RADIO
Ainias Smith 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook: Talented Rookie Needs To Earn Volume
6 months agoThe Philadelphia Eagles took wide receiver Ainias Smith with the 152nd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to get a potential spark at a discount. Smith fractured his leg in 2022 and didn't have the same afterburners in 2023, but still posted 795 yards and two touchdowns on 53 catches at Texas A&M. He was a First Team All-SEC All-Purpose/Return Specialist with 388 yards and a score on 27 returns. Across five years at A&M, Smith averaged 13.4 yards per catch and also snuck in 49 carries with six yards per carry as a sophomore, so versatility is in his bag. He and fellow rookie Will Shipley give Philadelphia all types of creative outlets, especially with the new return rules. And Philly has zero proven depth behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Parris Campbell and John Ross have their truthers but Smith and sixth-rounder Johnny Wilson could play quite a bit. Smith's early ADP has him as the No. 122 WR while his RotoBaller rank sits at WR138, so he's undrafted in most formats. But monitor early usage because meaningful snaps with Jalen Hurts and company could get interesting quickly.
