Fantasy News

• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Non-factor in win

  Rotowire Nov 28, 2023

  Smith didn't register a target during Sunday's 24-15 win over the Saints. From Weeks 2 through 9, Smith caught 34 of 42 targets for 422 yards and two touchdowns, including a 5-100-1 receiving line during a Week 9 loss to Minnesota. However, in his last two appearances, the veteran tight end has caught just one of three targets for one yard. He played a season-low 22 offensive snaps versus New Orleans, but there was no injury reported, suggesting he's simply falling down the pecking order. Given his early-season success, fantasy managers shouldn't give up on Smith yet, but he's not trending in the right direction.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Week 12 Waiver Priority List

  Rotowire Nov 21, 2023

  Smith will hopefully benefit with Desmond Ridder back under center for the Falcons, and Smith scored at least 8.7 PPR points in five of his first seven games this year with Ridder. Smith is far from a must-start Fantasy option, especially sharing the field with Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson, but hopefully the rapport with Ridder helps Smith get back to being productive once again. He's worth adding for one percent of your FAB.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Falls flat in loss

  Rotowire Nov 14, 2023

  Smith caught one of two targets for one yard during Sunday's 25-23 loss to Arizona. Smith has been one of the biggest fantasy surprises this year, outproducing fellow tight end Kyle Pitts nearly every week. However, the veteran fell flat versus Arizona after posting a season-high 100 receiving yards versus Minnesota last week. Smith wasn't the only Falcons' pass catcher who struggled Sunday, though. Taylor Heinicke (hamstring) and Desmond Ridder combined to throw for less than 100 yards, as Atlanta leaned heavily on the run game. Smith has value in PPR leagues, but it's difficult to trust any Falcons' skill players for fantasy purposes this year.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Week 10 Streamers (TE Preview)

  Rotowire Nov 7, 2023

  Smith has outscored Pitts by 9.7 Fantasy points on the season. While I would still start Pitts over Smith, they are both borderline top-12 options.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Week 10 Waiver Priority List

  Rotowire Nov 7, 2023

  Smith made a huge play in Week 9 against Minnesota with a 60-yard touchdown catch that helped him finish with five catches for 100 yards and a touchdown on six targets. You can see what happens if you remove that play, and he's scored 5.7 PPR points or less in each of his two prior games to Week 9. But he's still outplayed Kyle Pitts all season, and it's hard to ignore his role in Atlanta's offense. I don't mind starting Smith in deeper leagues in Week 10 at Arizona, and he's worth adding for up to 5 percent of your FAB.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Scores on impressive play

  Rotowire Nov 5, 2023

  Smith recorded five receptions on six targets for 100 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Vikings. He rushed the ball once for zero yards. Smith appeared to be getting phased out of the Atlanta offense, as he entered Sunday's contest with only four targets combined across his previous two games. However, he turned in an impressive performance, highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown that came entirely on yards after the catch halfway through the third quarter. Smith's performance will likely remain uneven, but he has now topped 60 yards with at least five receptions in three of his last six contests.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Week 10 Early Waiver Targets (Add/Drop)

  Rotowire Nov 5, 2023

  With Drake London out, it was Smith, not Kyle Pitts, who stepped up for the Falcons. Smith didn't exactly get force fed targets, but you have to like what he showed Sunday, turning a screen into a 60-yard touchdown, the kind of play we've seen from him in the past. The Falcons also made a point of trying to take advantage of Smith's skills with the ball in his hands, scheming up a couple of touches on consecutive plays near the goal line. Absent the long catch-and-run, it wouldn't have been a great game for Smith, but he's capable of making plays like that, and he now has double-digit PPR points in six of nine games this season. The TE position seems stronger than it's been in a while right now, and Smith is part of that as a low-end TE1.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Week 9 Streamers (TE Preview)

  Rotowire Nov 2, 2023

  It seems like a lot of people dropped Smith and I get it after his last two weeks. But Drake London missed practice on Wednesday with a groin injury. If London is unable to go this week, then Smith could be second or third in line for targets this week against the Vikings.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: TEs to Sit

  Rotowire Nov 1, 2023

  Taylor Heinicke is starting at quarterback for the Falcons in Week 9 against Minnesota, and we'll see if that helps or hurts Smith moving forward. The past two games against Tampa Bay and Tennessee, Smith has been a non-factor with a combined four catches for 40 yards on four targets. Prior to that, Smith scored at least 8.7 PPR points in five games in a row, including three outings with at least 10.7 PPR points. The Vikings have struggled with Travis Kelce and George Kittle this season, but otherwise have limited the production of most tight ends. I'm OK with Kyle Pitts as a low-end starter this week, but I would shy away from starting Smith if you can.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Secures one reception

  Rotowire Oct 30, 2023

  Smith caught his only target for 13 yards and failed to complete his lone pass attempt during Sunday's 28-23 loss to the Titans. Smith (48 offensive snaps) was on the field more than any of the Falcons' other tight ends, including Kyle Pitts (41). However, the veteran saw just one target, his fewest since the season opener. Head coach Arthur Smith did dial up a trick play for Smith in the red zone Sunday, but it wasn't successful. From Weeks 2-6, Smith caught 25 passes (on 32 targets) for 282 yards and a touchdown, but since then, he's secured just four passes for 40 yards. Given Smith is still garnering a lot of playing time, he should be on fantasy radars, but at this point, it's difficult to trust any Falcons' skill players on a weekly basis.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Sleeper TEs

  Rotowire Oct 27, 2023

  Smith gets a chance to face his former team in Week 8 when the Falcons play the Titans, and it's worth using Smith as a low-end starting tight end in all leagues. It helps that he's played well this season with at least 8.7 PPR points in five of seven games, including three outings with at least 10.7 PPR points. While I still like Kyle Pitts more than Smith, he should also continue to average 5.8 targets per game, which has been the case since Week 1. And I like the matchup against Tennessee with Kevin Byard now traded to the Eagles.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Week 8 Streamers (TE Preview)

  Rotowire Oct 26, 2023

  Smith has fallen out of favor with Fantasy managers after a three-catch game in Week 7, but we can't be that picky at tight end. Smith had three straight games with at least 12 PPR Fantasy points before last week. He's still averaging more yards per target and yards per game than Kyle Pitts, and if you enjoy a good narrative, he has a revenge game against the Titans this week.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Sleepers (Start/Sit)

  Rotowire Oct 25, 2023

  Smith gets a chance to face his former team in Week 8 when the Falcons play the Titans, and it's worth using Smith as a low-end starting tight end in all leagues. It helps that he's played well this season with at least 8.7 PPR points in five of seven games, including three outings with at least 10.7 PPR points. While I still like Kyle Pitts more than Smith, he should also continue to average 5.8 targets per game, which has been the case since Week 1. And I like the matchup against Tennessee with Kevin Byard now traded to the Eagles.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Catches three passes in win

  Rotowire Oct 25, 2023

  Smith reeled in all three of his targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Buccaneers. Smith's three targets, three catches and 27 yards were all low marks for the tight end since Week 2 after he wasn't targeted in the season opener. Despite a disappointing outing, the veteran has been a consistent option in the Falcons' passing game. Smith played 35 of the Falcons' 65 offensive snaps Sunday, while fellow tight end Kyle Pitts finished the contest with 34 snaps. The 28-year-old will look to stay involved and remain one of the top options in the passing attack when the Falcons visit the Titans in Week 8.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Sleeper TEs

  Rotowire Oct 20, 2023

  Smith has done a great job this season as the most consistent tight end for the Falcons, ahead of Kyle Pitts. While Pitts is hot coming into Week 7 at Tampa Bay with at least 14.3 PPR points in each of his past two games against Houston and Washington, Smith has scored at least 8.7 PPR points in five games in row, including two games over that span with at least 13.6 PPR points. I expect Smith to remain a low-end starter in all leagues against the Buccaneers, and Desmond Ridder has helped Smith produce with at least 6.4 targets per game in each of his past five outings.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Week 7 Streamers (TE Preview)

  Rotowire Oct 18, 2023

  It feels really weird saying that both Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith are startable, but such is life in an Arthur Smith offense. Smith ranks 12th among all tight ends in target share this season and has the third-highest yards per route run among the top 12. He's a featured part of the offense and he's earning the targets he's receiving.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Scores in loss

  Rotowire Oct 16, 2023

  Smith caught four of five targets for 36 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Commanders. After not garnering a target in the season opener, Smith has been one of the most consistent options in the Falcons' passing attack. Over the last five games, he's caught 25 of 32 targets for 282 yards and secured his first touchdown of the season in Week 6. If the veteran can keep this pace up, he's in store for a career year from a yardage standpoint and will remain a strong PPR option. However, he'll have to keep finding the end zone if he's going to remain on the cusp of fantasy relevancy in non-PPR leagues.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Sleeper TEs

  Rotowire Oct 13, 2023

  Smith has scored at least 8.7 PPR points in four games in a row, and you can use him as a starter in deeper leagues in Week 6 against Washington. It's a tough matchup since the Commanders are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, but I hope Desmond Ridder leans on Smith and Kyle Pitts in this matchup like what happened against the Texans in Week 5. Pitts had seven catches for 87 yards on 11 targets against Houston, and Smith had six catches for 67 yards on seven targets, with a lost fumble. I'm still using Pitts as a low-end starter in all leagues, and Smith is worth trusting as a starter in deeper formats.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Logs full practice Thursday

  Rotowire Oct 12, 2023

  Smith (ankle) practiced fully Thursday, Amna Subhan of the Falcons' official site reports. One day removed from having practice limitations due to an ankle injury, Smith was able to return to all activity Thursday, setting him up to be available to Atlanta's offense Sunday against the Commanders. He'll thus continue to be a regular in a unit that also includes TE Kyle Pitts, WR Drake London and RBs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.

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• Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Sleepers (Start/Sit)

  Rotowire Oct 11, 2023

  Smith has scored at least 8.7 PPR points in four games in a row, and you can use him as a starter in deeper leagues in Week 6 against Washington. It's a tough matchup since the Commanders are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, but I hope Desmond Ridder leans on Smith and Kyle Pitts in this matchup like what happened against the Texans in Week 5. Pitts had seven catches for 87 yards on 11 targets against Houston, and Smith had six catches for 67 yards on seven targets, with a lost fumble. I'm still using Pitts as a low-end starter in all leagues, and Smith is worth trusting as a starter in deeper formats.

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