Start Mike Evans or Devaughn Vele? Week 7

Our Week 7 call

Start Devaughn Vele over Mike Evans in Week 7.

Mike Evans is listed out on the injury report, so this is not a close call: start Devaughn Vele. Drafters take Devaughn Vele at ADP 213 and Mike Evans at 56.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 10.2 fantasy points for Devaughn Vele, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Devaughn Vele is 42 receiving yards, 4-5 receptions and 0.3 touchdowns (12, 9 and 12 market sources).

No Week 7 player market is posted for Mike Evans yet. His market-based projections were 9.8, 11.9 and 17.3 points in Weeks 4, 5 and 6, an average of 13.0, which stands in until his Week 7 market posts.

That puts Mike Evans 2.8 points ahead of Devaughn Vele on these projections.

Week 7 matchups

Devaughn Vele and NO host PIT on Sunday at 9:30 AM ET.

PIT allowed 28.6 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 6th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 142 yards and 0-1 touchdowns a game against PIT.

Mike Evans and SF visit ATL on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

ATL allowed 37.0 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 6th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 180 yards and 0.7 touchdowns a game against ATL.

By points allowed to the position, Mike Evans has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Devaughn Vele is not on the injury report.

Mike Evans is listed as out with a achilles injury.

Usage before Week 7

Through Week 6, Devaughn Vele played 91 percent of NO snaps, drew 19 percent of the targets, earned 24 percent of the air yards and had 11 percent of the red zone chances.

Devaughn Vele, Week 3 against LV: 65 of 74 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 39 yards.

Devaughn Vele, Week 4 against ATL: 66 of 74 snaps, 9 targets and 6 catches for 54 yards, 1 touchdown.

Devaughn Vele, Week 5 against MIN: 43 of 45 snaps, 6 targets and 4 catches for 26 yards.

Devaughn Vele, Week 6 against NYG: 66 of 72 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 42 yards.

Through Week 6, Mike Evans played 55 percent of SF snaps, drew 23 percent of the targets, earned 42 percent of the air yards and had 9 percent of the red zone chances.

Mike Evans, Week 3 against ARI: 18 of 54 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 34 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Mike Evans, Week 4 against DEN: 39 of 66 snaps, 8 targets and 5 catches for 76 yards.

Mike Evans, Week 5 against SEA: 38 of 60 snaps, 10 targets and 7 catches for 113 yards, 1 touchdown.

Mike Evans, Week 6 against WAS: 25 of 62 snaps, 5 targets and 3 catches for 94 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Devaughn Vele played 13 games for NO and scored 66.3 PPR points, 5.1 a game, finishing WR95.

He caught 25 of 39 targets for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 4 red zone targets and 259 air yards.

He was on the field for 51 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Mike Evans played 8 games for TB and scored 84.8 PPR points, 10.6 a game, finishing WR76.

He caught 30 of 61 targets for 368 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 8 red zone targets and 331 air yards.

He was on the field for 65 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 7 calls

• Start Carnell Tate over Devaughn Vele.
• Start Christian Watson over Devaughn Vele.
• Start Courtland Sutton over Devaughn Vele.
• Start Carnell Tate over Mike Evans.
• Start Christian Watson over Mike Evans.
• Start DeVonta Smith over Mike Evans.