Start DeVonta Smith over Jameson Williams — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Smith's complete WR1 profile beats Williams' splash-play ceiling

DeVonta Smith is the better play because his WR1-caliber route work and dependable target volume create a sturdier weekly floor than Jameson Williams' deep-threat profile. The projection gap is meaningful but not a runaway, so Williams remains a viable START: Detroit's strong scoring outlook, heavy snap rate and thin receiver depth keep his ceiling live (Sports Illustrated (Lions On SI) 2026-09-06). Smith's risk is a slightly less favorable team scoring environment, while Williams carries more week-to-week volatility despite the better matchup setting.

What flips it: A late downgrade to Smith's availability.

Sources: Sports Illustrated (Lions On SI) · Sep 6, 2026

AI editor

DeVonta Smith

WR12PHIvs WSH

9.512.114.8 Projected Points

Start

Jameson Williams

WR26DETvs NO

8.410.312.1 Projected Points

Start· medium

Why DeVonta Smith

Start

WR1-caliber outside receiver. Elite route technician with reliable hands and high target volume.

Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR12: WSH is the 10th-softest matchup vs WRs, 26.0 implied team total.

Smith's route-winning profile makes his targets more dependable than Williams' splash-play opportunities.
His slightly lower team total trims ceiling, but his WR1 role protects the weekly floor.

Why Jameson Williams

Start· medium

WR2 and primary vertical threat. Elite straight-line speed stretching the field on deep shots and jet motion.

WR26 projection with a 90% snap share and 19% target share in a 27.8-implied-total offense — locked-in WR2 role, no designation.

Detroit's thin receiver depth reinforces Williams' locked-in WR2 role (Sports Illustrated (Lions On SI) 2026-09-06).
His speed can produce a spike week, though his vertical role brings more volatility than Smith's all-around usage.

The call

Role is not in question: 90% snap share and a 19% target share over 17 games make him the clear WR-2 in one of the league's highest-scoring offenses.
Vegas backs the volume — a 27.8 implied team total gives Detroit plenty of scoring chances, and his 12.1 projected points slot him as a WR26, a startable weekly floor in 12-team PPR.
The DvP composite ranks New Orleans 10 of 32 against the position, but that's a 0-game sample at 0.00 confidence, so it shouldn't override the role and team-total evidence.
Main risk is the profile: as a field-stretcher his week-to-week output is spiky, and a -7.0 spread could shift Detroit to the run late if they build a lead.

Latest on Williams

Role

Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown are the Lions' only proven receivers, with little established ability behind them on a depth chart the team may still add to.

Sports Illustrated (Lions On SI) · Sep 6, 2026

Head-to-head stats

Metric	DeVonta Smith	Jameson Williams
Projected points	9.512.114.8	8.410.312.1
Consensus rank	WR12	WR26
Opponent vs position	WSH · 23 of 320-game sample	NO · 10 of 320-game sample
Receptions	25 of 32	6 of 32
Receiving Yards	27 of 32	7 of 32
Receiving TDs	22 of 32	14 of 32
Targets	23 of 32	6 of 32
Anytime TD	18 of 32	18 of 32
Target share	24%(2025)	19%(2025)
Reception share	24%(2025)	17%(2025)
Implied total · spread	26.0-5.5	27.8-7.0
Depth chart	WR1	WR2
Snap share	84%(2025)	90%(2025)