Week 4- If Leshoure doesn’t play, Smith may be a solid Flex option. However, we expect him to play and makes Smith unplayable. Smith didn’t get a single touch in week 4, and Leshoure is clearly the top guy in the Lions’ Running Back.
Week 3- Kevin Smith gets a great matchup against the Titans Defense, and the Lions should be ahead all game. That means a lot of Lions running the ball, so why is he ranked this low? Mikel Leshoure should split the carries with him and cut his production in half. He’s just a low-end Flex option in week 3.
Week 1- Kevin Smith is the only player in my weekly rankings that is lowered because of my doubts that he can make it out of the game. Every time Smith gets hit, you have to worry that he’s not getting up. When Smith does play a game start to finish, it normally goes pretty well. He gets the Rams in week 1, and if he plays the whole game expect RB2 stats.
Kevin Smith looks like he will be the week one starter for the Detroit Lions in 2012 as Jahvid Best remains sidelined with his concussion tests, and Mikel Leshoure is suspended for the first two games of the season. Week 1 the Lions open up against the Rams, so Smith could have his best game of the season very early on, but week 2 is vs the 49ers, so while Smith will be the starter, he has limited value on draft day. Our recommendation is to look for him in the middle to late rounds of drafts (7-10), and while he could help early on, both Best and Leshoure figure to get their share of touches when they return to the field.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 17: Kevin Smith #34 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 17, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Lions 28 – 20. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
