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Demario Douglas vs DeVonta SmithWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DeVonta Smith is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Demario Douglas's 7.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

DeVonta Smith is the better fantasy play this season.

DeVonta Smith has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.6-PPG advantage is real (9.6 to 7.0), and DeVonta Smith's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Demario Douglas is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRNew England Patriots#99
Demario Douglas
PPG
7.0
Games
16
Rec
55
Rec Yds
548
Rec TDs
2
Targets
82
Bye
Week 14
WRPhiladelphia Eagles#34PPG LEADER
DeVonta Smith
PPG
9.6
Games
17
Rec
77
Rec Yds
1,008
Rec TDs
4
Targets
113
Bye
Week 10

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Demario Douglas
DeVonta Smith

Head to Head

7.0 PPG9.6 PPG
16 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Demario Douglas: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). DeVonta Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Demario Douglas is producing at 32% of elite pace and DeVonta Smith at 44%. That ranking gap means DeVonta Smith carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Demario Douglas vs DeVonta Smith: The Full Breakdown

Demario Douglas and DeVonta Smith are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Demario Douglas averaged 7.0 PPG across 16 games with the New England Patriots, while DeVonta Smith posted 9.6 PPG in 17 appearances for the Philadelphia Eagles.

A 2.6-PPG gap gives DeVonta Smith the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Target volume is the story here. DeVonta Smith saw 113 targets in 2025, while Demario Douglas drew 82. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for DeVonta Smith, even in weeks where Demario Douglas posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Demario Douglas is off Week 14 and DeVonta Smith Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Demario Douglas (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. DeVonta Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • DeVonta Smith outscored Demario Douglas by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • DeVonta Smith played 17 games in 2025 compared to Demario Douglas's 16. That durability gap means DeVonta Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • DeVonta Smith scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • DeVonta Smith saw 113 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Demario Douglas vs DeVonta Smith: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDemario DouglasDeVonta Smith
PPG (Half-PPR)7.09.6
Games Played1617
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)112163
Receptions5577
Rec/Game3.44.5
Receiving Yards5481,008
Rec Yds/Game34.359.3
Receiving TDs24
Targets82113
Target Share/Game5.16.6
Age-27
Experience-4 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 10

Summary

DeVonta Smith outscored Demario Douglas by 2.6 PPG in 2025 (9.6 to 7.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Demario Douglas or DeVonta Smith in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, DeVonta Smith has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Demario Douglas's 7.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Demario Douglas and DeVonta Smith average in 2025?

Demario Douglas averaged 7.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. DeVonta Smith averaged 9.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are Demario Douglas and DeVonta Smith's bye weeks in 2026?

Demario Douglas (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and DeVonta Smith (PHI) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Demario Douglas or DeVonta Smith a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

DeVonta Smith outscored Demario Douglas by 2.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.