Rookie Report Card: Ito Smith and Tre’Quan Smith

Each week throughout the season, I’ll cover at least two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week. On top of reviewing my expectations for each player coming into the league and covering how he’s performed at the NFL level to this point, I’ll actually give him a grade in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2018 potential and long term upside.

The series continues as we take a look at the Smiths, Ito and Tre’Quan.

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Ito Smith, RB ATL

Week Nine Stats: ten carries, 60 yards, one touchdown, one catch, four receiving yards (two targets)

I first heard about Ito Smith late in his senior season at Southern Miss when I saw a tweet that included a call to arms that Smith was the most underrated tailback in the 2018 NFL Draft. So I looked him up and found a handful of highlights.

Overall, he showed good decisiveness when looking for running lanes, appeared to possess average quickness when changing directions, and ran downhill which allowed him to break tackles both at the line of scrimmage and at the second level. Despite those positives however, there was little there at screamed “underrated” when watching Smith as a runner.

Then I saw the receiving portion of Smith’s highlight reel and it was clear he had the upside to contribute as a pass-catching tailback.

Although there was nothing flashy about his route running as Smith primarily stayed near the line of scrimmage, he showed consistency getting open and had a habit of breaking tackles and falling forward to find the first down marker. Savvy against linebackers in man coverage, he uses subtle head and shoulder fakes to create separation and also possesses good instincts against the zone by finding a hole in coverage and presenting a target for his quarterback.

Smith’s prowess as a pass catcher produced a stat line that included 131 career catches, just short of 1,400 yards receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his final three years of college.

While what I saw from Smith at Southern Miss didn’t make me want to shout from the rooftops about his upside as I had seen on Twitter (which turned out had come from a Southern Miss fan – ugh, duped again), it firmly planted Smith on my radar going into the NFL draft. All it took after that was Smith being selected in the fourth round of the draft for him to move into the top-36 of my rookie rankings.

Since that point, Smith has been a pleasant surprise for dynasty owners – particularly as a runner. Although he’s averaging 3.6 yards per carry on 49 totes, he leads the team in rushing touchdowns with four and has shown himself to be an above average pass catcher with 13 catches for 99 yards. All of this while playing just 157 of 544 snaps (28.9%).

Obviously, Devonta Freeman’s injury has contributed to Smith’s opportunities but that’s another reason for dynasty owners to look forward to Smith’s future. With Tevin Coleman sure to move on in free agency next summer, there is at least a good chance Smith will have the first crack at a similar or perhaps bigger role in 2019 and with the Falcons having proven that they prefer using multiple tailbacks, Smith’s role could produce extremely useful numbers for dynasty owners.

Although nothing is guaranteed at this point and he’s really only startable to owners in a pinch because of byes and injuries at this point, Smith’s value should be seen as equal to mid-to-late second rounder. And having invested no more than a third-round rookie pick on Smith (and likely a fourth), dynasty owners should be extremely happy with the prospect of Smith having a regular role and potentially becoming a fringe RB2/RB3.

Tre’Quan Smith, WR NO

Week Nine Stats: two catches, 31 yards, one touchdown (three targets)

One of the biggest risers in rookie ADP due to landing spot, Smith rose from an early fourth-round rookie pick to a late second in many leagues after getting thrown into the huddle with Drew Brees.

Despite his trouble at times to create separation and inconsistency as an intermediate route runner in college however, it was easy to see why the Saints liked Smith so much coming out of Central Florida.

A raw prospect, he showed – at times – incredible leaping ability, timing jumps with near perfection and extending to make fingertip catches downfield. Often contorting his body to accommodate off-target throws, he displayed field-stretching ability with his speed (4.49 40-yard dash) and regularly made his quarterback look good with his leaping ability (37.5” vertical) and ball skills.

At the very least, Smith profiled as a deep threat with upside as a red-zone target which was appealing to most dynasty owners looking to throw a dart in rookie drafts. Again, when he was picked by the Saints, his rookie draft stock tuck a bump – for good reason.

Smith’s pre-season added to the hype as he hauled in 15 passes (including three catches for at least 20 yards) for 189 yards and a touchdown. Despite the early success however, he was fourth on New Orleans’ wide receiver depth chart and the fifth or sixth option in the passing game to start the season. Although he wasn’t expected to make an impact as a rookie, dynasty owners continued to stay patient. Again, for good reason.

As glowing reports out of New Orleans continued to pile up along with wide receiver injuries, Smith began to get opportunities and hasn’t disappointed. His breakout came in week five against the Redskins on Monday Night Football which featured a brilliant catch on the sideline where he skied to make the grab and tapped his toes in bounds as well as a 62-yard touchdown catch that just happened to set the all-time passing yards record for Brees. If that wasn’t enough, he burned fellow rookie, defensive back Greg Stroman, for a 35-yard score on a go-route later in the game. Showing his excellent speed, leaping ability and hands in that contest while catching three passes for 111 yards and those two scores, it was clear Smith needed more playing time and he’s gotten it.

Having played at least 68% of snaps in each of the last four games since Ted Ginn was placed on injured reserve, Smith has carved out a role as the Saints’ clear WR2. – even with the return of Cameron Meredith. Honestly, it’d be a surprise if he ever gives it up at this point.

Because Smith doesn’t have more than three catches in a game this season, there may still be a slight buying window for dynasty owners, but it’s sure to close securely in the coming weeks. To get him for any second round pick would be a no-brainer at this point, but I’m not opposed to giving a late-first if that’s what it takes.

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