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DeVonta Smith: Ready for the Throne
DeVonta Smith has carved out an exceptional start to his NFL career, amassing three 1,000-yard campaigns and three top-20 fantasy seasons, including a spectacular WR9 finish in 2022. Yet despite winning the Heisman Trophy at Alabama and serving as a crucial engine for the Philadelphia offense for a half-decade, Smith has largely been viewed through the lens of an elite complementary piece due to A.J. Brown's continued excellence.
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While few would argue against Smith being one of the best No. 2 receivers in the NFL, fantasy managers face a completely different calculus in 2026. With A.J. Brown traded away, the organization unequivocally expects Smith to step into the true No. 1 role, even with the addition of rookie Makai Lemon in the NFL draft. Fortunately, Smith is built for the challenge. If he stays healthy, he is positioned to set career marks and make a furious push for a Top-12 fantasy finish.
5 Years: Verging on Greatness
| Year | Age | Exp | G | Rec | RecYd | Y/Rec | RecTD | FP/G | FantPt | WR Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23 | 1 | 17 | 64 | 916 | 14.3 | 5 | 10.9 | 153.6 | 29 |
| 2022 | 24 | 2 | 17 | 95 | 1,196 | 12.6 | 7 | 15.1 | 209.1 | 9 |
| 2023 | 25 | 3 | 16 | 81 | 1,066 | 13.2 | 7 | 14.4 | 189.1 | 19 |
| 2024 | 26 | 4 | 13 | 68 | 833 | 12.3 | 8 | 15.3 | 165.4 | 30 |
| 2025 | 27 | 5 | 17 | 77 | 1,008 | 13.1 | 4 | 11.9 | 163.3 | 20 |
| TOTALS | 80 | 385 | 5,019 | 13.0 | 31 | 11.9 | 880.5 |
Smith entered the league in 2021 as the 10th overall pick, arriving alongside head coach Nick Sirianni and newly minted starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. Though he garnered just 104 targets as a rookie, that mark actually led a conservative Eagles offense that finished dead last (32nd) in pass attempts.
The 2022 season sparked the true emergence of Philadelphia as a perennial heavyweight, culminating in two Super Bowl appearances and a championship victory. A massive catalyst for that leap was the acquisition of A.J. Brown from Tennessee. Brown stepped into the lineup to deliver top-5 fantasy value (88 receptions for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns), and his presence simultaneously unlocked Smith, who weaponized single coverage to post his own top-10 finish.
Since then, Smith's production has remained consistently excellent, hovering just a tier below elite. It is also worth noting that his "worst" statistical season in 2024 was simply a product of missing a month due to injury; he still finished as the WR17 on a per-game basis.
For those who believe projecting Smith as a top-12 to top-15 target is overly aggressive, look at the historical baseline. Over his five-year career, he has quietly been one of the 15 best wide receivers in the entire sport.
Top 15 Receivers (2021-2025)
| Rank | Player | Tgts | Recs | RecYds | YPR | TDs | FPTs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Jefferson | 720 | 491 | 7,080 | 14.4 | 35 | 1,164 |
| 2 | Ja'Marr Chase | 743 | 520 | 6,837 | 13.1 | 54 | 1,268 |
| 3 | CeeDee Lamb | 708 | 497 | 6,481 | 13.0 | 36 | 1,113 |
| 4 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | 731 | 547 | 6,252 | 11.4 | 44 | 1,163 |
| 5 | Davante Adams | 761 | 471 | 6,065 | 12.9 | 55 | 1,172 |
| 6 | Tyreek Hill | 633 | 451 | 5,972 | 13.2 | 36 | 1,039 |
| 7 | A.J. Brown | 615 | 403 | 5,917 | 14.7 | 37 | 1,015 |
| 8 | Stefon Diggs | 630 | 450 | 5,346 | 11.9 | 36 | 976 |
| 9 | DJ Moore | 623 | 400 | 5,057 | 12.6 | 31 | 892 |
| 10 | Jaylen Waddle | 522 | 373 | 5,040 | 13.5 | 26 | 847 |
| 11 | DeVonta Smith | 545 | 385 | 5,019 | 13.0 | 31 | 880 |
| 12 | DK Metcalf | 582 | 356 | 4,971 | 14.0 | 37 | 897 |
| 13 | Terry McLaurin | 547 | 353 | 4,927 | 14.0 | 30 | 849 |
| 14 | Cooper Kupp | 541 | 393 | 4,799 | 12.2 | 35 | 886 |
| 15 | Mike Evans | 527 | 334 | 4,786 | 14.3 | 47 | 928 |
Smith's Cumulative 5-Year Ranks
- Receiving Yards: 11th
- Receptions: 13th
- Fantasy Points: 13th
- Touchdowns: 14th
- Targets: 15th
When a player ranks in the top 15 across every major statistical category through his first five seasons, projecting a WR1 finish isn't a stretch; it's a logical progression. This is especially true now that Brown and his massive 8.5 targets per game are moving elsewhere.