Za'Darius Smith

Za'Darius Smith

30-Year-Old LinebackerLB
Minnesota Vikings
2022 Fantasy Outlook
Last year, a lingering back injury that required surgery in late September limited Smith to just one regular-season appearance Week 1, but he returned to action for Green Bay's divisional-round playoff loss to the 49ers. Cut loose by Green Bay in March, he signed with NFC North rival Minnesota to boost the team's pass rush and form a formidable tandem with Danielle Hunter in a new 3-4 defense. Smith can be an impact player, as he had sack totals of 13.5 and 12.5 the prior two seasons, but he'll need to show he can stay healthy as he turns 30 this season. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
$Signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Vikings in March of 2022.
Return to form in 2022
LBMinnesota Vikings
January 26, 2023
Over 16 regular-season games in 2022, Smith accumulated 44 tackles (32 solo), including 10 sacks, and a career-high five passes defended in his first campaign with the Vikings.
ANALYSIS
Smith played all but one regular-season game in 2022 after he missed nearly all of the 2021 campaign with Green Bay while recovering from back surgery. The 30-year-old edge rusher was still limited to his fewest number of defensive snaps (735) since the 2018 season, as he regularly appeared on the weekly injury report while dealing with a knee issue. While his production also slowed with just one-half sack over the final eight weeks of the regular season, he did log double-digit sacks for the third time in his career. Smith formed an effective pass-rushing duo in his first season alongside Danielle Hunter (10.5 sacks). However, it's unclear if this pairing will be kept together since the Vikings are currently $24.5 million over the cap heading into 2023.
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NFL Stats
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2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2018 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Minnesota VikingsVikings 2022 LB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

111995%
00%
95180%
00%
92678%
00%
78566%
00%
57549%
00%
31026%
00%
11410%
00%
403%
00%
313%
00%
161%
00%
131%
00%
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2022 Za'Darius Smith Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Za'Darius Smith's measurables compare to other linebackers?
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' 4"
 
Weight
272 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.83 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.66 sec
 
Cone Drill
7.42 sec
 
Vertical Jump
29.0 in
 
Broad Jump
113 in
 
Bench Press
23 reps
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Za'Darius Smith See More
Gameday Injuries: Week 18
78 days ago
Juan Carlos looks over the final injury report of the 2022-23 regular season and provides the latest updates on key players as of early Sunday morning.
IDP Analysis: Week 13 Review
112 days ago
For Jordan Mazzara's Week 14 IDP picks, he notes that Nakobe Dean's dynasty value is on the rise, especially if Kyzir White misses any time with his leg injury.
Monkey Knife Fight: Thanksgiving Picks
124 days ago
Mike Barner analyzes the Monkey Knife Fight offerings for the Thanksgiving games. Take the over on Stefon Diggs' projected fantasy points.
Gameday Injuries: Week 11
127 days ago
Juan Carlos Blanco has the latest as of early Sunday morning on a Week 11 injury report loaded with big names at wide receiver.
Week 11 NFL Injury Report: Help on the Way for Herbert?
129 days ago
Keenan Allen and Mike Williams both expect to play this week, while the Chiefs are hurting at wide receiver and the Saints and Bills appear thin on defense.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2019
2016
2015
After recording a career-high 13.5 sacks in his first season with Green Bay, Smith backed that up with 12.5 more sacks in Year 2. He got more involved in other areas, too, forcing four fumbles, recovering two of them and also deflecting two passes. Smith doesn't rack up the tackle numbers that other linebackers do, but he's a proven pass rusher and, in the same role he filled the last two seasons, is a good bet to reach double digits in the sack department for a third year in a row.
In this space last year, it was written, "Smith's sack rate (in 2018) rivaled that of pass rushers who finished with more sacks, so if he takes off as the Packers expect, he's a good bet to break into double digits in the sack department for the first time in his career." Well, that's exactly what happened, as Smith finished tied for sixth in the league with 13.5 sacks. Even when he didn't get home, he wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks, finishing among the league leaders in pressure rate. Playing in the same defensive scheme without any major personnel changes affecting his role, Smith is a safe bet for double-digit sacks once again.
After spending four years with the Ravens, Smith joined the Packers during the offseason. He was mainly a rotational player while with the Ravens, but the Packers believe he is ready for a more prominent role, and signed him to a lucrative multi-year deal. His salary figures to make him a starter, which will give him a chance to see more snaps. Smith's sack rate last year rivaled that of pass rushers who finished with more sacks, so if he takes off as the Packers expect, he's a good bet to break into double digits in the sack department for the first time in his career.
In what was his rookie season last year, Smith totaled a respectable 5.5 sacks while playing 38.1 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. He was a beneficiary of Terrell Suggs missing nearly the entire season to a torn Achilles', seeing the field much more to fill in for the Pro-Bowler. With Suggs and Elvis Dumervil the clear starters at outside linebacker in 2016, Smith could be forced to take a step back in his second campaign.
The Ravens hope that Smith, a fourth-round draft pick out of Kentucky, can replace the departed Pernell McPhee as a versatile pass-rusher in a part-time role. Much like McPhee, Smith is an oversized outside linebacker with the potential to pressure quarterbacks from a variety of stances and locations.
More Fantasy News
Not listed on injury report
LBMinnesota Vikings
January 11, 2023
ANALYSIS
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Inactive against Chicago
LBMinnesota Vikings
Personal
January 8, 2023
Smith (personal) is inactive for Sunday's regular season finale against Chicago, Andrew Kramer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
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Questionable, but expected to play
LBMinnesota Vikings
Personal
January 6, 2023
Smith (personal) is questionable for Sunday's matchup in Chicago, but he's still expected to play against the Bears, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
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No injury designation
LBMinnesota Vikings
November 23, 2022
Smith (knee) doesn't carry an injury designation for Thursday's game against the Patriots, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
ANALYSIS
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Starts week limited
LBMinnesota Vikings
Knee
November 21, 2022
Smith (knee) was listed as limited on Monday's injury report, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
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