Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
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Smith had a big role for the Dolphins in Week 2 against Buffalo with six catches for 53 yards on seven targets, and we'll see if he can develop a consistent rapport with Skylar Thompson while Tua Tagovailoa (concussion)is hurt. It might be hard to trust Smith playing behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but Thompson likely won't challenge down the field as much as Tagovailoa did, which should help Smith. He's worth adding in all leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Notable jump in production in loss
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Smith secured six of seven targets for 53 yards in the Dolphins' 31-10 loss to the Bills on Thursday night.
After recording only a single reception in the Week 1 win over the Jaguars, Smith was much more involved four days later while finishing with the second-highest reception and receiving-yardage totals on the night for the Dolphins. Smith also shared the team lead in targets with De'Von Achane, and if Skylar Thompson ultimately fills in for Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) in a Week 3 road battle against the Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 22, the veteran tight end could have a similar level of involvement as a reliable safety valve.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Limited to one catch in team debut
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Smith secured one of two targets for seven yards in the Dolphins' 20-17 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.
Smith actually had less targets than fellow TE Durham Smythe, who drew three looks from Tua Tagovailoa but wasn't able to log a single catch. Considering his YAC abilities and the two-year, $10 million contract Smith signed this offseason, he seemed a better candidate for pass-catching work than Smythe, even if both always projected to split positional reps. More productive days could still materialize for Smith, but Miami's aerial attack will always filter through top WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who each cleared 100 yards versus Jacksonville. Smith will look to make more of an impact against Buffalo on Thursday Night Football in Week 2.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Four catches in preseason win
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Smith brought in all four targets for 23 yards in the Dolphins' 13-6 preseason win over the Commanders on Saturday night.
The veteran offseason addition was on the receiving end of Tua Tagovailoa's second target of the night and finished second in receptions for Miami overall. Smith should have a good chance of developing into the primary pass-catching option at tight end over Durham Smythe as the season unfolds, and Saturday's performance offered a glimpse of what he'll be able to bring as a complementary option to WRs Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed) and Odell Beckham (undisclosed).
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Rotating with Durham Smythe
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Dolphins TEs coach Jon Embree said Thursday that Smith and Durham Smythe have an every-other-day rotation at training camp, Omar Kelly of The Miami Herald reports.
The Dolphins signed Smith this offseason to add a receiving threat, after Smythe drew only 43 targets on 325 routes (13.2 percent) and 786 snaps last year. The two now figure to compete for playing time, and while Smith is of far more interest for fantasy purposes, it's possible the two tight ends end up in a rotation that makes it difficult for either to pile up volume. If nothing else, Smith is the obvious favorite to get playing time in passing situations.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Going to Miami on two-year deal
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Smith and the Dolphins agreed to terms Thursday on a two-year contract worth up to $10 million, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Smith provides Miami with a pass-catching complement to blocking specialist Durham Smythe at the tight end position, giving this offense another layer in the receiving game alongside wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Last season with Atlanta, Smith logged a career-best 50-582-3 receiving line on 70 targets while working alongside Kyle Pitts. Heading into his age-29 season, Smith could be an under the radar fantasy stash due to his speed and potential fit in coach Mike McDaniel's offensive scheme, especially if he's able to establish himself as the Dolphins' clear starting tight end.
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Jonnu Smith: Negotiating with Miami
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Smith visited the Dolphins on Tuesday and is negotiating a contract with the team, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Falcons released Smith last week, allowing him to sign with a new team before March 11, when players on expiring contracts can start negotiations. His early release means he won't count in the 2025 draft pick compensation process, though the 28-year-old tight end isn't expected to sign a big enough contract to have a major impact in that regard anyway. However, if he signs with Miami, Smith would be a threat to take the starting job away from Durham Smythe, who played 785 snaps last season but was targeted only 43 times (35 catches for 366 yards and no touchdowns). The addition of a faster tight end like Smith might encourage head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to send more targets to the position, though there's not a ton of extra room for volume when wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both are available.
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Jonnu Smith: Parting ways with Falcons
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The Falcons will release Smith, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.
Per the report, the move, which had been expected, will save the Falcons $6.5 million towards their salary cap. In his lone campaign with Atlanta, the 28-year-old hauled in 50 of his 70 targets for a career-high 582 yards and three TDs in 17 games, while logging action on 58 percent of the team's offensive snaps in 2023. In the wake of Smith's looming departure, Kyle Pitts remains atop the Falcons' tight end depth chart, with John FitzPatrick and Tucker Fisk also under contract for the 2024 season.
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Jonnu Smith: Being cut by Falcons
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Smith is expected to be released by Atlanta, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Smith performed adequately for the Falcons in his debut season with the team, as in 2023 he secured 50 of 70 targets for 582 yards and three touchdowns across 17 regular-season appearances. Nonetheless, entering his age-29 season, Smith carried a non-guaranteed salary of $6.5 million, with just $2.5 million in dead money, making his release a relatively easy decision. Though Smith was the Falcons' fourth-leading receiver in 2023, that came in part due to former head coach Arthur Smith's tight-end heavy deployment, something that seems likely to change under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Kyle Pitts now looks primed to enter the 2024 campaign as the clear top option leading Atlanta's TE depth chart.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: May be cut for cap space
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Smith may be released this offseason, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic.
The Falcons traded for Smith last offseason and then put him in a role that allowed for career highs in targets (70), catches (50) and receiving yards (582), with the TE producing more yards than he had in two seasons combined (2021-22) for New England. His future nonetheless appears uncertain, as Smith will turn 29 in August and has a non-guaranteed $6.5 million base salary for the final year of his contract. The Falcons still have Kyle Pitts under contract and just hired an offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson whose only prior NFL coaching experience was a five-year stint with a Rams team that regularly led the league in use of three-wide formations. The Falcons likely would try to trade Smith before releasing him, and another option would be a contract extension that lowers his 2024 cap hit.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Makes splash in 2023
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Smith finished the 2023 season with 50 receptions on 70 targets for 582 yards and three touchdowns across 17 appearances.
After recording a career-high eight touchdowns with the Titans in 2020, Smith landed a four-year deal from the Patriots. However, he struggled to replicate his production during two seasons in New England and was traded to Atlanta last offseason. Top tight end Kyle Pitts was healthy for the entire campaign, but Smith was still able to generate fantasy-relevant production on numerous occasions in 2023. Both tight ends will be in the final year of their respective contracts in 2024, and while Pitts has the higher upside, it's unclear how the Falcons' new regime will opt to utilize the duo.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Garners six targets in win
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Smith caught four of six targets for 32 yards during Sunday's 29-10 win over the Colts.
Smith saw at least six targets for the seventh time this season. However, it was just the third time he's reached that mark over Atlanta's last 10 games. Smith should be on radars in PPR standard leagues, but he's likely a touchdown-dependent option for the remainder of the season.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Leads team in receiving yards
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Smith caught both of his targets for 61 yards during Sunday's 9-7 loss to Carolina.
Smith was fifth on the team in targets but led Atlanta in receiving thanks to a 56-yard gain in the second quarter, setting up the only touchdown of the game. The veteran tight end played just 17 snaps compared to Kyle Pitts' 34, so despite the big play, Smith's fantasy value remains limited. Since posting a 5-100-1 line against the Vikings in Week 9, Smith has caught just nine of 15 targets for 99 yards over his last five appearances and hasn't scored during that stretch.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Draws seven targets
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Smith caught four of seven targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 29-25 loss to the Buccaneers.
Smith's seven targets Sunday were his most since Week 5, but the tight end was unable to turn those opportunities into much production. The veteran played 69 percent of the Falcons' offensive snaps, while fellow tight end Kyle Pitts saw an 85 percent snap share. Smith's inconsistent production and often limited opportunities make him an untrustworthy option for fantasy in most formats. The 28-year-old should continue to face an uphill battle for meaningful touches when the Falcons visit the Panthers in Week 15.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Catches two passes
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Smith caught two of three targets for 10 yards during Sunday's 13-8 win over the Jets.
Smith caught multiple receptions for the first time since Week 9, when he posted a 5-100-1 line in a loss to the Vikings. From Weeks 2 through 9, the veteran tight end caught 34 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns, but since then, he's caught just three of six targets for 11 yards. Smith isn't trending in the right direction and should only be rostered in deeper leagues.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Non-factor in win
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Smith didn't register a target during Sunday's 24-15 win over the Saints.
From Weeks 2 through 9, Smith caught 34 of 42 targets for 422 yards and two touchdowns, including a 5-100-1 receiving line during a Week 9 loss to Minnesota. However, in his last two appearances, the veteran tight end has caught just one of three targets for one yard. He played a season-low 22 offensive snaps versus New Orleans, but there was no injury reported, suggesting he's simply falling down the pecking order. Given his early-season success, fantasy managers shouldn't give up on Smith yet, but he's not trending in the right direction.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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Smith will hopefully benefit with Desmond Ridder back under center for the Falcons, and Smith scored at least 8.7 PPR points in five of his first seven games this year with Ridder. Smith is far from a must-start Fantasy option, especially sharing the field with Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson, but hopefully the rapport with Ridder helps Smith get back to being productive once again. He's worth adding for one percent of your FAB.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Falls flat in loss
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Smith caught one of two targets for one yard during Sunday's 25-23 loss to Arizona.
Smith has been one of the biggest fantasy surprises this year, outproducing fellow tight end Kyle Pitts nearly every week. However, the veteran fell flat versus Arizona after posting a season-high 100 receiving yards versus Minnesota last week. Smith wasn't the only Falcons' pass catcher who struggled Sunday, though. Taylor Heinicke (hamstring) and Desmond Ridder combined to throw for less than 100 yards, as Atlanta leaned heavily on the run game. Smith has value in PPR leagues, but it's difficult to trust any Falcons' skill players for fantasy purposes this year.
Smith has outscored Pitts by 9.7 Fantasy points on the season. While I would still start Pitts over Smith, they are both borderline top-12 options.
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Falcons' Jonnu Smith: Scores on impressive play
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Smith recorded five receptions on six targets for 100 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Vikings. He rushed the ball once for zero yards.
Smith appeared to be getting phased out of the Atlanta offense, as he entered Sunday's contest with only four targets combined across his previous two games. However, he turned in an impressive performance, highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown that came entirely on yards after the catch halfway through the third quarter. Smith's performance will likely remain uneven, but he has now topped 60 yards with at least five receptions in three of his last six contests.
