Smith's stunning eighth-year breakout campaign is unlikely to be repeated after he was traded from Miami to Pittsburgh in early July. It's for the best to consider him a late-round pick. The entire basis of his sensational 2024 was because he saw high target volume as a short-area target for the Dolphins, leading to a bonkers 18.6 PPR average in his last eight. The Steelers probably won't ask Smith to play in that same exact role and almost certainly won't give him the 8.4 targets per game he saw in those final eight. His new offense is expected to be balanced offensively -- not just between the pass and the run, but in how targets are spread around. They'll also play at a slow pace with Aaron Rodgers under center. Smith's experience with Steelers playcaller Arthur Smith when the two were in Atlanta in 2023 will help his transition, but even then Smith had just 5 of 17 games with 10-plus PPR points.
Smith (knee) returned to practice Saturday, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Smith left practice early Aug. 5 and hasn't done much since then, but his return for the first practice after Pittsburgh's final preseason game suggests he's on track to play Week 1 against the Jets. Uncertainty about his role remains the larger concern for fantasy, with Pat Freiermuth offering tough competition for playing time in single-TE formations.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Not practicing
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Smith (knee) missed practice Tuesday, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
The tight end made an early exit from practice last Tuesday, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the issue and Smith took part in a light, non-padded practice the following day. It seems he's still being held out from more strenuous sessions, however. Smith has plenty of time to get right before Week 1, at which point he and Pat Freiermuth will form one of the better TE duos in the league.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Won't play against Jaguars
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Coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that Smith is among the players who won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Jaguars, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.
The same goes for QB Aaron Rodgers, WR DK Metcalf, RB Jaylen Warren and TE Pat Freiermuth, as the Steelers plan to rest their key starters Saturday, unlike the Jaguars. After leaving Tuesday's practice due to knee soreness, Smith was back on the field Wednesday, which puts him in a position to be available for the team's Aug. 16 contest against the Buccaneers.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Back at practice already
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Smith (knee) is participating in Wednesday's non-padded practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Even if the practice is just a walk-through, it's a good sign for Smith to be participating in any capacity just one day after exiting early due to knee soreness. A quick return to the field supports coach Mike Tomlin's statement from Tuesday that the knee issue didn't look serious. The real concern for Smith's fantasy value remains target share, with Pat Freiermuth offering fierce competition for snaps in single-TE formations.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Bothered by knee soreness
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Smith left Tuesday's practice due to knee soreness, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin indicated the issue doesn't seem serious, Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live reports.
Smith walked off the field with a trainer before the final period of Tuesday's practice. Not long after, Tomlin downplayed the injury when talking with reporters. Fellow tight end Darnell Washington should get more first-team reps alongside Pat Freiermuth if Smith ends up missing further time.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Exits practice early
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Smith left Tuesday's practice early with a trainer, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
It sounds like he'll miss the final period of practice but didn't have any trouble walking off the field. Smith and Pat Freiermuth give Aaron Rodgers an impressive duo of pass catchers at tight end, but it's a situation that might not work out well in terms of either player getting enough targets to offer much fantasy value.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Returns to practice
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Smith (undisclosed) did team drills at practice Sunday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
A minor, unspecified injury limited Smith's involvement in the first few practices of training camp. The real concern for this season is how snaps and targets will be split between him and fellow Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth, after Smith came over from Miami in a late June trade.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Not doing much at practice
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Smith (undisclosed) did limited individual drills at Friday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that Smith is considered day to day with an unspecified injury. Acquired in a late-June trade, Smith has only done light individual work during his first two practices in Pittsburgh. He and Pat Freiermuth give the Steelers an impressive pass-catching duo at tight end, but it remains to be seen if one of the two can take a large enough share of the targets to be worth starting in fantasy. Smith caught fire for Miami last October and stayed hot through the end of the year, ultimately catching more passes over the final eight games (53) than he'd caught in any of his previous seven NFL seasons (max. 50). His second-best receiving campaign was the year before, 2023 in Atlanta, where he put up 50-582-3 on 70 targets under current Steelers playcaller Arthur Smith.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Considered day-to-day
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Smith (undisclosed) didn't participate in team drills during Thursday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
The report notes that Smith worked in individual drills, with coach Mike Tomlin noting that the tight end is considered "day-to-day" with an unspecified injury. Once Smith is able to work fully, he'll look to build chemistry with QB Aaron Rodgers, while working as part of the Steelers' one-two TE punch, which also features Pat Freiermuth.
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Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Traded to Pittsburgh
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The Dolphins are trading Smith, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Smith was said to be unhappy with his contract in Miami following last year's career highs for catches, yards and touchdowns. A move to Pittsburgh reunites him with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was the head coach in Atlanta when Jonnu Smith played there. It isn't an especially promising move for Smith's fantasy value, as the Steelers likely will run the ball a lot and already have Pat Freiermuth at tight end.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Absent from minicamp
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday that Smith, who did not attend voluntary OTAs, is not at mandatory minicamp and that his absence is not excused, James Palmer of 104.3 The Fan reports.
McDaniel said he "wouldn't get into personal matters" concerning Smith's absence, per C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald, which comes in the wake of the tight end having expressed his desire for a reworked contract and subsequently being floated as a trade candidate. Smith broke out with a career-best 88-884-8 receiving line (111 targets) across 17 regular-season appearances with the Dolphins in 2024, becoming a focal point of the passing game as Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle all dealt with injuries. Smith is heading into the final season of a two-year deal and is slated to carry just a $3.49 million base salary and $4.6 million cap hit for 2025, lower than the likes of Austin Hooper, Will Dissly and Josh Oliver. It's possible Smith's holdout continues indefinitely if the Dolphins don't acquiesce to a contract adjustment.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Wants salary bump, could be traded
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The Dolphins have engaged in trade talks with Pittsburgh revolving around Smith, who is seeking a reworked contract after breaking out with a career-best 88 catches, 884 yards and eight scores on 111 targets across 17 regular-season games in 2024, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Smith, who earned the first Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2024 and set new franchise records at the tight end position for Miami in terms of essentially all pass-catching metrics, is currently heading into the final season of his two-year, $10 million contract with the team and slated for just a $3.49 million base salary in 2025. His involvement on offense came at the expense of star wideouts Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle, and was due in part to coach Mike McDaniel's offense uncharacteristically abandoning downfield aggression in favor of short-area targets to Smith and running back De'Von Achane. The Dolphins' willingness to engage in trade talks regarding Smith, even after his productive breakout, could signal a desire for the team to resume primarily featuring Hill and Waddle, though that will only be possible if Tua Tagovailoa (hip) can remain healthier and an O-line that lost LT Terron Armstead to retirement is able to take a step forward. Pittsburgh should be considered a real suitor despite the presence of Pat Freiermuth, given offensive offensive coordinator's fondness for Smith, who he coached in both Tennessee and Atlanta.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Leading receiver on 12 targets
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Smith had nine receptions on 12 targets for 56 yards and a touchdown with a lost fumble in Sunday's 32-20 loss to the Jets.
Smith finished as the Dolphins' leading receiver across the board off of a season-high 12 targets. Despite losing one of Miami's two fumbles in the loss, the veteran tight end put a nice bow on a career year, scoring his eighth touchdown in his first season playing for the Dolphins. The eight scores tied his previous high-water mark from 2020, but he set new bests in receptions (88) and receiving yards (884) in 17 games. Smith's late-career resurgence has put the tight end on the map as a plus fantasy option after years of mediocrity.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: TEs to Start
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Smith didn't have a great game at Cleveland in Week 17 with three catches for 26 yards on four targets, but he scored a touchdown to finish with 11.6 PPR points. He's now scored at least that many PPR points in seven games in a row, including Week 14 against the Jets when he caught three passes for 44 yards and a touchdown, all in overtime. The Jets have now allowed four tight ends to score at least 8.1 PPR points in their past five games, with three touchdowns, and I like Smith as a top-10 Fantasy tight end in all leagues, even if Tyler Huntley starts again in place of Tua Tagovailoa (hip).
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Catches only TD thrown for MIA
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Smith had three receptions on four targets for 26 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-3 win over Cleveland.
Smith continued his second-half surge with another strong fantasy effort Sunday. The veteran tight end inched closer to his career high of eight touchdown receptions (which he set in 2020) while padding an already impressive 79-828-7 receiving line in his first season with Miami. Smith remains a high-end play heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Jets next Sunday.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Top DFS Play
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Five of my top nine tight ends this week are not on the main slate. But number two by production and number one by value is there, that's Jonnu Smith. Smith has already set the Dolphins' record for catches by a tight end with 76, but he still has an outside shot at hirs first 1,000-yard season. He has at least 12 PPR Fantasy points in six straight games.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Sets franchise records Sunday
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Smith pulled in all six of his targets for 62 yards in Sunday's 29-17 win over San Francisco.
Smith put together another solid fantasy line Sunday, especially for those in PPR formats. More notably, the 28-year-old set new single-season franchise records in receptions (76) and receiving yards (802) from the tight end position in his first season with the Dolphins, per Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network. Smith has been a revelation for both Miami and fantasy managers in 2024, making him a strong play against the Browns next Sunday.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: TEs to Start
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The 49ers are No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, but I'm still starting Smith with confidence. He scored at least 13.4 PPR points in five games in a row, and he has at least eight targets in four games over that span. If Jaylen Waddle (knee) is out in Week 16 then Smith could see even more targets from Tua Tagovailoa, and I trust Smith as a top-10 Fantasy tight end in all leagues.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: Comes alive in OT with winning TD
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Smith caught three of four targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 32-26 overtime win over the Jets.
Smith stepped up in overtime after being blanked in regulation. He caught consecutive screen passes for gains of 20 and 14 yards, then scored the game-winning touchdown on a 10-yard catch five plays later. This was Smith's lowest yardage total since Week 8, but the surging tight end has 345 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his last four games. He'll look to stay hot in Week 15 against the Texans.
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Dolphins' Jonnu Smith: TEs to Start
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Smith has become the most reliable and explosive pass catcher for the Dolphins over the past three games, and he has top-five upside in Week 14 against the Jets. Smith has scored at least 21.3 PPR points in three games in a row, and he has 30 targets over that span for 25 catches, 301 yards and three touchdowns. The Jets are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, but three tight ends in the past five games have scored at least 9.4 PPR points. Smith should do better than that, and Tua Tagovailoa should continue to feature him in Week 14.
