Will Smith DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith will start on the bench in Wednesday's series finale against the division-rival Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Austin Barnes will do the catching for right-hander Bobby Miller and will hit in the nine-hole against Rockies right-hander German Marquez. The 30-year-old Smith remains one of the best hitting catchers in baseball and has been proving it early on in 2025, slashing .367/.475/.551 with a 1.026 OPS, two home runs, 12 RBI, six runs scored and a stolen base in 49 total at-bats. He hit his second homer in Tuesday's 6-2 win. He's been especially hot the last three games, going 6-for-12 with a homer and five runs driven in. Although Barnes has hit .286 with a homer and three RBI in 14 career at-bats against Marquez, he'll have little DFS upside at the bottom of the batting order on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith turned in a big game in a 6-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. Smith went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer to help down Colorado. The veteran catcher launched a three-run homer off Colorado starter Ryan Feltner in the third inning, a blast that gave the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. Smith is off to a fast start in 2025, hitting .367 with two homers, six runs, 12 RBI, and one stolen base across 49 at-bats. He remains one of the premier offensive catchers in all of fantasy.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Fantasy managers don't need to worry as this appears to routine rest day for Smith. He has been struggling lately with three hits over his last five games. In his absence, Austin Barnes will cover behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander Ben Brown. Barnes is a viable backup catcher, but isn't someone worth rostering in fantasy formats with Smith healthy.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith is not in the starting nine when they continue a series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday evening. Smith has started in each of the past two contests. During this two-game stretch, he has tallied three hits with two RBI. Instead, the Dodgers will have Austin Barnes behind the dish and bat in the nine-hole. Through 11 games this season, Smith has posted an impressive .400/.550/.567 slash line with two doubles and one home run. Fantasy managers should expect the 30-year-old to return to the starting nine on Wednesday when he faces Washington right-hander Jake Irvin. Barnes is not worth targeting in DFS this evening, facing right-handed pitcher Brad Lord.

After the Los Angeles Dodgers lost their first game of the season on Friday night, catcher Will Smith will get the day off on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. Austin Barnes will do the catching for rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki and will hit ninth versus Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. Smith, one of the best hitting catchers in the best lineup in baseball, has gotten off to a great start at the plate in 2025, going 9-for-22 with a home run, a double, five RBI, five runs scored, nine walks and seven strikeouts in his first nine games. When active, the two-time All-Star backstop should be in all starting fantasy lineups. Barnes is a light-hitting backstop that should be avoided for DFS purposes, especially against Nola, who he is hitless against in just two career at-bats.