Geno Smith Can't Even Capitalize on Garbage Time

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Here's one measure of how poorly things are going for Smith: This is already his third game of the year with 2+ INTs. Smith had four such games all of last year. And just two of them the year before, and two the year before that.

This season's looking alarmingly similar to Smith's rookie year way back in 2013. Smith threw 7 TD passes vs. 8 INTs across the first five games of that year.

He's got one fewer TD and one more INT through five games this season.

Smith's QBR through the first four games stood at a career-worst 37.1 -- even worse than that rookie season (41.0). And he's working on his fewest passing yards per game since those early Jets days.

Smith shouldn't be doomed. He played much better in Seattle, and they reportedly talked contract extension with him before shipping him to Vegas and importing Sam Darnold.

But there's nothing to point to for optimism right now, especially the further we get from what seemed like an encouraging opener at New England.

Smith gets a Week 6 home date with the Titans, who entered Week 5 ranked 29th in total defensive DVOA and 31st against the pass.

If he can't deliver a good fantasy outing there, it might be time to wonder if Aiden O'Connell will push for playing time once healthy.

No matter how Smith plays in Week 6, he shouldn't enter your 1-QB plans for a Week 7 visit to Kansas City. After that comes a bye the Raiders will probably be thrilled to greet.

Other Winners & Losers

O'Connell was expected to need 6-8 weeks to return from his fractured right wrist. That timeline would make Week 9 a possibility, following the aforementioned bye.

If we get two more clunkers from Smith ahead of that Week 8 break, it's not hard to imagine coaches considering a change.

If you've got room in a deeper superflex format, consider stashing O'Connell at some point ahead of Week 9.