Alex Smith

Week 10 - I know 49er fans, Alex Smith continues to get no respect, but really when you look at his fantasy scoring he doesn’t deserve to be a top 10 QB yet.  The Rams offer plenty of holes in their secondary which Smith and the 49ers may or may not choose to exploit.  Thanks to matchup Smith is a low QB1 that will be a risky fantasy start in week 10.

Week 6 - Smith turned in his most impressive performance of the season as he threw for 303 yards and 3 TD’s with 0 INT.  One good performance doesn’t make him a top 10 QB, but it certainly moved him up the ranks.  Next up is the tough New York Giants defense.

Week 5 - As expected, the 49ers controlled the Jets with their defense and run game, and Alex Smith only attempted 21 passes in week 4 during the 49ers blowout win 34-0.  Smith finished 12 for 21 with 143 yards and 0 TD/ 0 INT.  He remains a low QB2 going forward in 2012.

Week 4 - The 49ers continue to manage Alex Smith’s passing, as evidenced by his 24/35 and 204 yards passing line.  He completed a high number of passes, but they were mostly short to intermediate routes as can be expected from the 49ers QB.  He finished week 3 with 1 TD/ 1 INT as his 49ers fell to the Minnesota Vikings.  Smith is averaging just under 16 fantasy points per game, making him a solid QB2 thus far in 2012.  Week 4 should bring a defensive struggle as the 49ers take on the Jets, who will be without the services of Darelle Revis.  You can start Smith in 2 QB formats, but if you play in a one quarterback league, Smith should be left on the bench.

Week 3 - Smith had another solid effort in week 2 against the Lions, and is averaging nearly 18 fantasy points per week thus far.  Week 3 should be another solid game for Alex and the 49ers against the Minnesota Vikings, but he is still only recommended in 2 QB formats.  Chances are if you have Alex on your roster he is the backup, and he will remain there for this game.

Week 2 – Alex Smith makes the jump from 23 to 14 after a solid performance against the Green Bay Packers in week 1, and he gets another decent matchup against the Lions in week 2.  While no one is crazy enough to say that Smith is a top 10 QB, he does make a solid QB2 play in two quarterback leagues for the upcoming matchup.

Week 1 – Lets say that you drafted Alex Smith as your backup QB, and were hoping for an opportunity to use him in 2012.  This would be your chance, as he faces the worst passing defense from a year ago.  While the 49ers are still expected to run the ball heavily on offense, this should be one of Smith’s best games of the season as the Packers secondary is very beatable.  Start Smith in 2 QB formats, but in 1 QB leagues, chances are you still have a better option to start the season.

Preseason Analysis

Alex Smith was very nearly out of a job over the past offseason, as the 49ers were major players in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.  Chances are that won’t affect Smith’s play on the field, as he is a below average fantasy football QB, and we don’t see much room for improvement in 2012.  Harbaugh knows what he has in San Fran., and he likes to play off his defense and running game, making Smith a secondary option in his offense.  Although Alex was very impressive with a 17/5 TD/INT ratio last season, those numbers won’t help you win a fantasy championship, and he is only recommended as a fill-in option if you lose a QB for the season.  His 3,000 Yards and 19 TD’s can be easily replaced from the 2012 QB draft class, and even if you are a big 49er fan, use your head, not your heart, and steer clear of Smith in 2012.

Alex Smith, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alex Smith career statistics: