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While Alex Smith won’t dazzle you, he is a reliable quarterback that can get the job done. He isn’t asked to throw bombs down the field or carry the Kansas City Chiefs on his back, but he has enough big games that make him fantasy relevant. The 30-year-old quarterback had the best season of his career under head coach Andy Reid, and fantasy football players are wondering if Smith will be a reliable investment in 2014.
Positives:
Did you know that Smith finished with the sixth-most rushing yards among quarterbacks in 2013? With his 431 rushing yards, Smith actually totaled 54 more rushing yards than Andrew Luck. The veteran quarterback is only asked to manage games, so if you are a Smith owner, his turnovers will be limited. Smith had seven games where he posted 20 or more fantasy points in standard scoring leagues. and he had one absolutely dominant performance that netted him 30 points against the Oakland Raiders. With his new dual-threat ability of rushing the ball and his limited turnovers, Smith is an appealing option as a backup fantasy quarterback who has starting potential.
Negatives:
The offense is centered around Jamaal Charles, and if he misses anytime at all, Smith is in big trouble. The signal caller will also be without playmaker Dexter McCluster this season, who accounted for 15 percent of receptions last year. While Smith provided some big stats for owners last season, he did have five games where he scored eight or less points. Smith also had seven games where he did not throw a touchdown pass, so his game management skills will frustrate fantasy owners on a consistent basis.
Final Verdict:
Smith is unlikely to become a top-10 quarterback, but he is a reliable option as a backup. His numbers look streaky, but if you can break down the data and try to find a pattern of when Smith is most successful, he could become a dangerous weapon for your team. You wouldn’t want to rely on Smith to be your starter, but he has the potential to be a valuable addition on your roster.
Bye Week: 6
Projected Round: Last
Auction Value: $5(fftoolbox.com)
Jack Delaney is a fantasy football writer for www.Rantsports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jackbmore13, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google
