He’s too skinny. That’s always been the thing with DeVonta Smith. From the second he stepped onto the campus at Tuscaloosa to the moment the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to grab him at pick ten, the "experts" couldn't stop talking about his frame. 170 pounds. In a league of giants, Smitty looks like he might blow away if the stadium AC is turned up too high.
But then the game starts.
Honestly, if you're still worried about his weight in 2026, you haven't been paying attention. DeVonta Smith just wrapped up another 1,000-yard season in 2025—his third in four years—and he did it while playing second fiddle to a guy who looks like a defensive end in A.J. Brown. It’s kinda wild when you think about it. Most teams struggle to find one "alpha" receiver. The Eagles have two, and the skinny one might actually be the harder one to cover.
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The 2025 Reality Check
Let's look at what just happened. In the 2025 regular season, DeVonta Smith hauled in 77 receptions for 1,008 yards. He found the end zone four times. Now, some fantasy managers were whining because the touchdowns were down from his usual seven or eight, but that's what happens when Saquon Barkley is vultures-ing everything at the goal line.
The yardage is the truth, though.
He crossed that 1,000-yard threshold with an acrobatic catch late in the year that basically summarized his whole career: high-pointing a ball against a corner who had twenty pounds on him and somehow staying in bounds. He finished the 2025 campaign with over 5,000 career receiving yards. He’s 27 years old. He’s just now entering his prime, which is a scary thought for the rest of the NFC East.
Why "Skinny Batman" is a Nightmare for Corners
People talk about route running like it’s this clinical, boring thing. With Smith, it’s visceral. It’s violent. He doesn’t just run a route; he sets a trap.
Most receivers use strength to get off the line. DeVonta uses what scouts call "suddenness." He’s there, and then he isn't. If you watch the tape from the 2025 Eagles season, you’ll see him winning on "The Dagger"—that deep crossing route that Kevin Patullo (the new OC) loves to call.
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He’s the Eagles' all-time leader in postseason receiving yards for a reason.
- Elite Separation: He creates an average of 3.2 yards of cushion at the break.
- Late Hands: He doesn't reach for the ball until the last millisecond, so the DB doesn't know it's coming.
- Body Control: The "toe-drag swag" is real. He treats the sideline like a balance beam.
There’s this misconception that he’s just a "finesse" guy. Please. Watch him block. He’s out there cracking safeties twice his size to spring Saquon for a 20-yard gain. You don’t do that if you’re "soft."
The "WR2" Label is a Lie
Is he the second option in Philly? Technically, yeah. A.J. Brown gets more targets. But calling Smith a WR2 is like calling a Porsche your "second car" because you also own a Ferrari.
In 2025, Smith's target share hovered around 22%. That would be WR1 volume on about 15 other NFL teams. The chemistry with Jalen Hurts is almost telepathic at this point. They’ve been together since the Alabama days (briefly) and now five years in the pros.
When the play breaks down and Hurts starts scrambling, he isn't looking for the biggest target. He's looking for the one he trusts. Usually, that's #6. Smith has this uncanny ability to find the "dead spot" in a zone. He’ll sit down in a hole, wait for the ball, and then instantly turn upfield for 12 yards.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest myth? That he’s injury-prone because of his size.
Look at the availability. Since 2021, DeVonta Smith has been one of the most durable receivers in the league. He doesn't miss games. He takes hits from guys like Fred Warner and Kyle Hamilton and just... gets up. It’s almost like his lack of "surface area" makes him harder to hit cleanly. He’s like a ghost. You can’t break what you can’t catch.
Another thing: people think he’s reached his ceiling.
I’d argue he hasn’t. With the way the Eagles' offense evolved in late 2025—moving Smitty into the slot more often to exploit mismatches against nickels—his efficiency is actually going up. He averaged 13.1 yards per catch this past year. That’s career-high territory.
How to Value DeVonta Smith Moving Forward
If you’re looking at Smitty for your 2026 dynasty roster or just trying to understand his place in the league, stop looking at the scales. Start looking at the feet.
He is the premier "technician" in the NFL.
He isn't going to out-muscle you, but he will make you look stupid on a 15-yard comeback route. He’s going to keep stacking 1,000-yard seasons because his game isn't built on raw athleticism that fades with age—it’s built on IQ and footwork. Those things don't go away.
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Actionable Insights for 2026:
- Watch the Slot Percentage: If the Eagles continue to play Smith inside for 30%+ of snaps, his catch rate will likely skyrocket toward 75%.
- Bet on Consistency: He is a high-floor player. Even in "bad" games, he’s usually getting 5-6 targets.
- Ignore the TD Variance: Don't let a "down" year in touchdowns scare you off. The volume and the yardage suggest he's still a top-12 talent at the position.
DeVonta Smith has spent his whole life proving people wrong about what a professional athlete is supposed to look like. At this point, the burden of proof isn't on him anymore. It's on the people who still think size is everything.
Next Steps for Your 2026 Strategy:
Audit your perception of "size-based" risk. Smith's durability over five seasons proves that frame doesn't equal frailty. If he's being discounted in your circles because of a low TD count in 2025, he’s the ultimate "buy-low" candidate before the 2026 kickoff. Focus on his target share in high-leverage situations (3rd downs and 2-minute drills) where he remains Hurts’ primary read.