DeVonta Smith vs Ladd McConkey: Who Should You Start?
DeVonta Smith (9.6 PPG) and Ladd McConkey (9.2 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two wide receivers are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. DeVonta Smith played 17 games for the Philadelphia Eagles; Ladd McConkey suited up 16 times for the Los Angeles Chargers.
A 0.4-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. DeVonta Smith turned 113 targets into 1008 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Ladd McConkey converted 106 looks into 789 yards and 6 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 5 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
