Smith "on track" for Week 1

Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that TE Irv Smith is "on track" for Week 1. Smith is recovering from August 2 thumb surgery. It sounds like rehab has gone well, but it's still concerning that Smith will miss most of August -- after missing the entire 2021 season with a knee injury. He'll be tough to trust in fantasy lineups early in the season, although there's still top-12 upside here.

The Chiefs signed TE Irv Smith Jr. to a one-year deal. Injuries have limited Smith to only 49 games in five seasons. When healthy, he’s given no indication that he’ll produce as a future TE1. That doesn’t change in Kansas City, where he’ll battle Noah Gray and others for the backup role.

Bengals TE Irv Smith is a healthy scratch for today's game vs. the Steelers. He's totaled four catches on six targets over the last five games, so there's very little fantasy impact here. Perhaps TE Tanner Hudson picks up a few extra routes.

Bengals TE Irv Smith (hamstring) practiced all week and isn’t listed on the final injury report. He’ll be back for Sunday’s game vs. the Cardinals. Smith totaled five catches on nine targets for 27 scoreless yards over the first two games of the season. He’d be a desperation Week 5 fantasy play.

Bengals TE Irv Smith (hamstring) was upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice. He's on track to return for this weekend's game vs. the Cardinals. Cincinnati could certainly use Smith to step up in a struggling offense that'll likely be without WR Tee Higgins. But Smith would be tough to trust in Week 5 fantasy lineups after totaling just five catches for 27 yards over the first two weeks of the season.

Bengals TE Irv Smith (hamstring) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Titans. Tanner Hudson stepped in for Smith as Cincinnati’s lead pass-catching TE last week, catching two of four targets for 30 yards. Hudson would be a desperation Week 4 fantasy play.