Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith is beloved by his team's fans, hated by his team's rivals, but nearly forgotten in fantasy football leagues.
Fantasy Football Sleepers 2015: Steve Smith not done yet
The sun may be setting on Smith’s career, but his fantasy outlook isn’t dark. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Though Smith posted over 1,000 receiving yards and caught 79 passes in 2014, fantasy owners aren't at fault for being concerned. Smith is a 36-year-old playing a position that is getting younger, faster and stronger, and the veteran's production tailed off considerably down the stretch of the 2014 season. The Ravens added rookies Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams to the mix in hopes of taking the burden off of Smith as a result.
Fantasy Spin: Unfortunately, the learning curve remains steep for Williams, who is listed as the second tight end, and Perriman remains sidelined with no timetable for a return from a knee injury.
This leaves Smith miles ahead in the pecking order for targets, and if it’s any consolation to his potential fantasy owners, he showed plenty of burst during a 63-yard touchdown in the team’s third preseason game. It’s fair to question if he will have that same explosiveness in December, but for a receiver who can be drafted as late as the seventh round, it’s a risk worth taking.
