Week 13 at Falcons
Smith has started to overtake Ted Ginn in terms of offensive snaps but is still fighting for targets with Ginn behind seemingly everyone else on the offense. Smith did turn his line reception last week into a touchdown, but that’s become the hope for him in fantasy is that he does score, because he won’t give you many catches. Like Ginn, Smith is a very desperate play now that every team has had their bye week,
Week 12 vs Panthers
Smith is at least seeing the field, having played more snaps than Ted Ginn in Week 11. But Smith is just so far down the pecking order in the passing game. He's a desperation play in Week 12 so close to the fantasy playoffs.
Week 11 at Buccaneers
Like Ginn, Smith is playing a lot of snaps but is an afterthought in the offense. He saw 55 snaps against the Falcons but saw just two targets and hauled in just one pass. He left the first Tampa game early due to injury and didn't see a target in the 18 snaps he played before leaving. He's another gamble at wide receiver but against a defense like the Buccaneers, the upside for a touchdown catch is there.
Week 10 vs. Falcons
Smith missed the last three games before the Saints' bye with an ankle injury but after having the bye week to rest, Smith looks ready to return to the Saints' lineup. Smith caught just five passes in the first two weeks of the season before he began battling ankle injuries. Smith will likely return to battling with Ted Ginn for No. 2 WR duties and both certainly take a backseat to Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Smith may not carry much upside coming back from injury, but like with Ginn, is at least worth considering in a game where the Saints might score at will and six teams have the week off.
Week 3 at Seahawks
Ted Ginn at least has been practicing so far this week. Tre'Quan Smith did not practice Wednesday or Thursday with an ankle injury suffered in Week 2 against the Rams. His practice status Friday will determine if he can go Sunday. But his role with Ginn has been such a flip-flop week-by-week that it's difficult to trust either in fantasy. Smith should stay on the bench this week.
Week 2 at Rams
Smith was on the field almost as much as Ted Ginn in Week 1, playing 42 snaps to Ginn's 49. But he only received two targets against the Texans. Five Saints saw more targets than Smith. Even Taysom Hill saw two targets. Smith's fantasy day was salvaged by scoring a touchdown. Smith is a very deep, deep option that may be touchdown-dependent throughout the season until he starts receiving more opportunities in the passing game.
Week 1 vs Texans
Similar to Ted Ginn, Tre'Quan Smith is fighting for targets against Ginn behind Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Jared Cook. And at the moment, Smith is listed behind Thomas and Ginn on the depth chart. Until that position settles itself, we're not relying on either player quite yet. Smith is No. 58 in our Week 1 PPR rankings and No. 56 in standard scoring.
Fantasy Upside
Smith had a quiet rookie season but showed flashes of the athleticism he showed while at UCF. Smith posted a pair of 100-yard games in 2018, including a two-touchdown performance and 111 yards in Week 5 against the Redskins in place of the injured Ted Ginn. He will compete to be the Saints' No. 2 wide receiver in training camp this season, a spot that would bring him some upside as a younger receiver opposite Michael Thomas.
Fantasy Downside
Most of Smith's work last season came while Ginn was out, only playing about 40% of the Saints' offensive snaps in games Ginn played. If Smith can't beat out Ginn for the No. 2 role, he'll be very low in the pecking order as the Saints' still have to feed Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and even Jared Cook.
Bottom Line
Smith's fantasy value is directly tied to his battle with Ginn for snaps and targets. He is currently only ten spots behind Ginn in our rankings and with a strong preseason, should move up draft boards. This is one training camp that is absolutely worth monitoring.
Week 16 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Tre’Quan Smith caught two-of-four targets for 15 yards in the Saints’ Week 15 win over the Panthers. It was his first catch since Week 11 after he missed Week 12 with an injury and went catch-less in back-to-back road games the past two weeks. Drew Brees is struggling but even with the passing game likely to get back on track this Sunday when the Saints return home to face the Steelers, Smith is off the fantasy radar. Ranked as our WR51 for Week 16, avoid Smith this weekend.
Week 15 at Carolina Panthers
Tre’Quan Smith failed to catch a pass on his only target in the Saints’ Week 14 win over the Bucs. He also dropped his lone target on a flea-flicker and has drawn just two targets over his past two games. Avoid Smith Monday night when the Saints visit the Panthers. He is our WR64 for Week 15.
