Start DeVonta Smith or Josh Downs? Week 7

Our Week 7 call

Start DeVonta Smith over Josh Downs in Week 7.

Market-based projections have DeVonta Smith at 13.5 points and Josh Downs at 13.5, a gap of 0.0. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. 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. No player market is posted for Josh Downs this week yet, so his 13.5 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 4, 5 and 6 (16.3, 12.0 and 12.3); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. Drafters take DeVonta Smith at ADP 34 and Josh Downs at 96.

What the market projects

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).

No Week 7 player market is posted for Josh Downs yet. His market-based projections were 16.3, 12.0 and 12.3 points in Weeks 4, 5 and 6, an average of 13.5, which stands in until his Week 7 market posts.

The market-based projection for Josh Downs is 0.2 touchdowns (6 market sources).

That puts DeVonta Smith 0.0 points ahead of Josh Downs on these projections.

Week 7 matchups

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.

Josh Downs and IND visit MIN on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

MIN allowed 27.1 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 5 games, the 5th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 133 yards and 0.6 touchdowns a game against MIN.

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

Injury status

DeVonta Smith is not on the injury report.

Josh Downs is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 7

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.

Through Week 6, Josh Downs played 81 percent of IND snaps, drew 21 percent of the targets, earned 26 percent of the air yards and had 11 percent of the red zone chances.

Josh Downs, Week 3 against HOU: 48 of 71 snaps, 11 targets and 5 catches for 77 yards.

Josh Downs, Week 4 against WAS: 51 of 66 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 16 yards.

Josh Downs, Week 5 against PIT: 60 of 71 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 47 yards.

Josh Downs, Week 6 against TEN: 71 of 83 snaps, 1 carry for 7 yards, 8 targets and 4 catches for 40 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, Josh Downs played 16 games for IND and scored 136.4 PPR points, 8.5 a game, finishing WR44.

He caught 58 of 88 targets for 566 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 14 red zone targets and 422 air yards.

He was on the field for 58 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 7 calls

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