Start Ja'Marr Chase over DeVonta Smith — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Start Chase — the projection and consensus rank edges are too wide to ignore.

Ja'Marr Chase projects 20.0 to Smith's 14.8 and is the higher consensus play (WR1 to WR15). Smith's edge is availability, a clean report to Chase's Q. The gap is wide.

DeVonta Smith

WR15PHIvs WSH

9.412.114.8 Projected Points

Start

Ja'Marr Chase

WR1CINvs TB

13.016.520.0 Projected Points

Start

Why DeVonta Smith

Start

WR2 and primary route technician. Slender frame with elite separation, releases, and reliable hands.

Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR15: 26.0 implied team total, 24% target share in 2025.

Vegas implies 26.0 team points as 5.5-point favorites.
Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 84% snap share in 2025.

Why Ja'Marr Chase

Start

WR1 and elite separator. Volume-target alpha with after-catch explosiveness and high-end route-running.

Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR1: 27.0 implied team total, 32% target share in 2025.

Carries a Questionable tag — usually plays, but monitor the final report.
Vegas implies 27.0 team points as 3.5-point favorites.
Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 94% snap share in 2025.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	DeVonta Smith	Ja'Marr Chase
Projected points	9.412.114.8	13.016.520.0
Consensus rank	WR15	WR1
Opponent vs position	WSHno ranking yet	TBno ranking yet
Target share	24%(2025)	32%(2025)
Reception share	24%(2025)	32%(2025)
Implied total · spread	26.0-5.5	27.0-3.5
Depth chart	WR1	WR1
Snap share	84%(2025)	94%(2025)
Injury designation	—	Q