DeVonta Smith 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 27
- Height / weight
- 6'0", 170 lb
- Experience
- 6th season
- Drafted
- 2021 R1, #10
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 16.2
- Pos rank
- WR12
- Rostered
- 99%
Week 4 vs. Rams, Sun Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET 19th vs. WRs, neutral
DeVonta Smith Rest-of-Season Outlook
Target-heavy WR1 on the sideline for now
Out, hamstring.
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished WR20 last season at 11.9 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's WR12 at 16.2 PPR points per game, against 11.9 over 17 games last season (WR20). He's running ahead of last season's pace.
Last season he ranked 11th of 142 in target volume (24.4% target share), 20th of 142 in downfield role (30.2% air-yards share) and 23rd of 142 in efficiency (2.11 yards per route run). His points come from his target volume. Jalen Hurts is his quarterback.
He's out, hamstring. Until he's back, his value is a bench spot at most, and Darius Cooper takes his snaps.
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
Even sharing the field, Smith just posted a WR16 line: 1,008 yards on 77 grabs across all 17 games, a 24.4% target share, and 0.49 EPA per play on a 54% success rate. His 2.11 yards per route run and 0.577 WOPR confirm he was already operating as a true volume hub, not a complementary piece. The only thing capping his ceiling was four touchdowns on 11 red-zone looks, a number begging to climb.
Now the depth chart belongs to him. With A.J. Brown out of the building, Smith inherits the No. 1 chair and the target vacuum that comes with it, having flashed a 32.9% share in past samples without Brown. A rookie addition trims some upside, but a scheme built around his after-the-catch chops plus regression in the scoring column point toward career-best volume. Draft him as a high-floor WR2 with legitimate WR1 paths.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 142 receivers who played at least six games. Each bar is one receiver, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Target volume
Downfield role
Efficiency
- Average depth of target
- 12.0
- Drop rate
- 2.7%
- Red-zone targets
- 11
- Route participation
- 90.2%
- YAC per reception
- 3.8
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- The scheduleNone of his next four opponents is a top-10 matchup for WRs.Wk 4 LAR, 19thWk 5 JAX, 18thWk 6 CAR, 31stWk 7 DAL, 17th
- Heavy target volume24.4% target share, 11th of 142 WRs in 2025.
- Downfield role30.2% air-yards share, 20th of 142 WRs in 2025.
Risk
- InjuryHe's out, hamstring, and Darius Cooper is next on the depth chart.
- A tough matchupThe Panthers in Week 6 (31st) is among the stingiest defenses against WRs.
All DeVonta Smith stats & analysis
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DeVonta Smith Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is DeVonta Smith's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
DeVonta Smith projects as a target-heavy WR1 on the sideline for now for the rest of the 2026 season: a bench stash in 12-team PPR, 10-team PPR and half-PPR leagues. His target volume (24.4% target share, 11th of 142 WRs in 2025) supports that. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is DeVonta Smith's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
DeVonta Smith is the WR12 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in WR1 territory, a bench stash in 10-team PPR leagues.
What is DeVonta Smith's projected role going forward?
DeVonta Smith is the listed starting WR, with Darius Cooper next on the depth chart. He is out, hamstring for now, which puts that role on hold.
Will DeVonta Smith get more targets?
DeVonta Smith's targets are trending up: 10.5 a game over his last two games against 9.0 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is DeVonta Smith's fantasy football upside?
DeVonta Smith's upside: his ceiling this season is 27.7 PPR points (Week 2, WR5) and his target volume (24.4% target share, 11th of 142 WRs in 2025) gives him a weekly floor to build on.
What could hurt DeVonta Smith's fantasy value?
DeVonta Smith's risks: he is out, hamstring and the Panthers in Week 6 is a tough matchup. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is DeVonta Smith's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 2 come against a top-10 matchup for WRs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.