The Philadelphia Eagles made DeVonta Smith one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL this offseason, and if Week 1 is any indication, that contract will be worth its weight in gold.
According to PFF fantasy football takeawaysUsing Smith in the slot in Game 1, with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore pulling the strings, could lead to fruitful returns for the Eagles and fantasy players.
Here’s what PFF had to say about Smith’s performance:
This offseason, there was speculation that Smith might play more in the slot. He studied CeeDee Lamb this offseason and has a much higher average yards per route from the slot. That’s a important post in the attack on Kellen Moore.
While Smith wasn’t lined up in the slot for 100% of the 11-man snaps, he was there for about three-quarters of those snaps, which is significantly higher than last season.
When Smith was not in the location, AJ Brown Smith has often filled that role with similar slot rates to last season. Smith had a solid performance with seven receptions for 84 yards, but his usage in this game indicates that much bigger games could await him this season.
Smith was excellent in the Eagles’ 34-29 win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. He constantly moved the chains and served as a safety blanket for quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was far from his best Friday night. Smelling blood late in the fourth quarter, Moore called a gutsy pass, which Hurts completed to Smith for a first down that allowed the Eagles to run down the clock.
The former first-round pick has been a model of consistency, with three straight 1,000-yard seasons under his belt. That real breakthrough could come in 2024. Smith’s ability to line up anywhere makes him the ultimate X-factor in Moore’s offense.
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