Who Should I Start? Marquise Brown or DeVonta Smith

Saturday, November 1, 2:30 PM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown has recorded 32 catches for 316 yards and four touchdowns on 49 targets across his first eight games of 2025. However, Brown has seen his role in the offense shrink in recent weeks. After earning at least five targets in each of his first five games of the season, Brown has failed to reach the five-target mark in each of his last three. He was held without a catch on just one target in his most recent outing in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders. With Chiefs wideouts Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy back from the suspension and injury that limited their participation early in the season, Brown appears likely to remain in a marginalized role. Kansas City will play the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 in a matchup that has definite shootout potential. Still, Brown is unlikely to provide fantasy-relevant production if he fails to crack 40% of the team's offensive snaps, a number he hasn't reached since Week 6. Brown profiles as a desperation deep-league flex option in Week 9 against Buffalo.

Thursday, November 6, 3:19 PM

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith caught 15 of his 20 targets for 267 yards and a touchdown in the two games before the team's Week 9 bye. With fellow wideout A.J. Brown (hamstring) out in the Week 8 win over the New York Giants, Smith led the team in catches (six), targets (nine), and receiving yards (84). The 26-year-old is a must-start regardless in fantasy football lineups, even if Brown can return on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers. But if Brown misses a second straight game, Smith will have WR1 upside in an Eagles passing game that was looking much better before the bye. Through the first nine weeks of the 2025 season, Smith has caught 44 passes for 588 yards and two touchdowns on 55 targets. Keep him locked into your starting lineups this week despite a challenging matchup on the road at Lambeau Field on Monday.