DeVonta Smith vs Rashee Rice: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between DeVonta Smith and Rashee Rice for your lineup, you are not alone. DeVonta Smith finished the 2025 season at 9.6 PPG for the Philadelphia Eagles (17 games), and Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 for the Kansas City Chiefs (8 games).
That 5.9-point weekly advantage for Rashee Rice 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 Rashee Rice drew 78. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for DeVonta Smith, even in weeks where Rashee Rice posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One scheduling note: DeVonta Smith is off Week 5 and Rashee Rice Week 6. 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.
