Start DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle? Week 3

Our Week 3 call

Start DeVonta Smith over Jaylen Waddle in Week 3.

De-vigged player props project DeVonta Smith at 15.3 points and Jaylen Waddle at 12.6, a gap of 2.7. Drafters take DeVonta Smith at ADP 12 and Jaylen Waddle at 16.

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.

Player prop markets imply 12.6 fantasy points for Jaylen Waddle, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

That puts DeVonta Smith 2.7 points ahead of Jaylen Waddle 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.

Jaylen Waddle and DEN host LAR on Sunday at 8:20 PM ET.

LAR allowed 30.4 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 2 games, the 15th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 113 yards and 1.5 touchdowns a game against LAR.

By points allowed to the position, Jaylen Waddle has the softer matchup.

Injury status

DeVonta Smith is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

Jaylen Waddle 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, Jaylen Waddle played 67 percent of DEN snaps, drew 23 percent of the targets, earned 46 percent of the air yards and had 7 percent of the red zone chances.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 1 against KC: 38 of 51 snaps, 3 targets and 1 catch for 2 yards.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 2 against JAX: 38 of 62 snaps, 10 targets and 8 catches for 138 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, Jaylen Waddle played 16 games for MIA and scored 194.1 PPR points, 12.1 a game, finishing WR24.

He caught 64 of 100 targets for 910 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 11 red zone targets and 682 air yards.

He was on the field for 78 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 17 of 2025 against TB: 14 of 55 snaps, 1 carry for 7 yards, 1 target and 0 catches for 0 yards, 0.7 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 Jaylen Waddle over Christian Watson.
• Start Dalton Kincaid over Jaylen Waddle.
• Start Dalton Schultz over Jaylen Waddle.