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Smith is in line to be a full participant in the Patriots' voluntary organized team activities in advance of the 2022 season, NESN's Zack Cox reports.
That wasn't the case last year, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, as Smith awaited the birth of his daughter, while also factoring in COVID considerations. In his first season with the Patriots after signing a four-year, $50 million deal last March, Smith finished with 28 catches (on 45 targets) for 294 yards and a touchdown to go along with nine carries for 40 yards over 16 games, while operating in a time-share that tilted in Hunter Henry's favor. Cox suggests that with the team seemingly moving away from employing a traditional fullback in 2022, Smith could see added opportunities with a potential uptick in two-tight end sets, as well as the possibility that he could take on a share of fullback/H-back duties, with Jakob Johnson no longer in the mix. In that context, Smith could gain added fantasy relevance, but as long as he and Henry share snaps, consistent volume could remain an issue for the 2017 third-rounder.
