Week 3 at Jacksonville
Steve Smith Sr. had only three catches last week against Cleveland, but he gained 64 yards and was targeted six times throughout the game. He should remain a starter on the outside for the Ravens for as long as he stays healthy and he has some upside in deeper leagues as a guy sure to get at least a few looks each game.
He has a nice matchup against the Jaguars this week, who have given up six touchdown passes through the first two games. However, the Baltimore offense hasn’t been great to WRs this year so far, and it’s hard to bank on Smith for legit numbers. He should be considered a low-end option in most leagues, with a slight uptick in PPR formats, and we have him ranked as a bench player.
Week 2 vs. Cleveland
Steve Smith Sr. only put up 19 yards last week against the Bills, but he was targeted a team-high eight times in the passing game, caught five passes total, and was on the field more than any other Ravens WR – 66% of the team’s snaps. Smith may not have WR1 potential at this stage in his career, but if he keeps getting these types of targets, he could become a WR3 or Flex option, particularly in PPR leagues.
Smith has a lot of upside against a Browns defense that was terrible against the pass last season and just gave up touchdowns to both Eagles starting WRs last week. The Raven offense is risky to bank on, but if you need a reliable target with limited upside, you could do worse than use Smith in large PPR leagues as a WR3/Flex option.
Week 1 vs. Buffalo
Steve Smith Sr. missed the end of last season with a torn Achilles, but he seems ready to go and feisty as ever, making him an interesting option in fantasy leagues. Coming off such an injury, he’s very risky, but he’s made a career of proving doubters wrong. Smith is worth rostering in most leagues, but it’s probably best to stay away from the Baltimore offense across the board this week as depth chart jobs and injury recoveries abound across the roster.
Fantasy Upside
Steve Smith Sr. was off to another good start to the season last year before tearing his Achilles tendon in November against the Chargers, showing he still had some gas left in the tank at age 36 (now 37). Smith had three games with 10 or more targets last year and finished the season with 670 yards and three touchdowns, a pace that would put him over 1,500 yards if he had kept that up all season. Smith is a fiery competitor who uses his knowledge of the game and his determination to get open, and he is easily the most experienced receiver on the Baltimore roster.
Fantasy Downside
Now 37 years old, Smith would be a prime candidate for retirement, and before the Achilles injury, he had announced intentions to retire after last season. Coming off such a serious injury at his age, it’s hard to imagine him coming back strong this year. There is also youth on the roster, with Kamar Aiken playing admirably in his stead last season, and Chris Moore and Breshad Perriman vying for spots on the depth chart as well. The injury was a double rupture of the Achilles and early reports are the rehab process has been difficult for the veteran, which isn’t a good sign for his fantasy value.
2016 Bottom Line
It’s hard to bet against such a competitive guy, and Smith is worth a late round flyer in most leagues in case he heals up well and can come back. If he can’t make it back, it certainly won’t be for lack of trying, but Smith is too risky coming off an Achilles injury to put a tremendous amount of draft stock into him. His 10-12th round ADP might even be a bit too high.
Week 7 vs. San Diego
Steve Smith Sr. only had 78 yards and five catches against the Cardinals on Monday night as the Ravens suffered their sixth defeat of the season, but he still led the team with nine targets and he remains the favorite option for quarterback Joe Flacco.
Smith doesn’t seem to be hampered by the injury he suffered earlier in the season and he should again be featured heavily this week. He also gets to face the Chargers this week, which should bode well for Smith. San Diego was destroyed by the Raiders passing game last week and has allowed 8.1 yards per pass attempt to opposing passers this year, fifth-worst in the league. The team has struggled to force turnovers or get any kind of pressure on the quarterback this season, and Smith Sr. should be in for a good day. He’s a borderline WR1 and a solid WR2 in all leagues.
Week 7 at Arizona
Steve Smith Sr. continues to rack up targets and be productive in a season that is supposed to be his swan song. After missing Week 5 with a rib injury, Smith came back strong against the 49ers last week, catching seven of the 10 balls thrown his way for 137 yards and a touchdown. He has double-digit targets and over 130 yards in three of the four games he’s played in start to finish, and he has been the most reliable pass catching target in Baltimore this year.
This week, he’ll face a difficult task against a Cardinals defense that features premier players in the secondary and leads the league in interceptions with 11. Still, Smith is too heavily relied upon in the Baltimore offense to sit him at this point, and fantasy owners should continue to consider him as a solid WR2 option in all leagues while his incredible run continues. We have him as a top 15 option this week.
Week 6 at San Francisco
Steve Smith Sr. is practicing, which means he has a chance to suit up on Sunday. With a nice matchup, Smith should be considered a WR2 option in most fantasy leagues, but if there’s any question about his status, fantasy owners should look elsewhere and take a wait-and-see approach on the injured veteran. While he’s a tough guy and will be motivated to get back on the field as soon as possible, it’s wise to make sure he’s in top form before counting on him.
Week 4 at Pittsburgh
Steve Smith Sr. had another huge game against the Bengals last week, catching 13 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns. He very nearly won the game for the Ravens, and would have if A.J. Green hadn’t also had a monster game of his own. Smith is the main cog in the Ravens offense right now.
This week, Smith will face the Pittsburgh Steelers. He struggled a bit against them last season, but they just gave up seven catches and 102 yards to Kenny Britt last week against the Rams. Smith will continue to be fed the ball, which makes him a borderline WR1 for as long as he keeps producing. He had 17 targets last week, and while that’s a lofty number to expect every game, he should be active in all fantasy lineups while he remains the Ravens number one offensive weapon.
Week 3 vs. Cincinnati
Steve Smith Sr. can still play in this league. He was targeted 16 times last week against the Raiders, catching 10 passes for 150 yards. While the Ravens ended up losing the game in a shootout, it had to be comforting for Ravens fans and for offensive coordinator Marc Trestman to see Smith and Joe Flacco put up 33 points after such a woeful Week 1 outing against Denver.
This week, Smith Sr. plays a Cincinnati defense that has looked solid through two weeks, but gave up a pair of touchdowns to the wide receiver position last week against the Chargers. Smith isn’t an elite fantasy option anymore, but as the No. 1 target in Baltimore, he’s worth considering week-to-week, even with a bad matchup. We have him right around our top-20 mark this week, making him a suitable WR2 in most leagues.
Week 2 at Oakland
Steve Smith Sr. struggled along with the rest of the Baltimore offense last week. Though he was targeted seven times, he ended up with just 13 yards on two catches and he had a crucial drop of a tipped pass into the end zone that would’ve won the game for the Ravens.
This week, Smith gets to face an Oakland Raiders team that struggled against the Bengals last week, giving up four touchdowns in a lopsided victory for Cincinnati. Look for the veteran to rebound with a better matchup and to improve on his 28.5-percent catch rate. We have him ranked just outside our top 20 this week, making him a solid to low-end WR2 option in most leagues.
