Devon Smith was having quite a good 2021 season, very much fantasy relevant in draft leagues where he was outperforming his average draft position with a string of very startable scores. Then came a hamstring injury in the third quarter of round 9, an extended layoff then a quiet return in round 14 and a couple of disappointing scores since then. He may have been part of a draft league squad that was contending for finals but his performance since copping that twang has been more of a bust. Sometimes you have to soak up fantasy luck like that.
Devon Smith was having quite a good 2021 season, very much fantasy relevant in draft leagues where he was outperforming his average draft position with a string of very startable scores. Then came a hamstring injury in the third quarter of round 9, an extended layoff then a quiet return in round 14 and a couple of disappointing scores since then. He may have been part of a draft league squad that was contending for finals but his performance since copping that twang has been more of a bust. Sometimes you have to soak up fantasy luck like that.
Devon Smith finds himself as one of the contenders for the top six fantasy forwards this season, not necessarily due to his own performance being great but due to the paucity of options as other players get reclassified towards the midfield. His role is definitely twofold, rotating from the centre through a half forward spot, and can tend to remain too deep in some games. He is going to be in perhaps more fantasy sides this year than his potential can bear, as his downside is as significant as his upside and he's defending a lot of points from a strange year.
Devon Smith has had a lot of soldiers fall around him at Essendon this year, but tonight gets a few of them back for the Dreamtime game as the club tries to arrest a calamitous slide from 5-2 to out of the eight. He is a relatively reliable fantasy conveyance these days without hitting the heights as he tends to start outside the square on a wing rather than maximising his CBAs, a role which probably suits his team contribution without squeezing the most out of himself statistically. At least he doesn't cop the tag any more, so his scoring floor isn't as low.
Devo over Devon's absence
Coming off a best & fairest win in his first season at Essendon, Devon Smith's second campaign in red and black was a disaster, copping several in-game injuries and then shut down for good after round 8 with a knee complaint. He still managed to lift his inside 50 rate to top 10 in the league, with five of his 18 touches per game crossing the paint. The only blip was a terrible disposal efficiency of 54%, though that is a stat blamable somewhat on quality of targets. You can chuck the 2019 stats from Smith in the bin, as he was carrying that knee all year and also had lowered TOG in two of seven games due to knocks. His best form is in the very top echelons, and plenty of fantasy coaches will have fond memories of winning a 2018 league comp on his back. Competition for his signature in draft leagues should be as fierce as it was when he prepared to leave the Giants, making him a popular early round reach.
Slice of Devon, yeah
If you reached for Devon Smith in early rounds last year you would have gone a long way towards winning your league, because he was a revelation in his first year since transferring from the Giants. He went from outside the top 50 for tackles to streeting the field with 8.5 per game, adding three kicks for good measure to join the ranks of elite fantasy scorers. Most pleasingly, he jumped 14 points after the bye and scored heavily during fantasy finals time in August. Smith loses his forward designation this year but remains a valuable commodity going into fantasy drafts, as there is even some upside left in his game given that late spurt. The arrival of Dylan Shiel won't affect him, as he is in no danger of reverting to the HFF role he played at times at GWS. There is a case to be made that his draft position should even creep up towards the first round, as his upside is above a 110 average. Draft him early with confidence.
New slice of Devon
A meniscus injury to the right knee of Devon Smith after round 8 derailed his 2017 and ultimately his career at GWS. Up to then, he had been best 22 for a side aiming at top four, mostly running down the right HFF towards goal. His statistical peak came in 2014, which was his only year out of six where he averaged more than 20 disposals. He had a run of six such games prior to his injury, his first streak bigger than four. Assuming a full preseason at the Dons and no further knee issues, Smith at his best can be a damaging player on the field and a solid scorer in fantasy teams with the potential to go large. Injury and form concerns will dampen enthusiasm for the ex-Giant, unless he stars in the JLT. Someone in your draft will probably reach for him earlier than middle rounds, as nailing a speculator like him can unlock a fantasy flag.
