Start Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start DeVonta Smith over Jaylen Waddle in Week 5.

Jaylen Waddle is projected from market data at 12.3 points and DeVonta Smith has too little of his market posted to price, so we are leaning on where drafters take them. Drafters take DeVonta Smith at ADP 12 and Jaylen Waddle at 16.

What the market projects

No player market was posted for DeVonta Smith in Week 5.

Player markets imply 12.3 fantasy points for Jaylen Waddle, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Jaylen Waddle at 53.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 33% chance to score a touchdown (14, 13 and 14 market sources).

Week 5 matchups

DeVonta Smith and PHI visit JAX on Sunday at 9:30 AM ET.

JAX allowed 37.0 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 4 games, the 9th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 211 yards and 0.3 touchdowns a game against JAX.

Jaylen Waddle and DEN visit LAC on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET.

LAC allowed 33.4 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 4 games, the 15th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 148 yards and a touchdown a game against LAC.

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

Injury status

DeVonta Smith is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

Jaylen Waddle is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

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 4, Jaylen Waddle played 69 percent of DEN snaps, drew 21 percent of the targets, earned 38 percent of the air yards and had 7 percent of the red zone chances.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 1 against KC: 38 of 51 snaps, 3 targets and 1 catch for 2 yards.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 2 against JAX: 38 of 62 snaps, 10 targets and 8 catches for 138 yards.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 3 against LAR: 49 of 67 snaps, 1 carry for 14 yards, 7 targets and 2 catches for 10 yards.

Jaylen Waddle, Week 4 against SF: 45 of 65 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 35 yards, 1 touchdown.

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, Jaylen Waddle played 16 games for MIA and scored 194.1 PPR points, 12.1 a game, finishing WR24.

He caught 64 of 100 targets for 910 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 11 red zone targets and 682 air yards.

He was on the field for 78 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start DeVonta Smith over Calvin Ridley.
• Start Chris Olave over DeVonta Smith.
• Start DeVonta Smith over DJ Moore.
• Start Carnell Tate over Jaylen Waddle.
• Start Chris Olave over Jaylen Waddle.
• Start Christian Watson over Jaylen Waddle.