DeVonta Smith or Marvin Harrison Jr.: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

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

DeVonta Smith projects 15.6 to Harrison's 7.1 and is the higher consensus play (WR16 to WR30). No signal favors Harrison this week. The gap is wide.

DeVonta Smith

DeVonta Smith

WR16PHIvs CHI

Projected Points

Start
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

WR30ARIvs SF

Projected Points

Sit

DeVonta Smith’s market

REC
O/U 5.5
-119 / -107
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 70.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+175
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s market

REC
O/U 2.5
+106 / -135
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 34.5
-110 / -115
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+450
Anytime Touchdown Props →
PHI@
CHIMon, Sep 28, 8:15 PM ETView the game →
ARI@
SFSun, Sep 27, 4:05 PM ETView the game →

Why DeVonta Smith

Start

WR1-caliber outside receiver. Elite route technician with reliable hands and high target volume.

Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR16: CHI is the 10th-toughest matchup vs WRs, 33% target share.

  • CHI ranks 10 of 32 against WRs (one of the tougher matchups, 2-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 22.5 team points as 1.5-point underdogs.
  • Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 92% snap share.

Latest on Smith

Status

DeVonta Smith did not participate in practice Thursday with a hamstring injury.

Philadelphia Eagles · Sep 25, 2026

Through two games this season, Smith had 19 targets, 13 receptions and 170 receiving yards, ranking sixth, seventh and 13th among pass catchers, respectively.

Eagles' DeVonta Smith is headed into another stratosphereESPN · Sep 28, 2026

Why Marvin Harrison Jr.

Sit

WR1 and primary outside receiver. Polished route runner with elite catch-point ability; 2025 production capped by missed games.

Sit — WR30 consensus, projects WR69 this week: SF is the 11th-toughest matchup vs WRs, 17.5 implied team total caps the ceiling.

  • SF ranks 11 of 32 against WRs (one of the tougher matchups, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 17.5 team points as 11.5-point underdogs.
  • Listed WR-2 on the latest depth chart with a 77% snap share.

Latest on Harrison

Role

Harrison has been used as a deep receiver, with 17 go routes in two games.

Harrison Jr. blocking out noise amid slow start for CardinalsESPN, azcardinals.com · Sep 23, 2026
Marvin Harrison Jr. is 'getting his mojo back'

Joshua Weinfuss highlights Harrison Jr.'s involvement in Week 3 despite the Cardinals' loss against the 49ers.

VideoESPN · Sep 28, 2026
Why the Cards aren't worried about Marvin Harrison Jr.

Josh Weinfuss explains why the Cardinals aren't worried about WR Marvin Harrison Jr.'s production through two weeks.

VideoESPN · Sep 21, 2026
Cards' Marvin Harrison Jr. looking for big rebound game vs. Seahawks

Harrison was held to just one catch in the win over the Chargers, but most single coverage may result in bigger numbers.

ESPN · Sep 18, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricDeVonta SmithMarvin Harrison Jr.
Projected points
Consensus rankWR16WR30
Opponent vs positionCHI · 10 of 322-game sampleSF · 11 of 323-game sample
Receptions1 of 3215 of 32
Receiving Yards17 of 3211 of 32
Receiving TDs14 of 327 of 32
Targets6 of 3215 of 32
Anytime TD13 of 326 of 32
Target share33%8%
Reception share34%5%
Implied total · spread22.5+1.517.5+11.5
Depth chartWR1WR2
Snap share92%77%

Recent form

DeVonta Smith — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs TEN
Week 1vs WSH

Marvin Harrison Jr. — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs SEA
Week 1vs LAC

Signal breakdown

  • 15.6 vs 7.1 projected PPR pointsDeVonta Smith +
  • Rank 16 vs 30DeVonta Smith +
  • Opponent DvP rank 10 vs 11 (32 = softest)DeVonta Smith +
  • Implied 22.5 vs 17.5 team pointsDeVonta Smith +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 92% vs 77% snap shareDeVonta Smith +

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