Start A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith? Week 7

Our Week 7 call

Start A.J. Brown over DeVonta Smith in Week 7.

Market-based projections have A.J. Brown at 15.5 points and DeVonta Smith at 13.5, a gap of 1.9. No player market is posted for DeVonta Smith this week yet, so his 13.5 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 4 and 6 (14.9 and 12.2); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. Drafters take A.J. Brown at ADP 17 and DeVonta Smith at 34.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 15.5 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 69 receiving yards, 5-6 receptions and 0-1 touchdowns (12, 9 and 12 market sources).

No Week 7 player market is posted for DeVonta Smith yet. His market-based projections were 14.9 and 12.2 points in Weeks 4 and 6, an average of 13.5, which stands in until his Week 7 market posts.

The market-based projection for DeVonta Smith is 0-1 touchdowns (11 market sources).

That puts A.J. Brown 1.9 points ahead of DeVonta Smith on these projections.

Week 7 matchups

A.J. Brown and NE visit CHI on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET.

CHI allowed 31.5 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 15th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 160 yards and a touchdown a game against CHI.

DeVonta Smith and PHI host DAL on Monday at 8:15 PM ET.

DAL allowed 36.2 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 7th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 169 yards and a touchdown a game against DAL.

By points allowed to the position, DeVonta Smith has the softer matchup.

Injury status

A.J. Brown is listed as questionable with a ankle injury.

DeVonta Smith is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 7

Through Week 6, A.J. Brown played 60 percent of NE snaps, drew 23 percent of the targets, earned 24 percent of the air yards and had 19 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.

A.J. Brown, Week 6 against NYJ: 52 of 68 snaps, 10 targets and 3 catches for 27 yards.

Through Week 6, DeVonta Smith played 86 percent of PHI snaps, drew 33 percent of the targets, earned 49 percent of the air yards and had 11 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.

DeVonta Smith, Week 6 against CAR: 42 of 64 snaps, 14 targets and 7 catches for 75 yards, 1 touchdown.

Their 2025 seasons

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.

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.

Their other Week 7 calls

• Start A.J. Brown over Carnell Tate.
• Start CeeDee Lamb over A.J. Brown.
• Start A.J. Brown over Chris Olave.
• Start DeVonta Smith over Carnell Tate.
• Start Chris Olave over DeVonta Smith.
• Start DeVonta Smith over Christian Watson.