Ravens WR Steve Smith won't play against the Browns next weekend after suffering a back injury on Thursday night, HC John Harbaugh announced on Saturday.  “I think he’s going to be OK in the long run,” Harbaugh said. “He’s got some small microfractures in his back (from) what I’ve been told. They ruled him out for the Cleveland game. But after that, hopefully he’s going to be back.”  We'll keep tabs on Smith's rehab, but consider him iffy even for Week 6.  Baltimore also placed WR Michael Campanaro (back) on IR and traded for WR Chris Givens.  Marlon Brown and Kamar Aiken figure to start against the Browns next weekend.

Ravens WR Steve Smith suffered a lower back injury at the end of the 3rd quarter of Thursday night's game against the Steelers.  He didn't return, finishing with just 4 catches for 24 yards.  We'll look for an update on Smith tomorrow.  He has 10 days to get ready for Week 5 against the Browns.

Ravens TE Crockett Gillmore (calf) and WR Breshad Perriman (knee) have been ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Steelers.  So a thin pass-catching corps gets even thinner.  Look for WR Steve Smith to again dominate targets.  Rookie TE Maxx Williams could be 2nd in line for looks.

Ravens WR Steve Smith announced that he'll retire after the 2015 campaign.  The 36-year-old has racked up 915 catches, 13,262 yards and 73 TDs over 14 seasons.  He appeared to have plenty left in the tank last year, posting a 79-1,065-6 line.  It's worth noting that Smith's numbers dipped in the 2nd half of the season, but we still like him as a WR3 this year in new OC Marc Trestman's pass-happy offense.  The retirement news doesn't impact Smith's fantasy stock.  In fact, it should be a little extra motivation as Smith makes 1 more run at a Super Bowl.

The Ravens snatched up WR Breshad Perriman with the 26th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft.  At 6'3 and 214 pounds with top-end speed, this guy has as much upside as any WR in this class.  Perriman plays a physical game and creates separation at all 3 levels of the field.  He's a bit raw as a route runner and struggled with inconsistent hands at Central Florida.  But he joins a Ravens team desperate for WR help alongside Steve Smith.  Perriman is a good bet to win a Week 1 starting job.  And in OC Marc Trestman's offense, he could emerge as an immediate fantasy starter.  We'd have no issue with Perriman as the 5th or 6th overall pick in dynasty rookie drafts.

Ravens insider Aaron Wilson hears that WR Torrey Smith to the 49ers is a "done deal."  San Francisco is reportedly set to pay Smith $8 or $9 million per year -- a figure Baltimore couldn't match.  Smith is only 26 and scored a personal-best 11 TDs this past season.  But he also tied a career low with 49 catches and set career lows with 767 yards and 15.7 yards per catch.  Smith has yet to develop the all-around game to be considered a true #1 WR.  San Francisco doesn't look like a great landing spot, either.  The Niners still figure to be a run-leaning offense.  And QB Colin Kaepernick ranked just 17th in deep-ball accuracy last year, according to Pro Football Focus.  The Ravens, meanwhile, are left with soon-to-be 36-year-old Steve Smith, Marlon Brown and Kamar Aiken as their top 3 WRs.  They'll need to address the position in free agency and/or the draft.

Ravens WR Torrey Smith (knee) remained sidelined on Thursday.  He's looking unlikely to play against the Jaguars this weekend.  And even if he does, we can't trust him in fantasy lineups.  Look for WR Steve Smith to dominate targets on Sunday.

An MRI revealed that Ravens WR Torrey Smith has a sprained knee but no ligament tears, HC John Harbaugh told The Baltimore Sun on Monday. Harbaugh said he has not yet determined the receiver's status for Sunday's game against the Jaguars. If you've been counting on Smith in your fantasy lineup in recent weeks, you need to plan as though he's not playing. Baltimore's top wideout appeared in Sunday's win at Miami but strictly as a decoy.

The Ravens have "big plans" for new TE Owen Daniels, said HC Jim Harbaugh.  “Just couldn’t be more happy, more excited," Harbaugh added. "I guarantee his role will be plenty big."  Daniels is joining a couple familiar faces in Baltimore in OC Gary Kubiak and TEs coach Brian Pariani.  Both guys were with Daniels in Houston for the past 8 seasons and figure to make sure Daniels plays a significant part of Baltimore's passing attack.  Kubiak has always favored 2-TE sets and now has a couple talented pass-catching TEs in Daniels and Dennis Pitta.  We doubt much of Daniels' production will come at Pitta's expense, though.  WR Steve Smith might be the biggest loser here.

Steve Smith knows he's not going to Baltimore to be a #1 WR.  And he's fine with that.  “I don’t see myself in Coach Kubiak’s system like [Texans WR] Andre Johnson],” Smith said. “I see the complementary dude of [former Texans WR] Kevin Walter.  I see how he contributed and how he was instrumental in getting Andre the ball but also getting his own opportunities.”  In 6 seasons as a starter in Kubiak's offense, Walter averaged 52 catches, 654 yards and 4 TDs.  Smith, of course, is a more talented player and should top those numbers.  But WR Torrey Smith -- and maybe even TE Dennis Pitta -- will be ahead of Smith in the pecking order.  The longtime Panther will be no more than a WR3 in fantasy football.

The Ravens have signed WR Steve Smith to a 3-year, $11.5 million contract.  The relative cheapness of that deal is a good sign of how the league views Smith at this point of his career.  The soon-to-be 35-year-old is clearly on the decline.  He averaged just 11.6 yards per catch last year and is best-suited as a #2, possession receiver.  That's all Baltimore needs him to be, though.  Smith will step into the role that Anquan Boldin played from 2010 to 2012.  Q averaged a 62-882-5 line across those 3 seasons.  That's a realistic target for Smith in 2014, leaving him as a WR3 in fantasy.  Torrey Smith will remain Baltimore's #1 WR and might even get a statistical boost from Steve's arrival.

The Panthers have officially released WR Steve Smith.  They looked for a trade partner but could find no takers for a soon-to-be 35-year-old due $7 million in 2014.  Smith is ideally suited as a #2, possession receiver at this point of his career.  He's totaled only 4 TDs over the past 2 seasons and averaged just 11.6 yards per catch last year.  Still, Smith doesn't figure to last long on the open market.  Baltimore is considered the favorite to land the 13-year vet.  Smith would fit nicely opposite WR Torrey Smith there.  The Bucs and Raiders are also reportedly interested.  Meanwhile, the Panthers are starting over at WR.  Tavarres King, Kealoha Pilares and Marvin McNutt currently top the depth chart, but Carolina is considered the front-runner for free agent Hakeem Nicks and will likely draft a WR, too.

WR Steve Smith's Panthers career is over.  At least according to his agent.  Smith "is not going to play for the Panthers next year, I know that," Derrick Smith said Wednesday.  "I just don't know when that transaction is going to take place."  Carolina is still attempting to trade Smith but are unlikely to find any suitors for a 34-year-old due $7 million in 2014.  That means the Panthers will end up releasing the 13-year veteran.  Baltimore has been mentioned as a potential landing spot once that happens.

The Panthers are "attempting" to trade WR Steve Smith, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.  It figures to be a fruitless attempt.  Smith is 34, counts $7 million against the cap in 2014 and managed just 745 yards and 11.6 yards per catch last year.  We'll see if the Panthers release him if they can't find a trade partner.  With Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn hitting the free-agent market tomorrow, Carolina has a gaping hole at WR.  They figure to be in the mix for free agents Eric Decker and Hakeem Nicks -- plus early-round WRs in May's draft.

Panthers HC Ron Rivera hinted that WR Steve Smith's role might diminish going forward.  "We're going through our process, and Steve is a part of what we're doing going forward," Rivera said. "How big of an impact he's going to have for us, that's going to be determined as we go through the draft process and through free agency. We'll see.  It's all about the evaluations. We have to look through everything. There's a lot of scenarios that we're putting together as a football team. But Steve's part of who we are, and we'll go from there."  Smith turns 35 this May and averaged just 11.6 yards per catch in 2013.  He'd certainly be better off as a #2 WR at this point of his career.  Of course, Carolina doesn't currently have a #1 WR on its roster.  Free agents Eric Decker and Hakeem Nicks could fill that role.  The Panthers will also likely add a WR or 2 in the draft.

Panthers WR Steve Smith (knee) is active for today's game against the 49ers. Smith won't be at 100%, though, and is a weak fantasy play. 

Panthers WR Steve Smith (knee) is listed as questionable for the team's playoff opener against the 49ers on Sunday.  He was limited in practice all week.  "My gut is that (Smith) is going to play, but it's about how he feels," HC Ron Rivera said Friday afternoon.  We'd be surprised if Smith was inactive on Sunday, but he'll clearly be gutting it out at far less than 100%.  He's not a strong fantasy option.

Panthers WR Steve Smith (knee) remained limited in Thursday's practice.   "It didn’t go as well as I hoped," he said afterward.  Smith estimated that his knee is at 57% -- down from 71% yesterday.  We're still tentatively expecting Smith to play in his 1st postseason game since 2008, but he clearly won't be at full strength.  It's a major concern for QB Cam Newton.

Panthers WR Steve Smith (knee) and Jonathan Stewart (knee) were on the practice field on Wednesday.  Barring a setback, both guys should be available for this weekend's game against the 49ers.  Smith will step back in as Carolina's top target in the passing game, while Stewart figures to serve only as a change-up behind DeAngelo Williams.