Chiefs HC Andy Reid revealed on Monday that QB Alex Smith suffered a sprained throwing shoulder in Sunday's win over the Rams.  The injury reportedly happened late in the 1st half.  Smith was able to play through it, completing 10-of-13 passes for 114 yards over the final 30 minutes.  It doesn't seem like it was an issue yesterday, and Reid confirmed that he expects Smith to be fine for this weekend's game against the Jets.  We'll keep an eye on his practice participation.  If healthy, Smith will be an intriguing Week 9 spot-start option.

The Chiefs and QB Alex Smith have agreed to a 4-year, $68 million contract extension.  It tacks on to the final year of his current deal, keeping him in Kansas City through the 2018 season.  Smith will be making $15.2 million per year on average.  To put that in perspective, Bengals QB Andy Dalton's new deal is paying him $13.9 million per year.  That makes it seem like an overpay.  But Smith is a perfect fit for what the Chiefs want to do on offense, so it's tough to argue with the move.  Smith quietly finished 13th among QBs in fantasy points last season.  He'll be a viable matchup play in 2014.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith admits that he used more of the playbook and was more comfortable in HC Andy Reid's offense in the 2nd half of the season. "If you look at our last eight or nine games offensively, we really did some good things and took off a little bit there," Smith said.  "So as the year went on and we got more comfortable and coach Reid got more comfortable with us and his staff, he started to trust us with more and we showed that we could handle it. By the end, I was feeling really good about things."  Smith actually attempted fewer passes in the 2nd half of the season than he did in the 1st.  But his completion rate improved from 59% to 62%.  And he tossed 14 TDs in his final 8 games vs. 9 in the first 8.  Smith also exploded for 378 yards and 4 scores in Kansas City's 1st-round playoff loss.  He finished 13th among QBs in fantasy points in his Chiefs debut.  We won't bet on him improving that rank much in 2014, but Smith will at least be a valuable spot starter or fantasy backup.

The Chiefs are expected to start QB Chase Daniel over QB Alex Smith in today's meaningless finale at San Diego.  Just another reason why your fantasy season should not extend into Week 17.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid said he'll "mix and match" players for Sunday's finale at San Diego.  “I’m going to work some guys in,” Reid told The Kansas City Star.  “Most of them have already worked in. … I talked to the team, and I will have it figured out by the end of the week exactly how I’m going to work it.”  What does that mean for your fantasy team?  No Chief is safe.  Avoid them if your season is still going.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid admitted that he'll consider resting starters in Sunday's finale against the Chargers.  Kansas City is locked into the AFC's #5 seed and has nothing to play for.  We're not expecting QB Alex Smith or RB Jamaal Charles to see much -- if any -- action.  QB Chase Daniel and RB Knile Davis would replace the starters.

Lost in RB Jamaal Charles' historic Week 15 performance was an almost equally big day from QB Alex Smith.  He completed 17 of 20 passes for 287 yards and set a new career-high with 5 TDs.  Smith also became the 3rd QB in Chiefs history to throw 5 TDs without an INT in a game.  Of course, Smith has Charles to thank for the majority of that production.  Per the Associated Press' Josh Dubow, Smith's 5 scoring throws traveled a combined 13 yards downfield!  There were 168 total yards after the catch on those 5 plays.  Smith still has clear talent limitations, but give him credit for running HC Andy Reid's offense with aplomb.  Smith now sits 13th among QBs in fantasy points.  He'll be a high-end QB2 against a beatable Colts defense in Week 16.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith singled out Dexter McCluster as the player that's impressed him most in OTAs so far.  "Not knowing much about Dexter McCluster… he was the running back/receiver, and seeing how fluid he is, going in and out of those roles has been impressive for me to watch,” Smith said. “It’s easy to talk about in the meeting room to say let’s put (a) receiver in and have him run routes and be natural at it and then put him back in the backfield to do a multitude of things... It’s another thing to see it live. He’s a special guy, and he’s really taken it on.”  HC Andy Reid has also talked up McCluster as a valuable weapon this offseason.  We'll keep an eye on how he's being deployed in training camp and preseason action.  But it's difficult to see him amassing enough touches to be a reliable fantasy option.

The Chiefs have hired Chris Ault as an offensive consultant.  Ault is considered the creator and guru of the pistol formation.  He most recently spent time as the HC at Nevada, where he helped QB Colin Kaepernick rush for 4,112 yards in 4 seasons.  The Chiefs have been running plays from the pistol in OTAs.  Insider Adam Teicher believes the team will incorporate option plays from the formation, asking QB Alex Smith to use his legs.  Remember that Smith ran for 631 yards in his final season at Utah, and then ran a 4.7 40-yard dash at the Combine.  An increased rushing role with the Chiefs would only add to his fantasy upside.

The Chiefs have signed QB Chase Daniel to a 3-year deal.  The former Missouri Tiger has attempted just 9 regular-season passes at the NFL level.  But he emerged as a hot name in league circles over the past couple months.  He's a nice fit in HC Andy Reid's offense.  Of course, Alex Smith is locked in as Kansas City's starting QB for now.  But Daniel gives them a capable backup.  And he could get on the field if Smith reverts back to pre-Harbaugh form.

Conventional wisdom says 49ers HC Jim Harbaugh squeezed out everything QB Alex Smith had to offer.  But Trent Dilfer believes Smith is actually in a better situation in Kansas City with HC Andy Reid.  “Now he’s going to the same structure and a superior passing system,” Dilfer said. “... Just from a passing standpoint. A passing-tree standpoint. Multiplicity in the drop-back, and play-action and movement game. The screen game. Trick plays. You name it. This is one of the better passing systems in the league... He finally gets to play in a pass-driven offense, a quarterback-driven offense. He has very good offensive personnel. A head coach that’s forgotten more about winning than most coaches know."  Reid has a long history of pass-heavy and productive offenses.  But Smith remains no better than a league average QB.  And he'll be working with a shaky WR corps, especially if Dwayne Bowe bolts.  Smith will carry more upside in KC than he did in SF, but we struggle to see him moving into fantasy-starter territory at a deep QB position.

NFL insider Jay Glazer has learned that the Chiefs are the team with an agreement in place to trade for QB Alex Smith.  KC has been the most likely landing spot all along.  QB Matt Cassel wasn't cutting it, and Smith is a nice fit in new HC Andy Reid's west coast offense.  Smith still figures to be more of a game manager, though, and is unlikely to rise above mid-level QB2 status in fantasy.  The move obviously means the Chiefs won't be taking a QB with the 1st overall pick of April's draft, although they could still target a developmental project later on.  The 49ers are expected to receive a couple draft picks in exchange for their former starting QB -- likely a mid-round pick and a late-rounder. 

Update: According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chiefs will give up this year's 2nd-round pick (33rd overall) and a conditional mid-round pick in 2014.  That's quite a haul for the 49ers!

NFL insider Jason La Canfora reports that a trade involving 49ers QB Alex Smith is "effectively complete."  Teams can't officially make trades until the league year begins on March 12th.  It sounds like Smith will be donning a new uniform shortly after that though. La Canfora mentions the Chiefs and the Jaguars as potential suitors.  The Jags have already issued a statement denying a trade for Smith, but that doesn't mean much.  We'd throw the Cardinals out as a possible trade partner too, although the 'Niners probably wouldn't want to trade Smith inside the division.  Regardless, Smith figures to be the odds-on favorite to start no matter where he lands.

You already know the Chiefs' 2013 starting QB isn't currently on the roster. The Kansas City Star reports that the search has led to interviews with 8 QBs at the Scouting Combine already. Club reps talked to Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, Tyler Wilson, Mike Glennon, Ryan Nassib, Tyler Bray and Miami (Ohio)'s Zac Dysert and planned to interview E.J. Manuel tonight. The Chiefs are also rumored to be the team most interested in dealing for Alex Smith. Some evaluators say they don't see a 1st-round QB or a surefire NFL starter in this year's draft class. At #1 overall, Geno Smith is the only QB being mentioned. But that position seems like a stretch even for him.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen hears the 49ers are "highly unlikely" to release QB Alex Smith.  That means they're confident they can find a trade partner.  San Fran isn't going to keep Smith in town as a backup when he's due $8.5 million in 2013.  The Cardinals and Chiefs would figure to be Smith's 2 most likely suitors.  We think he'd be a good fit in Kansas City under QB guru Andy Reid and his west coast-style offense.

49ers HC Jim Harbaugh confirmed that QB Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday's game against the Rams.  QB Alex Smith has been cleared from that concussion, but the 'Niners are sticking with the hot hand.  Although Harbaugh wouldn't commit to Kaepernick as his starter the rest of the season, he's not going anywhere if he continues to play like he has been.  Kaepernick has tossed for 474 yards and 3 scores over the past 2 weeks, adding another 37 yards and 1 TD on the ground.  He's 11th among QBs in fantasy points during that span.  Kaepernick will be a low-end QB1 with upside beyond that for Week 13.

49ers QB Alex Smith (concussion) is active for today's game against the Saints.  He's received full medical clearance, but the 'Niners are going with the electric Colin Kaepernick under center.

The 49ers aren't announcing their starting QB for Sunday's game against the Saints.  "We feel like there’s no competitive advantage for us to release that information for our organization and our team," HC Jim Harbaugh said.  All signs point to Colin Kaepernick getting the nod though.  He took all the first-team reps in practice this week, and 'Niners SS Donte Whitner told the media that Kaepernick will start.  QB Alex Smith (concussion) still hasn't even been given full medical clearance.  Fantasy owners can confidently start Kaepernick if he's their best option.  To see where we rank him, check out our Week 12 QB Rankings.

49ers QB Alex Smith (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints.  He was limited in practice all week, working in a non-contact jersey.  QB Colin Kaepernick will start vs. New Orleans, and it's unclear if Smith will be available even if the team wanted to go back to him. 

Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter hears from a team source that the 49ers are going with QB Colin Kaepernick as their starter for Sunday's game against the Saints. HC Jim Harbaugh has reportedly informed QB Alex Smith of the decision. While Smith has been a solid game-manager for San Fran, Kaepernick brings a completely different dimension. The offense was electric with him under center this past Monday night. Kaepernick displayed a big-time arm and impressive accuracy. And he has plenty of athleticism to make plays with his legs. Add it all up and you get a lofty fantasy ceiling. That's only heightened this week with a matchup against New Orleans' leaky defense. Consider Kaepernick a spot-starter with loads of upside in that one.