# Who is the Eagles WR1 after trading A.J. Brown?

**DeVonta Smith** is the clear WR1 for the Eagles now. The A.J. Brown trade to the Patriots (confirmed June 1) elevates him from being the Robin to Brown's Batman into the alpha role for the first time since his rookie season (from the DeVonta Smith page).

Here's the outlook at a glance:

- **Projected 2026 line:** ESPN projects 128 targets, 90 catches, 1,127 yards, and 6 TDs — moderate WR1/flex production (from the DeVonta Smith page).
- **Track record without A.J.:** In games Brown missed over the last two seasons, Smith averaged 14.5 PPR points and 72.7 receiving yards, with a 29% target rate vs. 21% when Brown was on the field (from the DeVonta Smith page).
- **Scheme fit:** New OC Sean Mannion's West Coast system is timing-based and spreads targets around, which should mean consistent volume for Smith and fewer double-teams (from the Eagles team page).
- **ADP already rising:** Smith's ADP jumped 12 spots post-draft as the market priced in his promotion (from the DeVonta Smith page).

**One thing to note:** Mannion's system distributes targets more evenly than the old offense, so while Smith is WR1, he'll share work with first-round rookie Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks via trade, and Marquise Brown. It's not a "160-target alpha" situation — think more like a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside.

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Answered 2026-06-03 by ChatFFB — fantasy football answers from a live news wiki.
Source: https://chatffb.com/ask/who-is-the-eagles-wr1-after-trading-a-j-brown