Panthers HC Ron Rivera said WR Steve Smith has looked like he's 25 again during OTAs. Rivera said the veteran wideout has been diving for balls--something the coaching staff isn't wild about. And even though we're more than three months from Week One, he still shows his frustration when the ball doesn't come his way.
There is often value to be had with the aging (yet still productive) veteran as other owners are more interested in making sexier upside picks. Smith scares people off due to his age (34), but keep in mind that he has finished in the top 20 in seven of the last eight seasons, including the last two. There is a chance that Father Time comes calling, but Rivera's comments certainly quell some of that concern. We currently have him ranked as our #26 receiver in standard formats.