Start DeVonta Smith or George Pickens? Week 3

Our Week 3 call

Start George Pickens over DeVonta Smith in Week 3.

De-vigged player props project George Pickens at 14.6 points and DeVonta Smith at 15.3, a gap of 0.7. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. George Pickens's number is scaled up from a partial market: the books have not posted every stat the position needs, so the rest is estimated from what they have.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 15.3 fantasy points for DeVonta Smith, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The books have DeVonta Smith at 72.5 receiving yards and 5.5 receptions, with a 34% chance to score a touchdown (15, 12 and 12 books).

Player prop markets imply 14.6 fantasy points for George Pickens, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The books have George Pickens at 59.5 receiving yards and 5.5 receptions, with a 36% chance to score a touchdown (16, 11 and 15 books).

That puts DeVonta Smith 0.7 points ahead of George Pickens on the books.

Week 3 matchups

DeVonta Smith and PHI visit CHI on Monday at 8:15 PM ET.

CHI allowed 27.5 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 2 games, the 11th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 145 yards and a touchdown a game against CHI.

Injury status

DeVonta Smith is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

George Pickens is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 3

Through Week 2, DeVonta Smith played 91 percent of PHI snaps, drew 34 percent of the targets, earned 52 percent of the air yards and had 6 percent of the red zone chances.

DeVonta Smith, Week 1 against WAS: 52 of 55 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 53 yards.

DeVonta Smith, Week 2 against TEN: 67 of 76 snaps, 13 targets and 10 catches for 117 yards, 1 touchdown.

Through Week 2, George Pickens played 81 percent of DAL snaps, drew 23 percent of the targets, earned 34 percent of the air yards and had 5 percent of the red zone chances.

George Pickens, Week 1 against NYG: 49 of 58 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 28 yards.

George Pickens, Week 2 against WAS: 42 of 55 snaps, 8 targets and 6 catches for 40 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, DeVonta Smith played 17 games for PHI and scored 201.8 PPR points, 11.9 a game, finishing WR20.

He caught 77 of 113 targets for 1008 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 10 red zone targets and 715 air yards.

He was on the field for 89 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

DeVonta Smith, Week 18 of 2025 against WAS: 4 targets and 3 catches for 52 yards, 8.2 PPR points.

In 2025, George Pickens played 17 games for DAL and scored 291.9 PPR points, 17.2 a game, finishing WR5.

He caught 93 of 137 targets for 1429 yards and 9 touchdowns, with 21 red zone targets and 950 air yards.

He was on the field for 83 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

George Pickens, Week 18 of 2025 against NYG: 3 targets and 1 catch for 9 yards, 1.9 PPR points.

Their other Week 3 calls

• Start Chris Olave over DeVonta Smith.
• Start DeVonta Smith over Christian Watson.
• Start Davante Adams over DeVonta Smith.
• Start George Pickens over Christian Watson.
• Start George Pickens over Dalton Kincaid.
• Start George Pickens over Dalton Schultz.