Game day update: DeVonta Smith will work out on Sunday ahead of the game, but Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo are reporting, “there is not a lot of optimism that he’ll be out there” come game time. The Eagles kick off against the Ravens at 4:25 p.m. ET and will announce inactives at 2:55 p.m.
The Philadelphia Eagles are looking like one of the hottest teams in the NFL as they have won seven straight games and sit at 9-2. In Week 13, the Eagles will have one of their more difficult games of the season when they hit the road to take on the Baltimore Ravens. In a potential Super Bowl preview, the Eagles will want to be at full strength. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith missed last week’s game against the Rams and hopes to return on Sunday in Baltimore.
DeVonta Smith Injury Status
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles have officially listed wide receiver DeVonta Smith as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Ravens. Smith sat out last week’s game against the Rams with a hamstring injury. While he did not practice on Wednesday, he did participate in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday. The Eagles wide receiver was asked on Friday whether or not he will play against the Ravens. Said Smith, “I still don’t know.”
Smith will be a player to watch on Sunday to see what his status will be for the game against Ravens in Week 13. The Eagles play the Ravens in the afternoon slate of games at 4:25 ET.
What DeVonta Smith injury means for fantasy football
With DeVonta Smith out of the lineup last week, running back Saquon Barkley had a career day, rushing for 255 yards. Due to Barkley’s big day, Eagles wide receivers outside of AJ Brown didn’t see many targets. Brown led the Eagles with seven targets and behind him was Jahan Dotson with one.
If Smith has to miss another game, it will be interesting to see which Eagles wide receiver is able to fill that void. Brown had six receptions for 109 yards while tight end Dallas Goedert got involved as well. Goedert finished with four receptions for 19 yards.
However, unlike the Rams defense, the Ravens have been good at stopping the run this season. They’ve allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs and have given up the second-fewest EPA per rush.
The Ravens secondary has been susceptible to the big play in the passing game. They’ve allowed the fifth-most EPA per dropback and are allowing the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. However, the Eagles will need another wide receiver to step up in Smith’s place if he is out. Dotson and Johnny Wilson led Eagles wide receivers in snap counts behind Brown. If another wide receiver steps up, it will likely be one of those two players.
With that said, Brown is a must-start with serious WR1 potential this week, given the matchup, and there won’t be a lot of competition for targets. While quarterback Jalen Hurts will certainly miss Smith, he should find plenty of success throwing the ball.
