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Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (thumb) was drafted back in 2019 but hasn't quite emerged as a fantasy contributor due to his position on the depth chart, as well as injuries. He finished as a low-end TE2 while operating behind Kyle Rudolph in 2020, catching 30 passes for 365 yards and five scores, but missed all of 2021 with a torn meniscus.
Now, heading into Week 1 of the 2022 season, a new injury has threatened his availability.
Will Smith play in Week 1? What is his fantasy football outlook for this coming week?
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Is Irv Smith Jr. Injured or Playing in Week 1?
Although Smith missed all of 2021 with a meniscus tear, it's actually a thumb injury that hindered him throughout the offseason and the days leading up to Week 1. However, as of Saturday, Smith made it clear that he is 100 percent, feels great, and won't have any issues catching the ball in the season opener. Similarly, Smith practiced in full all week and was never listed on the Vikings' injury report. As a result, he'll be active on Sunday afternoon versus the Packers.
Irv Smith Jr. Fantasy Football Outlook for Week 1
Smith will be the Vikings' top tight end as long as he stays healthy this season. The Alabama product might not be the flashiest weapon in an offense consisting of Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook, but he is still a capable receiver who can help to move the chains. With Minnesota expected to pass the ball even more this season, Smith has a chance to get involved right out of the gate.
Smith will likely match up against Packers safety Adrian Amos in Week 1. The 29-year-old boasted a solid 74.1 PFF coverage grade in 2021, all while allowing just a 58.2 percent reception rate and 316 yards. He did, however, surrender six touchdowns, which is a higher number than ideal and could be a stat that the Vikings look to exploit in Week 1. As a whole, the Packers' 7.3 fantasy points allowed to tight ends per game last season ranked 22nd in the NFL, and their 0.5 touchdowns allowed per game represented the fourth-worst mark.
Smith definitely has a chance of finding the end zone in his return to the field, and if he does, he would rank as a TE1. However, because it is hard to guarantee red-zone production and we don't quite know how much Smith can truly feast in this busy offense, he falls more into the mid-TE2 range, at least for the opening contest.
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