Who Should I Start? DeVonta Smith or Ricky Pearsall


Week 1 Projections

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0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

DeVonta Smith News

Is DeVonta Smith Still the Long-Term WR1 in Philadelphia?

Saturday, April 25, 5:40 AM

For the first time since his 2021 rookie year, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is expected to go into a season without three-time Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown lined up opposite him. While Brown's 8.4 vacated targets per game from the past four seasons could create opportunities for a career year from Smith, the first two days of the NFL Draft have completely reshaped Philadelphia's pass-catching depth chart. After acquiring Marquise Brown through free agency and Dontayvion Wicks via trade, the Eagles spent respective first and second-round picks on USC receiver Makai Lemon and Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers, both of whom led their teams in targets in 2025. In a year where quarterback Jalen Hurts is being counted on to take a step forward, Philadelphia is likely to see a more even distribution of targets, but given his skillset and time in the system, Smith should still be able to hold off all challengers to continue earning targets at an elite level. After leading the team in all receiving categories as a rookie, Smith's response to the addition of Brown via trade from the Titans was to put up the best season of his career, with 110 receptions for 1,393 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. At 27 years old, if he can respond similarly to a new challenge in 2026, he would be a steal as RotoBaller's dynasty WR28.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Ricky Pearsall News

Is Ricky Pearsall a Dynasty Breakout Candidate?

Saturday, May 30, 6:03 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has struggled to stay on the field through his first two seasons in the league, but some of the flashes he's shown in brief spurts have demonstrated the abilities that made him a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and suggested that a fantasy breakout could be lurking if he can piece it all together for a full season. All-Pro tight end George Kittle is expected to miss time after rupturing his Achilles in the 2025 postseason, and there is a belief that Christian McCaffrey's workload could be dialed back after handling a league-high 440 opportunities in his age-29 season. Although the team spent an unexpected second-round pick on Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, Pearsall's primary target competition in two-receiver sets will be a 33-year-old Mike Evans who has dealt with soft tissue injuries in the past and most recently missed nine games with hamstring issues, a concussion, and a broken collarbone. While Pearsall has missed 14 games of his own to a variety of injuries, including a gunshot wound before he'd ever taken an NFL snap, he has finished as the fantasy WR26 or better in 35% percent of his games. Still only 25 years old, Pearsall has both the ability and the opportunity to turn in week-winning performances, and if he can find health and consistency in year three, he has a strong chance of rising dramatically from his current spot of dynasty WR47 in RotoBaller's latest rankings.


DeVonta Smith vs. Ricky Pearsall

Still trying to decide between Smith and Pearsall? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that DeVonta Smith is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Ricky Pearsall is projected to score 0.0 points.