DeVonta Smith dynasty owners got a welcome surprise when the Philadelphia Eagles finally traded disgruntled wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots. It wasn’t so much a surprise as a sense of relief, and the realization that Smith’s true upside may finally be unlocked.
Smith has flashed high-end fantasy football ability in the past, and with Brown in a new city, he could be looking at a massive piece of the pie when it comes to Philly’s target share. What does that mean for his immediate 2026 dynasty outlook and beyond?
DeVonta Smith’s Dynasty Fantasy Outlook in 2026
Impact of A.J. Brown Trade
The A.J. Brown trade was perhaps the worst-kept secret in the NFL, but it was still massive news, as the stud receiver was officially moved in a deal with the Patriots.
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ESPN sources: The Eagles are trading Pro-Bowl WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick that is the better of New England’s two fifths. The deal that has been speculated on for weeks now finally is happening. Brown and Patriots… pic.twitter.com/9Z8ocpyeJf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 1, 2026
Brown’s own dynasty outlook improves with this move, but his departure opens the door to a huge bump in volume for Smith. This transition involves 121 vacated targets with Brown exiting Philadelphia, to be exact.
While there is some concern over Smith’s size and the overall negative impact losing a player of Brown’s caliber can bring, the sky appears to be the limit for the former Alabama product.
DeVonta Smith Dynasty Price
Smith’s price tag has been trending up for months, as the A.J. Brown trade rumors had been heating up since the middle of last year. Even before this deal went official, dynasty owners had to pay a first-round pick to land Smith, with KeepTradeCut starting the bidding at an early first in 2026 rookie drafts, and a mid-to-late first in 2027 drafts.
Depending on the league, it’s possible the price becomes even steeper than that. Smith’s stature raises question marks – as does Philly’s traditionally run-heavy offense – but the upside is obvious when you note how he’s performed without Brown on the field in the past.
Devonta Smith splits with and without AJ Brown since 2022:
With: 14.06 PPG
Without: 14.53 PPG (4 game sample)But he did average more targets/catches/yards
140-98-1237 pace
Just ran more hot on TDs with Brown
— Chris O'Brien (@17gamepace) June 5, 2026
Smith is still in his prime at age 27 and can win at every level, while we’ve seen him produce at an elite level before. He has cracked the top-30 in every single season he’s been in the league, and his WR9 overall finish in 2022 is a firm reminder of the ceiling he could possess now that he’s the alpha in Philly’s passing attack.
The cost is high to acquire Smith, but based on past production, physical ability, and expected role, he’s worth it.
DeVonta Smith Dynasty Outlook
Even a conservative DeVonta Smith dynasty outlook should position him as a big-time buy, seeing as we know he’s capable of a top-10 finish. The volume is going to increase going forward, so there’s very little preventing him from living up to or even exceeding expectations.
Smith was the WR20 overall in full PPR leagues last year, and he ranked as WR30 in points per game. No matter how you view his fantasy outlook based on those ranks, he’s now slated for much better production.
DeVonta Smith could easily finish as a WR #1 if AJ Brown is traded to the Patriots.
With rumors around AJ Brown’s future, DeVonta Smith is set to be a candidate to produce a big season.
The Eagles reportedly view Smith as having the potential to breakout in the same way that… pic.twitter.com/Xg0iIZWr5f
— Start Sit 'Em (@StartSitEmFF) May 15, 2026
The issue is cost. Smith was already costing a first-round pick, but now that Brown is officially gone, his owners can afford to be demanding. Due to the 2027 class being so stacked, the preference has to be to move him for a 2026 first, or try to shoot for 2028 or 2029 picks.
If dynasty owners are looking to sell Smith, now is the time to milk him for all that he’s worth. A first-round pick is the starting point, and ideally, owners aren’t budging for anything outside of the 2027 class.
Smith isn’t a guy that has to be moved, of course. He’s now the top option on Philly’s offense, and he could be looking at 2-3 years of elite production. Long-term, it’s something to consider capitalizing on – and the asking price will never go higher than it is now – but contending teams have every reason to hold.
