Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

DeVonta Smith vs George Pickens

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

George Pickens is the better fantasy play this season.

George Pickens has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.8-PPG advantage is real (14.4 to 9.6), and George Pickens's 9 touchdowns show scoring upside. DeVonta Smith is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRPhiladelphia Eagles#34

DeVonta Smith

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,008

Rec TDs

Targets

113

Bye

Week 9

WRDallas Cowboys#6PPG LEADER

George Pickens

PPG

14.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,429

Rec TDs

Targets

137

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

DeVonta Smith

George Pickens

Head to Head

9.6 PPG14.4 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

DeVonta Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #34 at the position). George Pickens: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #6 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, DeVonta Smith is producing at 44% of elite pace and George Pickens at 65%. That ranking gap means George Pickens carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

DeVonta Smith vs George Pickens: Who Should You Start?

DeVonta Smith and George Pickens are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. DeVonta Smith averaged 9.6 PPG across 17 games with the Philadelphia Eagles, while George Pickens posted 14.4 PPG in 17 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.

A 4.8-PPG gap gives George Pickens the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. DeVonta Smith turned 113 targets into 1008 yards and 4 touchdowns, while George Pickens converted 137 looks into 1429 yards and 9 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: DeVonta Smith sits Week 9 while George Pickens is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire George Pickens at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. DeVonta Smith is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: DeVonta Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. George Pickens (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•George Pickens outscored DeVonta Smith by a projected 82 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•George Pickens scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•George Pickens saw 137 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatSmithPickens

PPG (Half-PPR)9.614.4

Games Played1717

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)163245

Receptions7793

Rec/Game4.55.5

Receiving Yards1,0081,429

Rec Yds/Game59.384.1

Receiving TDs49

Targets113137

Target Share/Game6.68.1

Age2725

Experience4 yrs3 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 9Week 10

Summary

George Pickens outscored DeVonta Smith by 4.8 PPG in 2025 (14.4 to 9.6). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start DeVonta Smith or George Pickens in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, George Pickens has the edge at 14.4 PPG compared to DeVonta Smith's 9.6 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did DeVonta Smith and George Pickens average in 2025?▾

DeVonta Smith averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. George Pickens averaged 14.4 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.8 points per game.

When are DeVonta Smith and George Pickens's bye weeks in 2026?▾

DeVonta Smith (PHI) has a bye in Week 9, and George Pickens (DAL) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is DeVonta Smith or George Pickens a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

George Pickens outscored DeVonta Smith by 4.8 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.