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Fantasy Life Articles fantasy football takes on DeVonta Smith

Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Fantasy Life Articles about DeVonta Smith.

55
Insights
33
Positive
8
Negative
Insight ledger

All Fantasy Life Articles insights about DeVonta Smith

PositiveProjectionAug 23, 2026
DeVonta Smith is set to post elite numbers in 2026 with a significant volume increase. Since 2022, Smith has posted TPRR (target per route run) rates of 22%, 19%, 20%, and 22%. When A.J. Brown is off the field, Smith has been targeted on 28% of his routes—his highest TPRR rate over an entire season. The source projects 130-plus targets should be well within reach for Smith, compared to his 136-target season in 2023 that resulted in 95 catches, 1,196 yards, seven touchdowns, and a WR9 finish.
PositiveValueAug 22, 2026
At ADP 44.9 on Sleeper, Smith is significantly undervalued compared to competing platforms. Early uncertainty around Makai Lemon, who has been slow out of the gate with unclear snap count and integration timeline, strengthens Smith's case. With new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion replacing Kevin Patullo, Smith has a path to an alpha-type season. Currently projected as WR13 in PPR between A.J. Brown and Rashee Rice, Smith offers a legitimate top-12 ceiling at 44.9 without paying a premium—a rare Sleeper value spot. Matthew Berry made Smith his Ride-or-Die pick for 2026.
PositiveProjectionAug 20, 2026
Matthew Berry's 2026 Ride or Die pick. Berry ranks Smith 24th overall and WR10 (vs. consensus 35th overall, WR14) based on expected target volume increase following A.J. Brown's trade. When Smith has received 25%+ target share in his career, he averages 17.3 PPG (comparable to last year's WR5 George Pickens at 17.2 PPG). Berry believes Smith's floor is secure—he's too talented and efficient—but the ceiling could reach top-five WR if he receives the 140-target volume Berry projects without sacrificing his five-year efficiency track record. The Eagles' expected increased motion under new OC Mannion (Green Bay ranked 5th in motion) and departure of A.J. Brown's 28%+ target share create the opportunity.
PositiveRoleAug 20, 2026
A.J. Brown had at least a 28% target share in every one of his four seasons in Philadelphia, and those targets have to go somewhere; Smith is the only wide receiver in the NFL to average at least 8.5 yards per target in each of the past five seasons, and when Brown has been off the field since 2023, Smith has been targeted on 29% of his routes—a neighborhood that includes only Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Rashee Rice, and Ja'Marr Chase.
NegativeInjuryAug 13, 2026
DeVonta Smith missed his seventh straight practice with a hamstring injury. The source puts the panic meter at a 6.5 out of 10, noting that while it is still possible the Eagles are simply being cautious—which is often the right approach with a veteran during August—preseason action has started, fantasy drafts are in full swing, and seven missed practices is becoming difficult to brush aside. The source recommends starting to take more stock in these reports and wave the red flags a little higher as August progresses.
PositiveBreakoutAug 6, 2026
With A.J. Brown's departure, DeVonta Smith is getting his first real opportunity to seize the alpha wide receiver role at the NFL level. Despite playing second fiddle to Brown, Smith has never dropped below 30th among wide receivers in fantasy PPG and posted three 1,000-yard seasons. In three full games without Brown since 2024, Smith owned nearly a third of the Eagles' target share and logged 2.65 yards per route run. Matthew Berry calls him a potential league winner available around the beginning of the third round.
PositiveBreakoutAug 6, 2026
With the departure of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith is getting his first real opportunity to seize the alpha wide receiver role at the NFL level. Outside of his first season (which was still solid, breaking the Eagles' rookie receiving yards record), the Heisman winner has been in Brown's shadow for his whole NFL career. Even while playing second fiddle to Brown, Smith has never dropped below 30th among wide receivers in fantasy PPG and has posted three 1,000-yard seasons. In three full games without Brown since 2024, Smith owned nearly a third of the Eagles' target share and handled it efficiently, logging 2.6 yards per route run. Sarah Schmitz frames this as Smith's first real opportunity to break out as an alpha receiver.
NegativeInjuryAug 4, 2026
Smith was held out of Tuesday's practice with a hamstring injury. The timing is rough for the Eagles with a first-year offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion installing a new system. However, both Smith and Makai Lemon still have plenty of time to heal before the start of the year, and there's no reason to downgrade either player at the moment if these issues don't linger. Smith should take over as the team's No. 1 receiver following the departure of A.J. Brown.