
Irv Smith
24-Year-Old
Free Agent

2022 Receiving Stats
REC
25
YDS
182
TD
2
AVG
7.3
TAR
36
2023 Projections
2022 Fantasy Outlook
After scoring five touchdowns in a part-time role in 2020, Smith was expected to ascend to the
top of Minnesota's tight end depth chart last season. He suffered a meniscus injury during
preseason, however, that sidelined him for the rest of the year. In Smith's absence, Tyler
Conklin caught 61 of 87 targets for 593 yards and three touchdowns, proving there's still room
for a moderately successful pass-catching tight end in a Vikings offense with Justin Jefferson
and Adam Thielen on the outside and Dalvin Cook in the backfield. Notably, Conklin's 16 red-
zone targets tied for eighth among tight ends. Conklin subsequently signed with the Jets,
creating an opening for Smith to step in as the unquestioned starter - something that had been
expected prior to his knee injury. Smith made it back for training camp, but he then injured his finger and required surgery in early August. The Vikings expect him back for Week 1, though it may not be a sure thing. Read Past Outlooks

Set to hit free agency
Over eight regular-season games, Smith recorded 25 receptions (on 36 targets) for 182 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.
ANALYSIS
Smith got out to a solid start over the first seven games of the season before landing on IR with a high-ankle sprain. The 2019 second-round pick then was activated ahead of the regular-season finale, though he'd already lost his No. 1 tight end spot to T.J. Hockenson, whom the Vikings acquired via trade from Detroit just before Smith went on injured reserve Nov. 1. Smith then finished the campaign by catching one of two targets while playing just four offensive snaps in the wild-card loss to the Giants. He thus finished the 2022 campaign with the lowest receiving marks of his career outside of the 2021 season, when he sat out every game due to a meniscus injury. Smith now is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, leaving it possible he isn't retained by the Vikings.
Smith got out to a solid start over the first seven games of the season before landing on IR with a high-ankle sprain. The 2019 second-round pick then was activated ahead of the regular-season finale, though he'd already lost his No. 1 tight end spot to T.J. Hockenson, whom the Vikings acquired via trade from Detroit just before Smith went on injured reserve Nov. 1. Smith then finished the campaign by catching one of two targets while playing just four offensive snaps in the wild-card loss to the Giants. He thus finished the 2022 campaign with the lowest receiving marks of his career outside of the 2021 season, when he sat out every game due to a meniscus injury. Smith now is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, leaving it possible he isn't retained by the Vikings.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Irv Smith's 2022 advanced stats compare to other tight ends?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Air Yards Per Game
21.1Air Yards Per Snap
0.63% Team Air Yards
3.5%% Team Targets
5.5%Avg Depth of Target
4.8 YdsCatch Rate
69.4%Drop Rate
8.3%Avg Yds After Catch
3.8% Targeted On Route
22.9%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2022
2021
2020
2019
2022 NFL Game Log
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Irv Smith lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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2022 Irv Smith Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Irv Smith's measurables compare to other tight ends?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 2"Weight
240 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.63 secShuttle Time
4.33 secCone Drill
7.32 secVertical Jump
32.5 inBroad Jump
110 inBench Press
19 repsHand Length
9.50 inArm Length
31.50 in
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Irv Smith See More

Jerry Donabedian takes a look back at some of 2022's standouts and gives his early 2023 fantasy rankings for tight ends.

Superstars did most of the heavy lifting for the wild-card winners, but there were also some lesser-known heroes like Isaiah Hodgins and Khalil Shakir.

James Cook got more snaps and carries than Devin Singletary even with the Bills playing their starters for the entire game Sunday.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2019
Between his strong finish last year and Kyle Rudolph's departure this offseason, Smith seemed well positioned for a Year 3 breakout in 2021. The Alabama product isn't an elite athlete in terms of workout stats, though a 4.63 40 and 32.5-inch vertical are nothing to scoff at, particularly for a guy who was 20 years old at the 2019 combine. Age is another selling point, as Smith turned 23 in August but already has 14 NFL starts and 1,157 offensive snaps to his name. That's especially impressive at tight end, where even top prospects often are eased into the league in part-time roles. Unfortunately, Smith's ascent to fantasy relevance will be delayed, with a meniscus injury in late August requiring surgery that's expected to be season-ending. The Vikings are left with Tyler Conklin, Chris Herndon and Brandon Dillon at tight end.
More Fantasy News

Three catches in return from injury
Smith gathered in all three targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 29-13 win over Chicago.
ANALYSIS
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Comes off IR
Smith (ankle) was activated off injured reserve Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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To be activated
The Vikings plan to activate Smith (ankle) from injured reserve before Sunday's game against Chicago, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Cleared to practice
The Vikings designated Smith (ankle) for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
ANALYSIS
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Progressing, but still out Week 16
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Smith (ankle) is progressing, but the tight end will remain on injured reserve for Saturday's game against the Giants, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He looks really good," O'Connell said of Smith, who has resumed working out off to the side with trainers during practice. "Hopefully we can get him back with us soon."
ANALYSIS
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