Ian Hartitz of Pro Football Focus raised a few eyebrows by claiming that he would draft Hunter Renfrow over DeVonta Smith in fantasy football. Does he have a point?
Comparing last year’s stats for DeVonta Smith and Hunter Renfrow
Looking back, Renfrow was better in just about every statistical category. He had far more targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Even if Renfrow’s numbers took a dip in 2022, Smith would have to make tremendous strides in order to catch him.
Hunter Renfrow over DeVonta Smith 😳 pic.twitter.com/anFvauEzw2
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) June 15, 2022
What’s their 2022 outlook?
Coming off his best season yet, Renfrow will have a tough battle to match his 2021 numbers. He’ll have to compete for touches with Davante Adams and an active Darren Waller. Also, Josh McDaniels’ offense will likely run the ball more than last year, when the Raiders all but abandoned the run. However, these things could potentially work in Renfrow’s favor. Defenses will not be able to give him nearly as much attention as he received last year. Also, McDaniels’ offense has been kind to similar receivers in the past, like Julian Edelman and Wes Welker. I would expect Renfrow’s numbers to be about the same as last year. He might only get 90 catches and only score eight touchdowns, but he will still eclipse a thousand yards.
Smith had a solid rookie season, though not spectacular. He should make significant strides this year. A big part of that will be reliant on quarterback Jalen Hurts stepping up in his second year as the undisputed starter. While Smith will be “the guy” for Philly, Hurts still has to get him the ball. Another issue for Smith is the Eagles’ penchant for running the ball. This is partly what coach Nick Sirianni generally likes to do, and it is the type of offense that best suits Hurts. It is not a great offense for fantasy wide receivers. Smith’s numbers should improve, but he isn’t going to set the world on fire either.
Final Verdict: Hunter Renfrow
I would lean towards Renfrow here, especially in PPR formats. He’s simply going to get a higher volume of targets than Smith. The Eagles are not going to throw the ball 40 plus times in a game very often. While the Raiders will be more balanced than last year, they won’t hesitate to let Derek Carr sling it when they need to. Smith’s potential for more explosive plays makes the gap closer in standard scoring formats. At the end of the day, you’re better off taking volume over big plays. That’s why you take Renfrow over Smith.
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*Top Photo: SI Fantasy