Irv Smith Jr. Fantasy

Minnesota Vikings rookie tight end Irv Smith Jr. had an impressive night on Sunday, at least as far as preseason games go. Smith Jr. caught all five of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown, and he looks firmly entrenched as the Vikings top backup option at the tight end spot. It's never a good idea to look too deep into how teams are scheming during the preseason, but it does seem fair to assume that Smith Jr. will be getting some opportunities in the passing game this season. He's more of a dynasty stash this year with Kyle Rudolph still in front of him, but he's probably worth keeping an eye on for ultra-deep leagues. Smith Jr. is currently going undrafted at 301 overall (TE32).

Aug. 18th • 11:31 PM

Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. recently told ESPN's Courtney Cronin that the Vikings are getting creative with his usage in the passing game, lining him up out wide and even in the backfield on occasion. The rookie second-rounder was listed as the second tight end on the team's first unofficial depth chart, and he offers an intriguing skill set that produced 16.1 yards per catch and seven touchdowns last year at Alabama. While it's encouraging to hear that Kevin Stefanski and Gary Kubiak are utilizing Smith Jr.'s athleticism, incumbent starter Kyle Rudolph stands in his way for fantasy relevance and it's difficult to make a case for Smith Jr. in non-dynasty formats this season. Things can always change, though, so keep an eye out in the preseason. He's currently basically free in drafts, clocking in at 272 overall (TE31).

Aug. 7th • 8:44 PM

The Minnesota Vikings selected Alabama tight end Irv Smith with the No. 50 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Smith runs good routes, has strong hands and has plenty of after-the-catch upside. He averaged 16.1 yards per catch as a junior in 2018. Smith's selection may cause the Vikings to shop current starter Kyle Rudolph. Smith will only be interesting in single-year fantasy formats in 2019 if a path is cleared for him to be the main pass-catching tight end.

Apr. 26th • 9:15 PM