PHI · WR
Projected Points (PPR)
This week
No projection changes recorded this week.
AI-assisted · Researched and drafted by our automated pipeline, then checked for accuracy before publishing. How we make these
DeVonta Smith is listed at the seventh spot on Philadelphia's depth chart by our board's internal ranking system, which reflects positional value more than actual role, but on the field he remains the clear complement to the passing game alongside Jalen Hurts under center. His snap share tells the real story: 93.4% through three games in 2026, up from an already substantial 89% across all of 2025. That is not a part-time role. Philadelphia is running him out there on almost every meaningful offensive snap, which means his floor is tied to how often Jalen Hurts drops back rather than any committee concern at receiver. Through three games he has been targeted 27 times, hauling in 19 of them for 235 yards and a touchdown, a catch rate of 70.4% that exceeds his 2025 mark of 68.1%. Red zone usage remains thin — just two targets inside the twenty so far, consistent with the 10 he saw across the entire prior season — which caps his touchdown equity relative to receivers who see more goal-line volume. The rookie Makai Lemon sits as Philadelphia's second receiver on the depth chart, and his presence matters for how targets get distributed on a given week, but the snap-share and target numbers so far show Smith still absorbing the bulk of the intermediate and underneath work that Jalen Hurts relies on. This is a high-floor, possession-oriented role rather than an explosive one — his yards per reception sat at 13.1 in 2025 and 12.4 so far in 2026, numbers that reflect a short-to-intermediate target profile rather than a vertical threat.
The bullish case for DeVonta Smith starts with usage. A receiver playing 93.4% of the snaps and pulling 27 targets in three games is operating in a featured role no matter where the depth chart or positional rankings place him. His catch rate has ticked up from 68.1% to 70.4%, and his points-per-game have jumped from 11.9 in 2025 to 16.2 so far in 2026, a meaningful improvement that moved him from a finish of twentieth among all players at his position last season to twelfth through this season's early sample. If that efficiency holds, Smith is a reliable source of catches and yardage every week, and that kind of target volume rarely goes unrewarded over a full season. The skeptical case is just as grounded in the numbers. Red zone opportunity is scarce — 10 targets inside the twenty across all of 2025, and only two through three games in 2026. Touchdowns have followed that pattern: four scores on 113 targets last season, one score on 27 targets so far this year. A receiver who racks up yardage but rarely finishes drives is capped in modern scoring formats that reward the end zone heavily, and Smith's 13.1 and 12.4 yards-per-reception marks in the two periods confirm he is winning underneath and intermediate routes rather than creating big plays downfield. There is also the question of target distribution. Makai Lemon now occupies the second receiver spot in Philadelphia's offense, and rookie receivers who earn early snap counts tend to see their role expand as the season progresses, particularly if a team wants to diversify how Jalen Hurts spreads the ball. If Lemon's target share grows, Smith's opportunity could get squeezed even while his snap percentage stays high, because snaps played and balls thrown his way are not the same asset. The honest synthesis: Smith's early-season efficiency gain is real and shows up in the counting stats, but it rests on a target share that has to be defended against a developing teammate at his own position. His role as a high-snap, high-target, low-touchdown receiver is well established across two separate samples now — 2025 in full and 2026's opening three games — and that consistency is itself a form of evidence. The swing factor is whether red zone usage ever grows beyond the trickle he has seen, because without it, his ceiling stays tied to yardage totals rather than touchdown spikes, even as his week-to-week target volume keeps him fantasy-relevant.
Treat DeVonta Smith as a lineup regular rather than a player to bench and hope improves. The target volume — 27 looks in three games on top of 113 across all of 2025 — combined with a snap share above ninety percent in both samples means he is going to see the ball enough to justify a start in most formats, especially given the catch rate improvement to 70.4%. His 16.2 points-per-game mark so far in 2026 supports locking him into lineups as more than a speculative flex play. The one thing that should temper expectations is the red zone usage: with only two targets inside the twenty through three games, he is not a touchdown-dependent asset, which actually makes his floor more stable week to week even if his ceiling stays modest. Watch how Makai Lemon's role develops over the coming weeks. If the rookie's target share climbs while Smith's volume holds steady, that is confirmation the offense can support both; if Smith's target count starts sliding as Lemon's rises, that is the signal to reassess his weekly projection downward. For now, the numbers argue for keeping him in the lineup as a confident, evidence-backed starter rather than a wire-dependent flex.
Projections, injury status and news above update automatically. This section is rewritten when his role changes. Browse every player
He was ruled out with a hamstring injury after missing three straight practices, removing him from fantasy lineups today.
Oct 4, 2:25 PM ET
reported 6 times
Smith has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, leaving Jalen Hurts without his top wideout against the Rams.
Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET
reported 2 times
Philadelphia has already ruled Smith out for Week 4, so fantasy managers need to replace him now.
Oct 3, 5:15 PM ET
Smith was confirmed out for Week 4. Fantasy managers need to replace him immediately in lineups.
Oct 3, 3:35 PM ET
Source:thebiglead.com
Smith was ruled out for Week 4 after not practicing on Friday, making him unavailable for fantasy lineups.
Oct 2, 7:40 PM ET
Source:USA TODAY
Smith will not play in Week 4 after missing practice all week, removing him from fantasy lineups.
Oct 2, 5:00 PM ET
He did not practice ahead of Week 4, creating immediate concern about his status for Sunday.
Sep 30, 10:05 PM ET
Source:fanduel.com