Ought to You Begin Courtland Sutton or DeVonta Smith in Fantasy Soccer Week 3?

The extensive receiver place presents difficult choices for fantasy managers looking for dependable manufacturing from mid-tier choices. DeVonta Smith and Courtland Sutton signify two gamers comparatively shut in rankings, creating a choice many fantasy soccer managers may face in Week 3 lineups.

DeVonta Smith Fantasy Outlook

Smith has gotten off to a gradual begin this season with the Eagles posting a 63% impartial recreation script run price by way of their first two video games. His manufacturing has been disappointing, posting simply 4.6 fantasy factors in Week 1 and 9.3 fantasy factors in Week 2, hardly starter-worthy numbers for a participant drafted as a WR2 choice.

The Alabama product caught three of three targets for 16 yards towards Dallas within the opener, adopted by 4 receptions on six targets for 53 yards towards Kansas Metropolis in Week 2. His seven whole receptions for 69 yards by way of two video games signify his lowest two-game begin since his rookie season.

Jalen Hurts has but to throw a landing go this season, which definitely doesn’t assist Smith’s fantasy prospects. Philadelphia’s conservative offensive strategy and heavy reliance on Saquon Barkley within the floor recreation have restricted passing quantity and pink zone alternatives for all receivers.

MORE: Free Fantasy Soccer Begin/Sit Optimizer

When these groups met within the postseason earlier this 12 months, Smith caught 4 passes for 21 yards because it turned the Saquon Barkley present with 205 dashing yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles’ capacity to regulate video games by way of their floor assault continues to restrict particular person receiver upside.

Smith’s goal share stays respectable at 22% by way of two weeks, however the general lack of passing quantity creates a low ceiling for fantasy manufacturing. His expertise stage suggests the potential for WR2 numbers if the sport script forces Philadelphia to throw extra continuously.

Courtland Sutton Fantasy Outlook

Sutton opened the season scorching, catching six passes for 61 yards and a landing in Week 1, posting 16.1 fantasy factors in an encouraging debut for the 2025 season. His chemistry with the sophomore appeared to select up proper the place they left off.

Nevertheless, Sutton seemingly took a backseat to Troy Franklin in Week 2 towards Indianapolis. He was focused solely 4 occasions, catching one go for six yards whereas posting simply 1.6 fantasy factors in a regarding regression from his opening efficiency.

The veteran receiver’s two-game totals present seven receptions on 13 targets for 67 yards and one landing, representing inconsistent utilization that makes weekly predictions tough. His 22.5% goal share in Week 1 dropped to simply 13.3% in Week 2, highlighting the volatility in Denver’s passing assault.

Franklin’s emergence as a pink zone risk and slot choice seems to be chopping into Sutton’s goal share, significantly in favorable matchups the place the Broncos can unfold the ball round. The rookie’s 9 targets in Week 2 exceeded Sutton’s whole, suggesting a extra balanced strategy to focus on distribution.

Sutton’s position as the first exterior receiver ought to present some consistency. Nonetheless, the Broncos’ dedication to establishing their floor recreation and using a number of receivers creates weekly uncertainty about his involvement stage.

Ought to You Begin Smith or Sutton This Week?

The Los Angeles Rams pose an intriguing matchup for Smith and the Eagles’ offense. Los Angeles has proven vulnerability towards slot receivers and beneath routes, which might favor Smith’s ability set if Philadelphia must throw extra continuously to maintain tempo.

Nevertheless, fantasy managers stay on the mercy of the sport script relating to Smith’s manufacturing. Suppose the Rams can neutralize Barkley or rating sufficient factors to pressure Philadelphia into apparent passing conditions. In that case, Smith has the expertise to submit WR2 numbers in what might turn into a aggressive contest.

The Chargers current a tough matchup for Sutton and Denver’s passing assault. Los Angeles has one of many higher defenses within the league and fully erased Patrick Mahomes for not less than all the first half of their Week 1 assembly, limiting the Chiefs to minimal offensive manufacturing.

Don’t anticipate the Broncos-Chargers matchup to be high-scoring, given each groups’ defensive capabilities and conservative offensive approaches. Nonetheless, the Chargers have a powerful run protection that ought to be capable of shut down JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey, probably forcing Sean Payton to lean extra closely on Bo Nix and the passing recreation.

This defensive energy towards the run might create extra quantity for Sutton if Denver falls behind and must throw to maintain tempo. His measurement and pink zone capacity make him a candidate for landing alternatives if the Broncos attain scoring place by way of the air.

The PFSN Begin/Sit Optimizer tasks Sutton for 13.9 fantasy factors in comparison with 12.9 for Smith, reflecting the slight edge in anticipated quantity and landing potential for the Denver receiver in Week 3.

Whereas the projections are shut, fantasy managers ought to lean towards Sutton based mostly on his superior landing upside and the chance that Denver might want to throw greater than Philadelphia of their respective matchups this weekend.