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Fantasy football: Where to draft Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith
By Drew Phelps,
8 hours ago
WR DeVonta Smith, the 2020 Heisman trophy winner, was drafted 10th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Alabama product has lived up to lofty expectations, averaging 80 receptions, 1,059 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in his 3 NFL seasons. Below, we look at DeVonta Smith’s 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.
Entering the upcoming season, Smith’s role in the Eagles offense remains secure, with the passing game centered around WR A.J. Brown, Smith and TE Dallas Goedert. With a more stable offensive setup this season, Smith is expected to at least match his numbers from a year ago. This makes him a solid pick in fantasy drafts, offering reliability and the potential to deliver consistent performance.
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DeVonta Smith’s ADP: 42.68
(ADP data courtesy ofMyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)
Smith’s 42.68 ADP in redraft leagues puts him in the range of the 3rd to 5th round depending on the size of the league. His ADP ranks 4th on the Eagles, behind Brown (11.25), RB Saquon Barkley (12.60) and QB Jalen Hurts (28.12)
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Where should you draft Smith?
Before the last season, Smith was widely expected to be a top-15 fantasy wide receiver with many fantasy managers, including myself, bullish on his potential. However, projections revealed a slight dip, placing him just outside the top 24 WRs — a sign that the high expectations might not fully materialize. As it turned out, those projections were on point.
Smith’s target share dropped from 27% in 2022 to 22.8% in 2023, which led to a decrease in his fantasy points per game from 15 to 14.2. Despite the reduced volume, Smith remained consistent, posting similar yards per game (66.6 in 2023 vs. 70.4 in 2022) and even improving his catch rate from 69.9% to 72.3%. He also matched his previous year’s touchdown total with 7 scores.
The slight dip in Smith’s production can be attributed to two key factors: Hurts’ regression as a passer and the coaching staff’s struggles to adapt to defensive adjustments, leading to fewer overall touchdowns for the Eagles. In response, the Eagles brought in Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator and signed Barkley to enhance the backfield, though Barkley won’t significantly impact Smith’s target share.
Currently, Smith’s ADP sits at WR23 and No. 46 overall. This positioning offers fantasy managers a chance to draft him at a value relative to other wide receivers. While he’s unlikely to surpass Brown as the Eagles’ WR1, Smith still has top-15 upside and represents a solid pick, especially if you’re looking for stability and potential in the middle rounds.
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