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Bleeding Green Nation fantasy football takes on DeVonta Smith

Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Bleeding Green Nation about DeVonta Smith.

58
Insights
34
Positive
8
Negative
Insight ledger

All Bleeding Green Nation insights about DeVonta Smith

PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026
Smith is adapting to yet another new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion and spoke positively about the transition during training camp. Smith emphasized that understanding Mannion's flow, terminology, and play-calling approach is the biggest adjustment, and noted that once players grasp how Mannion wants to operate, "it becomes easy." Smith complimented Mannion's ability to "get everybody up to speed, helping everybody understand the small details of the offense," suggesting a smooth integration into the new system.
PositiveBreakoutJul 27, 2026
DeVonta Smith is poised to have a big year for the Eagles as the featured receiver following A.J. Brown's trade. Over his first five years, Smith averaged 82 receptions, 1,067 yards, and 7 touchdowns while sharing the ball with a workhorse like A.J. Brown. The source projects Smith should be a star this season, noting his proven ability on deep balls and his college pedigree (Heisman Trophy winner). Smith's chemistry with Jalen Hurts dating back to age 17-18 provides an additional foundation for success.
PositiveRoleJul 25, 2026
Smith's role is shifting significantly out wide, where he has excelled. In 2025, he posted an 89.9 PFF receiving grade out wide with a 25.3% target rate and 2.95 yards per route run, tied for third-best behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua. His slot grades have deteriorated over time. With A.J. Brown traded away and Jahan Dotson departed in free agency, while the Eagles added Makai Lemon (primarily slot), Hollywood Brown, and Dontayvion Wicks, Smith should see a significant shift toward playing out wide rather than in the slot, positioning him for increased target volume.
PositiveValueJul 25, 2026
Smith's ADP of 4.02 appears undervalued given his consistent fantasy production and upcoming role expansion. He has averaged at least 3.5 receptions and 50 receiving yards per game throughout his career while ranking among the top 30 wide receivers in fantasy points per game in each of the last four seasons despite being the second option behind A.J. Brown. His 89.4 career PFF grade ranks 20th among wide receivers over the last five seasons, and his 20.5% career target rate is tied for third-lowest among those top 20 receivers, suggesting significant upside as the Eagles' primary option.
NegativeRoleJul 23, 2026
Eagles WR2 ranked second in X-iso receiver snaps in 2025 with 77 targets, well behind A.J. Brown's 148 snaps. This significant gap (less than 52% of Brown's volume) indicates Smith was not positioned as a true replacement option for isolation work against elite cornerbacks. With Brown's departure and the Eagles' shift toward Sean Mannion's condensed-formation scheme (50% rate, 6th in NFL), Smith's role may expand but likely not into the dominant X-iso role Brown occupied. The passing game restructuring under Mannion suggests increased emphasis on scheme-based production rather than individual receiver isolation opportunities.
PositiveRoleJul 22, 2026
With A.J. Brown traded to New England, Smith is stepping into a more featured role. Sirianni stated Smith is 'capable of doing even more' and 'can continue to get even more targets than he has.' Internal belief suggests Smith could be among the league's most productive receivers if he approaches the 150-target mark achieved by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua last season. Smith finished 2025 with 113 targets, 77 catches, and 1,008 receiving yards; he had a career-high 136 targets in 2022 with 1,196 receiving yards. Most instructively, his 2.67 yards per route run on 51 routes with Brown off the field ranked fourth in the NFL among qualifying receivers.