Role Shift Might Keep DeVonta Smith Busier

Minimal Prior Slot Time

Check out Smith's previous slot usage:

• 2023: He hit a single-game high of 53.8% with just one other game of 40+%. Smith spent 31.1% of his time in the slot for the year.
• 2022: Smith hit a 56.8% single-game high with just one other game reaching 40%. He spent 25% in the slot for the year.
• 2021: Smith ran from the slot only 12.0% of the time, with just two games of at least 20% and a single-game high of 40.9%.

2024 Fantasy Football Impact

Smith has already provided strong efficiency throughout his young career. That has included a 68.6% catch rate to date, with improvements each year.

Passes over the middle of the field tend to be more frequent and easier to complete in general, though. More usage in that area carries the potential to help Smith's target shares and catch efficiency.

Against the Packers, he caught seven of eight targets for 84 yards. Five of those receptions wen for first downs. Smith's 8.0-yard average depth of target also checked in shorter than any of his previous three seasons.

It would be a mistake to draw too many conclusions from just one game. But we got signals in offseason and camp that Moore would shift Smith's usage in this way -- and that the new OC might enhance play pace, and thus play volume.

For now, we'll just say things look positive for Smith if you drafted him to start. (And that's almost certainly the price you paid in draft.)