DeVonta Smith vs Puka Nacua: Who Should You Start?
The numbers tell a clear story here. Puka Nacua put up 19.4 fantasy points per game for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025, while DeVonta Smith managed 9.6 across 17 games with the Philadelphia Eagles. A 9.8-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.
The per-game difference of 9.8 points favors Puka Nacua, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one wide receiver to the other.
Target volume is the story here. Puka Nacua saw 166 targets in 2025, while DeVonta Smith drew 113. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Puka Nacua, even in weeks where DeVonta Smith 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 Puka Nacua is off Week 6. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
