Ito Smith Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Falcons released RB Ito Smith. A replacement-level player, Smith has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and 5.7 yards per catch over 3 NFL seasons. His departure, though, leaves Atlanta with only RBs Mike Davis, Qadree Ollison and Tony Brooks-James. The Falcons are an obvious candidate to add a RB in the draft. But if they don't, Davis would be set up for a heavy workload.

The Falcons have reached a deal with free-agent RB Todd Gurley, less than a day after the Rams released him. Gurley showed us last season that he's no longer built for the workhorse role he shouldered for 3 full seasons with L.A. But he's still likely to lead the Atlanta backfield for 2020. We'll see whether the Falcons add anything else significant to a backfield that returns Ito Smith and Qadree Ollison (with Brian Hill a restricted free agent) after dumping Devonta Freeman. But Atlanta is about as good a landing spot as owners could have hoped for Gurley's fantasy outlook. He looks solid in the Round 4-5 range in current fantasy football drafting.

The Falcons have released RB Devonta Freeman, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The move saves Atlanta more than $3 million against the 2020 cap. Freeman just turned 28 but looked like a guy running on empty last season. He averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry and ranked dead last in Pro Football Focus' rushing grades among 45 RBs with 100+ attempts. We'll see what kind of interest Freeman garners on the open market. His departure leaves the Falcons with Ito Smith and Brian Hill atop the RB depth chart, making Atlanta 1 of the top destinations for a free-agent or rookie RB.

Falcons RB Ito Smith (neck) is out for Sunday's game against the Saints. Brian Hill will step in as Atlanta's #2 RB, but Smith's absence is an upgrade for Devonta Freeman. In 2 full games without Smith this season, Freeman has averaged 14.5 carries and 6 targets. Those marks drop to 12.2 carries and 5 targets with Smith.

Falcons RB Ito Smith (neck) remained sidelined for Wednesday's practice. That doesn't bode well for his chances of playing against the Saints this weekend. Smith's absence would be a boost to RB Devonta Freeman's fantasy stock.

Falcons HC Dan Quinn said Monday that RB Ito Smith has been diagnosed with a concussion and won't play against the Seahawks this weekend. We'll see if he can get cleared after Atlanta's Week 9 bye. Brian Hill will step in as the #2 back on Sunday, but RB Devonta Freeman should dominate backfield work.

Falcons RB Ito Smith was knocked out in the 1st half of today’s game against the Rams with what ESPN’s Vaughn McClure reports is a stinger. “Should be good,” McClure adds. We’ll keep an eye on Smith coming week.

Falcons RB Ito Smith left in the 1st half of Sunday's game to get checked for a concussion after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit. Smith sustained a concussion back in Week 3. We'll update his status when we learn more.

Falcons RB Ito Smith has cleared the concussion protocol and isn’t listed on the final Week 4 injury report. He’ll return to his #2 RB role behind Devonta Freeman. Smith isn’t a real fantasy option but does downgrade Freeman to lower-end RB2 status vs. the Titans.

Falcons RB Ito Smith exited in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game against the Colts for a concussion check. We'll update his status when we learn more. Smith's absence leaves Devonta Freeman as Atlanta's feature back.

Update: Smith has been ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion.

Falcons RB Ito Smith needs knee surgery and will be placed on IR, HC Dan Quinn said Monday. No word on Smith's exact injury or how long he'll be sidelined. His absence leaves Tevin Coleman and Brian Hill as the only RBs on Atlanta's roster -- although Quinn said he'd consider promoting Jeremy Langford from the practice squad. Either way, Coleman is looking at a hefty workload these final 2 weeks.

Falcons RB Ito Smith (knee, neck) is active for today’s game against the Cardinals. He was limited Wednesday, a full-go Thursday and limited again on Friday. Smith was just a low-end RB3 option to begin with. The knee and neck issues add more risk to his Week 15 profile.

Falcons RB Ito Smith (knee, neck) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game against the Cardinals. He was limited Wednesday, a full-go Thursday and limited again on Friday. HC Dan Quinn said Friday that he expects Smith to play. Sharing the backfield with Tevin Coleman, he’s just a lower-end RB3.

FOX's Jay Glazer reports that the Falcons are placing RB Devonta Freeman. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the veteran will have groin surgery and hopes to return this season. The 8-week timeline on being designated to return from IR wouldn't bring him back until at least Week 15, though. That puts both Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith into play as potential weekly fantasy starters the rest of the way. Coleman played 38 snaps to Smith's 31 against Tampa, but Smith beat him 11-10 in rushing attempts and matched Coleman's 2 targets. Coleman remains the slightly better bet for touches and the stronger bet for yardage production the rest of the way.

Falcons HC Dan Quinn said Monday that RB Devonta Freeman (foot) is "likely" out for next Monday night's game against the Giants. Atlanta has a Week 8 bye, which might play a part in the team's decision to hold him out. RBs Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith figure to again form a committee vs. the G-Men.

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman (foot) is out for Sunday's game against the Bucs. The team doesn't expect this to be a long-term absence, but we'll monitor Freeman's status next week. It's worth noting that Atlanta has a Week 8 bye. Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith will handle backfield duties on Sunday. In the 3 full games Freeman has missed this season, Coleman averaged 15 carries and 3.3 targets and Smith 6 carries and 2.7 targets.

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman (foot) missed his 2nd straight practice on Thursday. He's looking unlikely to play against the Bucs this weekend. We just removed Freeman from the Week 6 RB Rankings and bumped Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith up.