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WR Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

HT: 5-9, WT: 179, Born: 5-12-1979, College: Utah, Drafted: Round 3

2008 Projections

Best Case

Although Steve Smith suffered from the chaos at the QB position after Jake Delhomme went down to an elbow injury last year, he still posted a 1000+ yard receiving season, with 87/1002/7 to his credit. Last year was the 3rd season in a row that Smith gained over 1000 yards receiving, and he has scored at least 7 TDs in each of those years. With the news out of Carolina looking good for Delhomme as of the start of preseason, there is no reason to think that Smith can't regain his top form - he was the #1 fantasy WR in the league back in 2005, and he has the skills to repeat that feat. Also, the team brought in Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett to play across from Smith - opposing defenses shouldn't be able to blanket him with double- and triple-coverage during 2008 as they did for much of 2007.

Worst Case

Smith really had a hard time producing after Delhomme went down (he had only 1 100+ yards-receiving and 1 TD after week 6 last year), and Delhomme's recovery isn't a sure thing. Muhsin Muhammad's best days are in the rear-view mirror, and D.J. Hackett isn't a model of durability thus far in his career. If neither Muhammad nor Hackett can menace opposing defenses with a credible threat to catch the ball, Smith will be right back where he was last year (blanketed by coverage on nearly every snap). Smith is a great player, but just one guy can't carry an NFL team.

Outlook

Assuming Delhomme is indeed able to get back in the saddle, we expect Smith to return to the top 10 among fantasy wide receivers this year. Smith is in the prime of his career and he's the centerpiece of the Carolina aerial attack - he's a fantasy star for good reason.

2007 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Smith caught seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown came on a bomb down the left sideline. It put the Panthers ahead for good. Delhomme looked his way 15 times in the game, the most of any receiver. This was Smith's first 100 yard receiving game in his last eight games dating back to last year. On the opening drive of the game, Delhomme looked to Smith on the first four plays of the game. One of those resulted in a 29 yard pass interference penalty on third down. The Panthers tried Smith on an end around but it only picked up two yards.

Week 2 - Smith was targeted nine times in this game. He caught eight passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns. All three of his touchdowns were classic Steve Smith plays. His first touchdown was on a pass that was underthrown in the end zone. Smith went up, tipped it over the defender's head and easily came down with the deflection. His second touchdown was on an out pass and he broke a tackle at the five yard line to score. His final touchdown was on a short pass with Smith never giving up and breaking away from four Houston tacklers. Smith stayed on his feet and then raced the rest of the way to the end zone.

Week 3 - Smith was blanketed by DeAngelo Hall the entire game. Smith had two uncharacteristic drops early on and he didn't have a catch until there were 10 minutes left in the game. While he didn't contribute with stats, Smith did cause Hall to blow up and possibly cost the Falcons the game. Smith had him beat and forced Hall to commit a 37 yard pass interference penalty. On the very next play Hall was hit with a 15 yard personal foul. On the same drive, Hall continued to jaw at Smith and another 15 yard penalty was thrown on Hall. Carolina then scored a touchdown. So even though he only had one catch, Smith should probably be credited with an assist on the Panthers second touchdown.

Week 4 - Tampa's defense bottled up Smith and it definitely had Smith frustrated. The cameras picked up Smith yelling into the sideline telephone most likely calling for the ball. Overall Smith had five catches for 32 yards with his longest catch going for 15 yards. All of Smith's catches came on short passes. Carr tried to hit him deep on a couple of plays but they were unsuccessful.

Week 5 - Smith did not see the ball much until the second half when Carolina began their comeback. He only saw one pass in the first half, a catch off a designed roll out by David Carr. He saw most of his action in the fourth quarter. He had a 20 yard catch in Saints territory in the third quarter that was brought back by penalty. In the fourth quarter he scored the tying touchdown on a catch and run where he put a nice move on the defensive back and walked into the end zone. However, his most important reception was his last one, where he caught the ball on third and ten and willed his way to the first down marker for a key first down that would set up the game winning field goal.

Week 6 - Smith by far was the biggest offensive star. The Panthers obviously were trying to get Smith the ball often as he lined up at receiver, quarterback and even returned a punt in the game as well. He finished the contest with 136 yards on ten receptions including a beautiful 65 yard touchdown catch when Testaverde hit him in stride down the right side line. Smith ran untouched past the Cardinals secondary to score. He rushed two times for 15 yards (once when he lined up at quarterback in the shot gun.)

Week 8 - Smith was thrown to eight times but only caught two passes for 18 yards. The Colts were able to completely shut him down. Smith's two catches were on their first two drives. He was targeted on an incomplete pass late in the second quarter but then his next target didn't come until three minutes into the fourth quarter.

Week 9 - Steve Smith was thrown to ten times but only caught three passes for 15 yards. At one point early in the fourth quarter, Smith had just two catches for zero total yards. His final catch, with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, resulted in a first down. The Panthers scored two plays later on the touchdown to Carter.

Week 10 - Smith was thrown to 11 times in the game. He caught five passes for 61 yards. Smith made a great juggling catch over the middle to pick up 20 yards down to the Atlanta 35 yard line. That was the good part for Smith. The bad was when Smith caught a pass down at the Atlanta two yard line but fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a touchback. The score would have tied the game at seven points each.

Week 11 - Steve Smith did not play due to a shin injury.

Week 12 - Steve Smith caught six passes for 47 yards. The Saints kept him in check and only allowed short completions. Smith was shaken up while blocking and left the game in the second quarter. He returned on the next series though. He got a look when Carolina got down to the nine yard line. The short pass went for minus two yards. It was the only chance Smith saw in the red zone.

Week 13 - Smith was heavily involved in the game. He was targeted 11 times by Testaverde, of which he caught eight passes for 64 yards. Testaverde threw a few receiver screens to Smith and they also tried using Smith lined up at the quarterback position. Each time Smith ran the ball out of that set. He gained 21 yards on two carries. Early in the game, Nate Clements crushed Smith on a late hit after a dropped pass. Clements was hit with a penalty and for the rest of the game the two of them were seen jawing at one another. Smith ran the ball from the San Francisco eight yard line but was pushed out at the three yard line. On Carolina's first touchdown drive, Smith made a very nice over the shoulder catch for 29 yards right by the sideline. Smith did not have any end zone targets in the game. His best chance to score was on the run from the quarterback position when Carolina was inside the San Francisco ten yard line.

Week 14 - Steve Smith caught six passes for 44 yards. Smith picked up first downs on three of his catches. He only had one chance inside the Jacksonville 20 yard line. It was an incomplete from the Jacksonville 14 yard line.

Week 15 - Smith caught eight passes for 72 yards on a total of 11 targets. He picked up four first downs in the game including two of them on third down plays during one of Carolina's field goal drives.

Week 16 - Smith came down with a touchdown following DeAngelo Williams' thirty-nine yard run and was by far the primary target in the Panther's offense against the Cowboys. The announcers questioned whether Smith came down with both feet in bounds on his touchdown, however the Cowboys did not challenge the play. Despite the extra attention, Smith averaged 15.2 yards per catch.

Week 17 - Steve Smith was targeted eight times to lead the team, and finished with five receptions for 48 yards. He was targeted three times on third downs, but just could not find much room downfield for any big plays.