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Head to Head

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DeVonta Smith vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to DeVonta Smith's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy play this season.

Zay Flowers has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.2-PPG advantage is real (11.8 to 9.6), and Zay Flowers's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. DeVonta Smith 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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WRPhiladelphia Eagles#34
DeVonta Smith
PPG
9.6
Games
17
Rec
77
Rec Yds
1,008
Rec TDs
4
Targets
113
Bye
Week 10
WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER
Zay Flowers
PPG
11.8
Games
17
Rec
86
Rec Yds
1,211
Rec TDs
5
Targets
118
Bye
Week 13

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
DeVonta Smith
Zay Flowers

Head to Head

9.6 PPG11.8 PPG
17 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

DeVonta Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #34 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, DeVonta Smith is producing at 44% of elite pace and Zay Flowers at 54%. That ranking gap means Zay Flowers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

DeVonta Smith vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.6 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens) came in at 11.8 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Zay Flowers carries a 2.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. DeVonta Smith turned 113 targets into 1008 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Zay Flowers converted 118 looks into 1211 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One scheduling note: DeVonta Smith is off Week 10 and Zay Flowers Week 13. 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: DeVonta Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Zay Flowers outscored DeVonta Smith by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Zay Flowers scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Zay Flowers saw 118 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

DeVonta Smith vs Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDeVonta SmithZay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)9.611.8
Games Played1717
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)163201
Receptions7786
Rec/Game4.55.1
Receiving Yards1,0081,211
Rec Yds/Game59.371.2
Receiving TDs45
Targets113118
Target Share/Game6.66.9
Age2725
Experience4 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Zay Flowers holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.8 points per game. DeVonta Smith averaged 9.6 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start DeVonta Smith or Zay Flowers in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to DeVonta Smith's 9.6 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 DeVonta Smith and Zay Flowers average in 2025?

DeVonta Smith averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are DeVonta Smith and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?

DeVonta Smith (PHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is DeVonta Smith or Zay Flowers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Zay Flowers outscored DeVonta Smith by 2.2 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.

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