LitZone · NFL Player Comparison
DeVonta Smith vs Jaylen Waddle
A side-by-side look at real production - completed 2025 stats, 2026 stats so far, and a fully disclosed LitZone projection. No mystery grade, nothing invented.
Quick answer: DeVonta Smith has the per-game edge
DeVonta Smith averaged 16.2 PPR per game over 3 games in 2026; Jaylen Waddle averaged 11.0 over 4 games. That's what's already happened in 2026 so far, not a guarantee about what's ahead - see the LitZone projection below for a disclosed, formula-based look at the rest of the season.
PHI · WR
DeVonta Smith
MIA · WR
Jaylen Waddle
Side-by-side stats
Yellow marks the stronger result in that row. A single row does not decide the comparison; role, health, scoring settings, and weekly matchup still matter. *PPR score uses 1 point per catch, 1 per 10 rushing/receiving yards, 1 per 25 passing yards, 6 per rushing/receiving TD, 4 per passing TD, and −2 per interception.
Want to score a stat line yourself? Use the scoring calculator.LitZone 2026 projection
A LitZone model, not a consensus ranking: each player’s 2025 per-game rate is weighted as if it were 6 games, blended with their real 2026 sample so far, then multiplied by games remaining in the regular season. Every figure below is shown with the exact arithmetic that produced it.
DeVonta Smith
Early: 3 games of 2026
13.3 PPR / game
159.6 projected pts over 12 remaining games
Show the math
- Prior season: 201.8 pts ÷ 17 games = 11.9 per game
- Prior weight: 6 games
- Current season so far: 48.5 pts in 3 games
- Blend: (11.9 × 6 + 48.5) ÷ (6 + 3) = 13.3 per game
Jaylen Waddle
4 games of 2026
11.7 PPR / game
140.4 projected pts over 12 remaining games
Show the math
- Prior season: 193.8 pts ÷ 16 games = 12.1 per game
- Prior weight: 6 games
- Current season so far: 43.9 pts in 4 games
- Blend: (12.1 × 6 + 43.9) ÷ (6 + 4) = 11.7 per game
2026 season-to-date
2026 data through Week 5 · source: nflverse
DeVonta Smith
| Games | 3 |
|---|---|
| PPR total | 48.5 |
| PPR / game | 16.2 |
| Scrimmage yards | 235 |
| Total TDs | 1 |
| Carries + targets | 27 |
| Receptions | 19 |
Weekly log
| Week | Opponent | PPR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAS | 8.3 |
| 2 | TEN | 27.7 |
| 3 | CHI | 12.5 |
Jaylen Waddle
| Games | 4 |
|---|---|
| PPR total | 43.9 |
| PPR / game | 11.0 |
| Scrimmage yards | 199 |
| Total TDs | 1 |
| Carries + targets | 27 |
| Receptions | 16 |
Weekly log
| Week | Opponent | PPR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KC | 1.2 |
| 2 | JAX | 21.8 |
| 3 | LA | 6.4 |
| 4 | SF | 14.5 |
What the numbers say
A closer look at each player’s 2025 snapshot below - see the quick answer above for the overall verdict.
2025 snapshot
DeVonta Smith
1,008 scrimmage yards and 4 touchdowns across 17 games.
2025 snapshot
Jaylen Waddle
938 scrimmage yards and 6 touchdowns across 16 games.
DeVonta Smith vs Jaylen Waddle: frequently asked questions
Who had the better 2025 season: DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle?
The comparison table shows the answer category by category, with the stronger value highlighted. Total fantasy production is useful context, but passing efficiency, touchdowns, turnovers, role, and games played explain how each player reached that total.
Are the DeVonta Smith vs Jaylen Waddle numbers projections?
No, not the stats tables. The 2025 table and the current-season table are completed regular-season production from public NFL statistical records (source credited below the tables). The one number that is a projection is the LitZone projection block: a disclosed formula - each player's prior-season per-game rate blended with their current-season sample, prior season weighted as 6 games - never a black-box ranking.
How does the LitZone projection work?
It blends a player's 2025 points-per-game rate (weighted as if it were 6 games) with their real production so far this season, then multiplies that blended per-game rate by the games remaining in the regular season. Every step of the arithmetic is shown under "Show the math" on this page, so you can redo it by hand.
Should I choose DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle for fantasy football in 2026?
DeVonta Smith averaged 16.2 PPR per game over 3 games in 2026; Jaylen Waddle averaged 11.0 over 4 games. Use this page as a factual starting point, not a one-click lineup command. Your scoring format, injuries, team role, opponent, and draft cost can change the better choice.
How often is this NFL comparison updated?
The current-season table and weekly log refresh from the weekly NFL statistics release, cached for about an hour, and are labeled with the week they cover. The LitZone projection updates on the same cadence.
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