect a ground game slugfest, with a couple of unexpected young receivers stepping into the spotlight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply