Statistical predictions for the Philadelphia Eagles top three wide receivers
. . DeVonta Smith. 6. player. 54.
DeVonta Smith is going to feast and lead the Eagles’ wide receivers in touchdown receptions.
This is no exaggeration. DeVonta Smith can walk into most NFL locker rooms and be one of the top two receivers on the depth chart simply by showing up. Year one in the NFL saw him break DeSean Jackson’s franchise rookie record for receiving yards. He had 916 of them. He also showed a grace when hauling in passes along the sideline and a physicality that you wouldn’t expect from someone who earned ‘Slim Reaper’ as a nickname.
DeVonta racked up 64 yards receiving and a 14.3 yards per reception in an Eagles offense where he was targeted a little over six times per contest (and 104 times in total). Some say he should have been targeted more. Some say he six targets per game is pretty respectable. Others believe his quarterback ran too much.
Regardless of where you stand on the Hurts factor, here’s a bold prediction. With A.J. Brown potentially drawing the opposing defense’s best cover guy more often than not, Zach Pascal doing the dirty work, and linebackers and safeties trying their hand at limiting Dallas Goedert. DeVonta will finish third on the team in receptions (behind Goedert and Smith), but he’ll finish ahead of A.J. in yards per reception while equalling WR1’s touchdown total.