Eh Smith is the only guy getting touches back there so it's logical that he is always a threat to score.

That's if the opportunities are there, which there has been today (yet one shouldn't have been). Even then it's not automatic. Ask Matt Forte owners about that.

Understand what you are saying to a certain point but still, Forte is hurt by Cutler's ability to spread the ball out in the redzone. Last year it was only him and no one else.

Look for the fun to continue all week long leading into a tasy matchup with the Steelers:

Smith (shoulder) is being called day-to-day, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Recommendation: It's unclear if Smith aggravated his shoulder injury, or is just taking it easy early on this week after playing through the issue Sunday. More on his status after Wednesday's practice.
(Rotowire.com)

I don't think he aggravated. Clearly he is not 100%

But he did score two TDs, luck or no luck, thats fantasy football. The fact is he scored. Twice.

well if healthy what do you guys think of Smith this week against Pitt?

I don't think much of him this week honestly but I will likely play him regardless in my 12 teamer. It's hard to sit a back like him especially in a deeper league. Hopefully he can get like 60-70 total yards (passing/reception) and a TD

heh - well I was among those who recommended benching him vs Chicago and I'm pretty much going to stick to my guns and say he needs to be benched again if you have viable alternative options.

It's rare that you see a RB average 1.2 ypc and score 2 TD's - his ypc will likely be similar this Sunday. I know he had 2 TDs, and that 2 TDs are 2TDs - but it was also the worst game of his career so far and that was not a very big surprise considering the circumstances. Now he's facing arguably the #1 rush defense in the league.

yuck. I had Forte against Pitt early this season and he didn't do anything. LT obviously didn't do anything yesterday so I am heavily leaning towards benching Smith and having to start Lesean McCoy and Fred Jackson. Pitt Run D is as legit as they come. I don't think he'll get 10 fantasy points (nonPPR)

Not a good matchup, especially with a bad shoulder, but if you own him, you probably play him (if you don't have better options) and hope for a short TD, perhaps some receptions when Detroit gets down and has to pass in the 2nd half....Pitt has a better run D than Chicago does...

Yeah I don't have much of a choice so I'm starting him if he is good to go (hopefully feel better!). I agree with your projection as he does catch passes also.

Does anyone know how serious his shoulder injury is? I'd like to make a move for him but I need to have some confidence he'll play all season.

not sure but it doesn't sound too serious. He practiced without restrictions this week and rotoworld hasn't had any updates about his injury as of late. He was "seriously" injured, he wouldn't have had a full work load this past week. I think he's okay to go after for now.

If he were serious injured then he wouldn't have returned last week. He hasn't missed any time and he is the man in Detroit.

I'm going to sit Kevin Smith this week vs PIT, he should have a mediocre yardage game and the only thing that could save his day in my mind is a goal line TD or garbage-time TD.

However, his next match up vs GB should see more overall yardage and then after his W7 bye he has STL, SEA, MIN, and CLE for the next 4 weeks. I'd look to acquire him after tommorow's PIT game as his upcoming schedule is pretty favorable.

Then again, his playoff schedule doesn't look too great as he has BAL/SF/CHI in the final 4 games of the season.

I wouldn't sit him. He is always a threat to score as he doesn't share his carries. He also hasn't had a breakout game yet. You don't want him on your bench when he does.

Define a "break out game" for Kevin Smith.

I'm playing him. I have too.... I'm sad about this.

i'm going to sit smith out this week in favor of rice and coffee. if he blows up against the steelers, then good for him, and all the managers that played him.

That's pretty much the only thing that saved him last week. Not sure how many times they'll be on the 1 against PIT.

Yea as of this moment I'm sitting him in favor of rice, barber and moreno.

Although the one thing he has going for him is that seems like teams are able to move the ball on Pitt through the air with pomumalu out. He might have a chance at a decent ppr day. But as stated I really don't expect much from the ground. If anything he wilm have value with the checkdowns culpepper might get him. I'm still on the fence with rice, smith, and moreno.

Remember, that offensive passing attack is going to be limited with Culpepper playing. I don't think the Smith will have any room to breathe tomorrow and don't anticipate them moving the ball the way they usually can with Stafford airing it out. Like a previous poster said, if it wasn't for the touchdowns last week he would have killed teams who played him. As it is, if you have better options (I have Rice or Slaton) I think you go that way.

Calvin Johnson had his best year with Culpepper throwing him the ball. Smith also caught a good amount of passes.

Culpepper at QB is not a disaster for Smith owners. But that said, I've got better options than Smith in all the leagues I own him, so I'm passing on him this week.

I cant bring my self to sit him, I have a feeling he will find a way to be productive, he just gets so many touches and oppurtunites to make a play.

I guess it depends in your other options. For my two rbs and flex I got moreno, barber and rice which I think are solid and safe options

My other option is Hightower who seems relatively safe, im just not so sure I want to start him over Smith.

I had a dream last night Kevin Smith had 8 receptions for 153 yards and 5 touchdowns. He had like 76 points for me on my bench. It has me seriously thinking about starting him over Slaton or Rice today.

I hope he can get like, a sliver of that and I'll be happy!

HAHAHAHA nice one

yeah, hate to ignore the dream gods...one time I dreamt edgar rentaria had two grand slams and decided to play him. He ended up with 6 rbi that day.

That being said, I think I'm going Slaton over Smith and Rice.

This guy hurt? Morris is getting all the carries.

2.8 ypc vs the Rams.

luckily he was involved in the passing game when he was in, still good value in PPR. but yeah he was injured again.

tryin to dump him and some WR trash for rice i hope the owner is dumb enuf to bite other than rice his team is in shambles

whoops.

to clarify, that post was done on Oct 11 and not this week.

For those that were worried about Maurice Morris stealing a lot of time....

According to beat writer Tom Kowalski, Kevin Smith "appears in no danger" of losing his role as the Lions' workhorse running back.
Kowalski is one of the most clued-in beat writers in the business. Smith's role became a concern when he bowed out of Week 8 with a minor shoulder injury and Maurice Morris gained 63 yards on 14 carries. Smith must improve on his 3.1 YPC average to hold off Morris, but he remains the every-down back for now. In Week 9, Smith squares off with a Seattle defense surrendering a generous 4.2 yards per carry and nearly one rushing TD per game.
Source: MLive.com

I know Detroits line is shaky (to put it mildly) but I expected Smith to have a better year. He's get a ton of carries so he's giving you something. He's sort of like a poor man's SJAX. He really needs to get going though hopefully Seattle helps get him back on track. Getting Calvin back in the line up should take a little pressure off of him.

Fixed

He's better than Grant....

How so? I know a lot of people think he is, but what's the evidence? He's incapable of creating anything on his own (just like Grant), not particularly fast (just like Grant) and not shifty in any conceivable way (just like Grant). He can catch some passes - so can Grant.

A big difference between he and Grant is that he's injury prone. Surround him with an inferior offense (which I'm giving him credit for) and he = a poor man's Ryan Grant.

Comparing him in any way to SJax is outrageous, for reasons I feel are too obvious to have to go into detail on. Grant sems to be a much more apt comparison IMO - and in that comparison he really actually doesn't stack up too well.

Nice edit and great analogy! Coming from a Smith owner who will be starting him this week and hopes Calvin is back.

I have no choice but to start him because of the bad matchups Mendenhall and Moreno both have. Smith will probably go down in the first quarter with the same injury screwing me.

I could plug in Forsett, whom I'm sure SEA's brass wants to see play now that they got rid of James, but starting him could be risky.

I picked up Jamal Charles from KC for the same reason that I think Smith wont make it the whole game. Grab him if he is still there he is under the radar and going against the worst rush D in the NFL and trying to prove that he should stay the starter when Larry Johnson comes off suspension.

Got him but racking my brain on who to start

Any updates on Smith before the 1pm starts? I have the Charles vs Smith issue too and would love to know if he's going to be out or <100%!

some places im reading its a go, other places that its questionable but people are optimistic... I REALLY need some info here because i have smith on 3/4 teams.

wish they would release somehting on him....they are talking about him the same way they were about Boldin and Westbrook....hope the outcome is diff

Just heard on espn that he practiced this week and kevin smith said he is totally fine. With stafford and calvin johnson back im rolling with kevin smith this week (keeping moats on the bench)