Start DeVonta Smith or Tee Higgins? Week 1

Our Week 1 call

Start Tee Higgins over DeVonta Smith in Week 1.

DeVonta Smith is priced by the books at 2.7 projected points and Tee Higgins is not priced at all, so we are leaning on where drafters take them. Drafters take Tee Higgins at ADP 37 and DeVonta Smith at 29.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 2.7 fantasy points for DeVonta Smith, with 33 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

No sportsbook posted a player market for Tee Higgins in Week 1.

Week 1 matchups

DeVonta Smith and PHI host WAS on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

WAS allowed 26.1 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 14th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 121 yards and a touchdown against WAS.

Tee Higgins and CIN host TB.

TB allowed 19.1 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 4th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 101 yards and no touchdowns against TB.

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

Injury status

DeVonta Smith was not on the injury report when the call was made.

Tee Higgins was not on the injury report when the call was made.

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.

DeVonta Smith, Week 18 of 2025 against WAS: 4 targets and 3 catches for 52 yards, 8.2 PPR points.

DeVonta Smith, Week 17 of 2025 against BUF: 46 of 54 snaps, 5 targets and 2 catches for 25 yards, 4.5 PPR points.

DeVonta Smith, Week 16 of 2025 against WAS: 60 of 70 snaps, 8 targets and 6 catches for 42 yards, 1 touchdown, 16.2 PPR points.

In 2025, Tee Higgins played 15 games for CIN and scored 211.6 PPR points, 14.1 a game, finishing WR15.

He caught 59 of 98 targets for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 14 red zone targets and 680 air yards.

He was on the field for 80 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Tee Higgins, Week 18 of 2025 against CLE: 9 targets and 6 catches for 67 yards, 1 touchdown, 18.7 PPR points.

Tee Higgins, Week 17 of 2025 against ARI: 44 of 77 snaps, 5 targets and 4 catches for 59 yards, 9.9 PPR points.

Tee Higgins, Week 16 of 2025 against MIA: 38 of 61 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 53 yards, 1 touchdown, 14.3 PPR points.

How Week 1 went

Tee Higgins scored 8.9 PPR points and DeVonta Smith scored 8.3.

The call was right: Tee Higgins outscored DeVonta Smith by 0.6.

Tee Higgins, Week 1 against TB: 46 of 64 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 59 yards, 8.9 PPR points.

Tee Higgins finished as the week's WR42 in PPR scoring.

DeVonta Smith finished 5.6 points above the 2.7 the props implied.

DeVonta Smith, Week 1 against WAS: 52 of 55 snaps, 6 targets and 3 catches for 53 yards, 8.3 PPR points.

DeVonta Smith finished as the week's WR46 in PPR scoring.

Their other Week 1 calls

• Start Emeka Egbuka over DeVonta Smith.
• Start Garrett Wilson over DeVonta Smith.
• Start George Pickens over DeVonta Smith.
• Start Tee Higgins over Davante Adams.
• Start Emeka Egbuka over Tee Higgins.
• Start Tee Higgins over Jameson Williams.