Tre'Quan Smith (WR, NO) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED: 27% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: This is definitely a temporary fix and patch to apply in your lineups, not much more. But that rostership near-30% tells you all you need to know, though. With stud WR Michael Thomas injured and Jared Cook also missing time at the TE position, the Saints have had no more option than trusting Tre'Quan Smith on a high usage rate. And he hasn't let them down given the expectations.

Smith just had his best game of the year so far against Detroit in helping New Orleans snatching a comeback victory in Week 4. Smith logged all of 62 naps (season-high) and was targeted only 4 times, though he hauled all of those 4 passes in for 54 yards... and 2 TDs! Tre'Quan's 21.4 PPR points are his best this year and were good to make him the 21st-best player overall in this format, and the WR11 of W4 pending MNF.

Now, for a dose of hard reality, Smith will probably lose half of his upside once Michael Thomas is back on the field. Although Smith is playing a lot of snaps (53+ in his last three games), his targets read 7-6-4. His catch rate is high with 5-4-4 receptions in those three games, but his opportunities will go way down with Thomas getting reps.

That being said, Emmanuel Sanders has been far from a world-beater, so Smith might find himself fighting for that WR3 role even with Thomas back. The Saints face the Charges next weekend (17th-worst at stopping WR from scoring PPR points) and then go on a bye. It is more than probable that they don't risk rushing Thomas back and wait until Week 7.

Keep an eye on the injury report through the week and make room for Smith in your lineup as a FLEX with upside for WR2 points if Thomas is out, or a borderline FLEX no matter what if he comes back.

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