5 years agoMinnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. recently told ESPN's Courtney Cronin that the Vikings are getting creative with his usage in the passing game, lining him up out wide and even in the backfield on occasion. The rookie second-rounder was listed as the second tight end on the team's first unofficial depth chart, and he offers an intriguing skill set that produced 16.1 yards per catch and seven touchdowns last year at Alabama. While it's encouraging to hear that Kevin Stefanski and Gary Kubiak are utilizing Smith Jr.'s athleticism, incumbent starter Kyle Rudolph stands in his way for fantasy relevance and it's difficult to make a case for Smith Jr. in non-dynasty formats this season. Things can always change, though, so keep an eye out in the preseason. He's currently basically free in drafts, clocking in at 272 overall (TE31).--Kyle Ringstad - RotoBaller
Source: Courtney Cronin - Twitter