DeVonta Smith is about as steady as it comes as a WR2 for fantasy football. Lining up on the opposite side of A.J. Brown has helped him become one of the league’s better receivers. Jalen Hurts has cooled off after his hot start in the league, but he continues to get the ball in Smith’s hands. Will Smith continue his consistency in 2024?
2024 Fantasy Football Profile: DeVonta Smith
2023 in Review
For the second year in a row, Smith produced numbers some teams are lucky to get out of their best receiver. It’s a lot of pressure to perform when Brown is on the other side of the field, but Smith gets it done. Two straight years with 80+ receptions, 1,000+ yards and seven touchdowns. He even upped his game a notch last year by raising his yards per catch to 13.2 when it was 12.6 in 2022.
Smith was a bit inconsistent last year early in the season and then again at the very end of the season. Those who were expecting a big game from him in week 17 for their championship were certainly disappointed. He finished with less than 10 fantasy points in 9/16 fantasy games for standard leagues and 5/16 games for PPR leagues.
2024 Projection
Piggybacking off of the last part of his 2023 review, Smith needs to be consistent. It starts with catching more of his targets, and that’s a reflection of both him and Hurts. Both of them need to take a step forward with that this year. The Eagles know Smith has a lot of talent and need to figure out how to make the most of it.
Even though DeVonta Smith is already an elite WR.
Putting him in Kellen Moores motion heavy offense is going to be amazing.
DeVonta Smith is going to have a career year this season. #FlyEaglesFly #Eagles pic.twitter.com/isedluw10I
— ☆𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘦𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘎𝘖𝘋☆ (@JalenCarterDPOY) August 6, 2024
Smith (and Brown for that matter) will probably see a slight reduction in targets in 2024. With Saquon Barkley signing as a free agent, Philadelphia will be running the ball more often. Whether it was D’Andre Swift or even going back to Miles Sanders, the Eagles were a major pass-first team. The only way Barkley helps Smith and the other receivers is if his presence extends drives. The potential is still there for Smith to record a third straight 1,000-yard season.
DeVonta Smith Fantasy Football ADP
FantasyPros shows Smith currently at an ADP of 44, and his selection ranges from 28-59. Even as a WR2, that has him ahead of names like D.K. Metcalf and Amari Cooper. That ADP seems like a good spot for Smith as it has him going in early in the fifth round or late in the fourth round depending upon how many teams are in the league.
Taking Smith in the top 30 seems like a stretch as there are other receivers who would be better fits. On the flip side, getting him at almost 60 is a steal and a half; it should make you question the sanity of those in your league.
As long as Jalen Hurts stays healthy, Smith can be a strong WR2 or possibly a flex depending upon your draft strategy. Unless something drastic happens, his ADP shouldn’t change too much as the season nears for those who draft right before the regular season.
Main Photo Courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel – USA Today Sports
