Ainias Smith Fantasy Impact

By T.J. Besler | June 5, 2024

Ainias Smith Fantasy Impact

The Eagles decided to add depth to their wide receiver room by selecting Texas A&M slot receiver Ainias Smith in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 152nd pick. At 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, Ainias is on the smaller side but showed some promise throughout his career at Texas A&M. Although Ainias is listed as a WR, he proved to be a versatile athlete earning RB reps early in his career (primarily in 2020) alongside Isaiah Spiller and De’Von Achane. Over his five-year career, Ainias started 36 games and in his final season, he finished with 53 catches for 795 yards and two touchdowns. This was after suffering a leg injury in 2022 that forced him to miss eight games. Smith didn’t participate in the NFL scouting combine because of injury, but clearly showed enough in his senior year for the Eagles to take a chance on him. Let’s take a look at what that might mean for his fantasy relevance in both the long and short term.

Fantasy Value

It’s hard to imagine Ainias having much of an impact in fantasy in his first year. The Eagles have a lot of mouths to feed and Smith might not be any better than the sixth or seventh-best option of Jalen Hurts. But if he can climb the depth chart he could earn a larger role throughout the season out of the slot. Smith has the type of run-after-catch skill set that could be useful for an Eagles team where that has been lacking. Of course, all of this depends on whether or not Smith can stay healthy. Besides the injury that kept him out for over half of his 2022 season, doctors also discovered a stress fracture in his shin at the NFL Combine. Smith also participated on special teams at Texas A&M and was productive in the role earning all-Southeastern Conference honors in 2023. This will likely be his primary contribution early on as the Eagles continue to develop him as a slot receiver. This means he is not an advisable pick in fantasy redraft leagues and is better suited as a waiver wire pickup if he does start to get integrated into the offense.

Dynasty Value

Smith could carry a bit more value in dynasty leagues. The Eagles have two well-established dynamic wide receivers in DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, but behind them, there is an opening for a third wide receiver. This is especially true with the news that the newly acquired DeVante Parker announcing is retiring. Other than Parris Campbell there is much proven talent behind the two primary pass catchers, and even calling Campbell proven or talent feels like a bit of a stretch. In time, Ainias Smith, with his solid route-running and run-after-catch ability should be able to work his way into the lineup in three-receiver sets and the primary slot receiver for Hurts. Given his build and fifth-round draft capital it’s difficult to envision Smith becoming much more than a supporting player, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have value in dynasty leagues. Smith has the profile of a player who will take time to develop but could surprise people with his playmaking ability once he’s entrusted with a larger role. If you partake in a standard three-round rookie-only draft then you’re safe leaving Smith on the waiver wire and picking him up later if he hits. Otherwise, Smith is a decent selection in the late-fourth or early-fifth round of rookie-only drafts, regardless of format.

Conclusion

Ainias Smith is not a must-draft target in any format. But I would not be surprised if he is a popular waiver wire pickup later in the season. The Eagles are an explosive offensive and Head Coach Nick Sirianni is going to want to find numerous ways to attack opposing defenses. Smith could become a part of that attack, but it’s hard to see him ever becoming a major part of it. Smith does have a good route-running tree and is capable of making plays once the ball is in his hands. Also, with experience as both a runner and receiver, new offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore could choose to use Smith in a bit of a Swiss-Army Knife role. In redraft leagues, Smith can be safely left on the waiver wire. In dynasty leagues, he should be selected in the late-fourth or early-fifth round of rookie-only drafts, regardless of format, with added value in leagues that award individual return yardage and/or touchdowns.

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T.J. Besler

A die hard Bears fan and fantasy sports fantastic, T.J. Besler earned his journalism (and theatre) degree from The University of Iowa. When he isn’t busy writing parodies for his YouTube channel Parodies for Charities he can be found either on stage performing or doing all things fantasy football related. Besler has traveled to nearly all 50 states either for work or leisure, and is grateful to everyone who has helped him along the way, especially his lovely wife Elsa, without whom much of this would not be possible. BEAR DOWN!

Ainias Smith Fantasy Impact