DeVonta Smith vs Jalen McMillan: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between DeVonta Smith and Jalen McMillan for your lineup, you are not alone. DeVonta Smith finished the 2025 season at 9.6 PPG for the Philadelphia Eagles (17 games), and Jalen McMillan averaged 6.0 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4 games).
That 3.6-point weekly advantage for DeVonta Smith is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Target volume is the story here. DeVonta Smith saw 113 targets in 2025, while Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for DeVonta Smith, even in weeks where Jalen McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: DeVonta Smith sits Week 5 while Jalen McMillan is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
