The Atlanta Falcons‘ change under center to Taylor Heinicke benefited TE Jonnu Smith in a massive way in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. Does Smith’s big performance make him a high-priority waiver wire add for your fantasy football team in Week 10? Let’s take a closer look.
Should Jonnu Smith Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 10?
Smith posted the first 100-yard game of his entire NFL career against the Vikings by catching five of his six targets, which included a touchdown reception that produced 21 fantasy points in Heinicke’s first game under center with the Falcons this season.
A big chunk of Smith’s 100 yards receiving on the day came on the 60-yard score, and it’s worth noting that WR Drake London did not play in this game.
Regardless, it was still an impressive performance with a new starting QB that certainly warrants some attention on your waiver wire. Smith still has plenty of competition for targets in Atlanta’s passing offense — namely London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson — but he continues to do more with less than Pitts this season.
Pitts has 11 more targets than Smith this season but has two fewer receptions and 33 fewer yards. Pitts may have the elite prospect profile in this offense, but Smith certainly has the trust and skills to produce when given opportunities in this system.
The Falcons’ offense has been tricky to pinpoint with regard to the usage of elite prospects like Robinson and Pitts losing a considerable amount of work to Tyler Allgeier and Smith, respectively. That has many questioning Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, which makes it tough to invest in any one player in Atlanta’s offense.
MORE: Week 10 TE Waiver Wire Targets — Top Players To Add Include Cade Otton and Jonnu Smith
Sure, Smith is currently the TE11 in PPR formats. However, he’s scored fewer than nine fantasy points in over half of the team’s games this year.
Smith has also seen fewer than seven targets in each of the last four games. This breakout performance wasn’t completely out of nowhere, given how involved he’s been in the passing game. But will London be Heinicke’s favorite target once he returns to the lineup? It’s certainly within the range of outcomes.
At the TE position, Smith is certainly worth a speculative add in your fantasy football league. If you’re in a pinch this week at tight end, then he is certainly a quality streaming option in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals.
However, with his modest target share in an inconsistent offense that ideally wants to run the football, you shouldn’t be too aggressive in acquiring Smith on your waiver wire with the expectations of more performances like the one we got on Sunday moving forward.
Recommended FAAB bid: 8%
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!