Start DeVonta Smith or A.J. Brown? Week 6

Our Week 6 call

Start A.J. Brown over DeVonta Smith in Week 6.

Market-based projections have A.J. Brown at 11.8 points and DeVonta Smith at 12.2, a gap of 0.3. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. A.J. Brown still gets the call because it also weighs where drafters take each player, ADP 17 against 34, and that outweighs a gap this size.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 12.2 fantasy points for DeVonta Smith, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for DeVonta Smith is 57 receiving yards, 4-5 receptions and 0.3 touchdowns (12, 10 and 11 market sources).

Player markets imply 11.8 fantasy points for A.J. Brown, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for A.J. Brown is 52 receiving yards, 3-4 receptions and 0-1 touchdowns (12, 10 and 12 market sources).

That puts DeVonta Smith 0.3 points ahead of A.J. Brown on the market projections.

Week 6 matchups

DeVonta Smith and PHI host CAR on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

CAR allowed 28.4 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 4 games, the 9th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 152 yards and 0.3 touchdowns a game against CAR.

A.J. Brown and NE host NYJ on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

NYJ allowed 28.5 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 5 games, the 10th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 129 yards and 0.8 touchdowns a game against NYJ.

By points allowed to the position, A.J. Brown has the softer matchup.

Injury status

DeVonta Smith is not on the injury report.

A.J. Brown is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 6

Through Week 3, DeVonta Smith played 93 percent of PHI snaps, drew 33 percent of the targets, earned 48 percent of the air yards and had 8 percent of the red zone chances.

DeVonta Smith, Week 1 against WAS: 52 of 55 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 53 yards.

DeVonta Smith, Week 2 against TEN: 67 of 76 snaps, 13 targets and 10 catches for 117 yards, 1 touchdown.

DeVonta Smith, Week 3 against CHI: 50 of 50 snaps, 8 targets and 6 catches for 65 yards.

Through Week 1, A.J. Brown played 44 percent of NE snaps, drew 13 percent of the targets, earned 9 percent of the air yards and had 0 percent of the red zone chances.

A.J. Brown, Week 1 against SEA: 31 of 71 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 26 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, DeVonta Smith played 17 games for PHI and scored 201.8 PPR points, 11.9 a game, finishing WR20.

He caught 77 of 113 targets for 1008 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 10 red zone targets and 715 air yards.

He was on the field for 89 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, A.J. Brown played 15 games for PHI and scored 220.3 PPR points, 14.7 a game, finishing WR11.

He caught 78 of 121 targets for 1003 yards and 7 touchdowns, with 12 red zone targets and 735 air yards.

He was on the field for 91 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

A.J. Brown, Week 17 of 2025 against BUF: 48 of 54 snaps, 7 targets and 5 catches for 68 yards, 11.8 PPR points.

A.J. Brown, Week 16 of 2025 against WAS: 61 of 70 snaps, 12 targets and 9 catches for 95 yards, 18.5 PPR points.

Their other Week 6 calls

• Start DeVonta Smith over Carnell Tate.
• Start DeVonta Smith over Chris Godwin Jr..
• Start Chris Olave over DeVonta Smith.
• Start A.J. Brown over Carnell Tate.
• Start A.J. Brown over Denzel Boston.
• Start A.J. Brown over Devaughn Vele.