Irv Smith Jr. Fantasy

Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (knee) has been a fully practicing during minicamp. That is a great sign after Smith suffered a torn meniscus in early September that ended his 2021 campaign. That being said, backup tight end Tyler Conklin stepped up and delivered without Smith on the field. However, Conklin signed with the New York Jets, so Smith is back to being the main tight end. Smith put together a promising season in 2020, so hopefully he can continue to develop. There's certainly top-12 PPR upside with Smith heading into next season.

Jun. 19th • 8:47 AM

Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (knee), who missed all of last year due to a right knee injury and still has not been cleared for full participation in organized team activities, is expected to have a big role in the offense in 2022. The Vikings goal is to have Smith ready for full participation at the start of training camp in late July. Minnesota let Jack Conklin walk in free agency and didn't address the position in the draft until the seventh round. "Some of the success he's had -- both with how we're going to use him and ultimately where he is at in his career -- he's ready to absorb all of this and be in a position to go play fast, go play with a bunch of confidence that he's going to be a major part of what we do. It's just making sure we're doing it in a really responsible way as he continues to progress back." The former second-rounder had just 66 passes in his first two seasons, and it's fair to wonder how many targets he'll actually get in a crowded Vikings offense.

May. 30th • 10:25 AM

The Minnesota Vikings coaching staff was transparent early this offseason that they'd be taking it slow with tight end Irv Smith Jr. (knee). However, Smith did look agile during his drills off to the side during organized team activities and was running routes almost at full speed. He is working his way back from a torn meniscus that kept him out for all of last season. It sounds like Smith is close to 100 percent, so he should be full-go at training camp this summer. Now that Tyler Conklin is out of town, the 23-year-old should be Minnesota's unquestioned No. 1 pass-catching tight end, which will make him an attractive sleeper selection at the position in an offense that is expected to become more pass-happy under new head coach Kevin O'Connell.

May. 19th • 10:19 AM