Lions hope Kevin Smith is ready for a big role

Sep 11, 2009

With a rookie at QB, sophomore RB will be relied on heavily.

Kevin Smith's role in the Lions' offense got immeasurably more significant when rookie Matthew Stafford was named starting QB.

Not that he wasn't going to be important anyway, but there's nothing more valuable to a rookie QB in the NFL than having a reliable RB -- a guy that can handle some of the load and shoulder some of the pressure. Just ask Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco.

Ryan was the first QB taken in last year's Draft and started right away for the Falcons. Flacco, as a rookie, beat out incumbent Kyle Boller for the starting spot with the Ravens. Both led their teams to the playoffs and both had one thing in common: the support of an excellent rushing attack. The Falcons ranked second in rushing, the Ravens fourth.

Smith rushed for 976 yards in 2008, fourth-best among NFL rookies, with eight touchdowns. But those numbers have to be better if he's going to help shoulder some of the burden from Stafford.

Fantasy Impact:

today

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans practices for second straight day

Greg Auman

0 minutes ago

Cooler weather for Bucs practice today -- Wirfs and Evans practicing again. Still no Zyon McCollum, but Troy Hill and Greg Gaines were practicing today.

Related Players: Sterling Shepard, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer

Fantasy Impact:

Fantastic news for fantasy managers hanging on to Mike Evans: he should be considered a WR1 option immediately.

yesterday

49ers TE George Kittle "good to go" for Week 12

KNBR

yesterday · 5:34 PM EST

“I will be playing on Sunday. Very excited, can’t pass up playing the Packers. I will be out there for sure.”

George Kittle says he’s good to go for Sunday

Related Players: Eric Saubert

Fantasy Impact:

Kittle returns to a great matchup against a Packers defense that ranks 26th in TE aFPA. He should be fired up as a high-end TE1 once again.

Bears RB D'Andre Swift misses Wednesday practice

Kevin Fishbain

yesterday · 1:29 PM EST

Per Bears head coach Matt Eberflus: Ryan Bates remains in the concussion protocol. Elijah Hicks (ankle) and D'Andre Swift (groin) won't practice.

Teven Jenkins will be limited.

Related Players: Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer

Fantasy Impact:

This is definitely a situation to keep an eye on, as Johnson would have a huge workload if Swift were to miss Week 12. Homer has three rush attempts and zero targets on the year.