Who Should I Start? A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith

Wednesday, February 4, 6:27 AM

In the opinion of The Athletic's Zach Berman, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will seek a trade this offseason, and the Eagles will find "strong compensation." Berman also thinks that it would be in the team's best interest to try to remedy this situation and convince Brown that Philly is the best place for him to continue his career. They will need to show Brown that they have an offense and a quarterback who can make him the best receiver in the NFL, similar to what we saw in 2022 and 2023, when he accumulated over 1,400 receiving yards in both seasons, along with 18 total touchdowns. The 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was visibly frustrated with his role in 2025, even though he reached the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season and for the sixth time in his seven NFL seasons. Brown wasn't always on the same page as QB Jalen Hurts, although his 121 targets ranked 14th among all wideouts. As of right now, Brown's future in Philly looks bleak, creating even more uncertainty around his 2026 fantasy value.

Wednesday, January 7, 11:23 AM

Across 17 games in 2025, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith recorded 77 receptions for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns on 113 targets. While the 27-year-old's season-long numbers are solid, he ended the year on somewhat of a cold streak. Over his last six games played, Smith recorded more than 10 PPR points just once. However, Smith remains the clear second option in the Eagles' passing game alongside wideout A.J. Brown. Philadelphia also has a relatively favorable matchup in the first round of the NFL playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers. In the regular season, San Francisco's defense ranked 23rd among all NFL units in passing yards allowed (4,110) and tied for 21st in passing touchdowns allowed (29). Smith should have a chance to make plays, particularly if the 49ers' high-powered offense forces Philadelphia into a shootout. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues can view Smith as a solid wide receiver option entering the postseason.