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Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. made a comeback this season after missing the entire 2021 season due to an ankle injury. Smith Jr. underwent surgery to repair the meniscus on his right knee, which kept him away from the football field last year.
Smith Jr. is in great shape and hasn't missed a single game for the Vikings this NFL season, although his numbers aren't satisfactory if we look from a fantasy football point of view. He hasn't started a single game and has played six games. So far, he has recorded 18 receptions on 29 targets for 140 yards and scored two touchdowns.
The Vikings have won their last four games and will face the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday. The Vikings are top contenders to make it to the playoffs this year. They have a 5-1 record and are at the top of the NFC North.
The Cardinals are struggling with a 3-4 win-loss record and rank fourth in the NFC West. They could be an easy target for the Vikings, and there seems to be a fine possibility that Irv Smith Jr. could outshine other tight ends in the fantasy league.
In his last three games, Smith has a 12.5 percent target share with a 55.8 percent route run rate. Moreover, he is ranked 29th in PFF receiving grade and 30th in yards per route run. His current numbers don't make him a good choice for the fantasy roster. However, he has the full scope to score some good fantasy points in the Week 8 matchup against the Cardinals.
The Cardinals are allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. Smith is tenth in red zone targets and has all the skills to be a TE1 this week.
Irv Smith Jr.'s timeline
The Minnesota Vikings selected Irv Smith as the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He is playing his fourth season with the Vikings, and so far, he has 84 receptions on 119 targets for 816 yards and has scored nine touchdowns. He missed the entire 2021 season due to an ankle injury.
He started in seven of the 16 games he played in his rookie season, scored two touchdowns, and had 36 receptions for 311 yards. He ended the 2022 season with 30 receptions on 43 targets for 365 yards and five touchdowns.
