Steve Smith

Week Seventeen Analysis: Steve Smith is heating up at the right time, as he's now topped 100 yards, scored or both in each of the last four weeks. Extending that streak to five should be fairly easy this week against the terrible Saints defense. New Orleans allowed Dez Bryant to just go off for 224 yards and two scores last week and have allowed over 243 yards per game to wideouts in the last three weeks. Not only that, they've given up seven touchdowns to wide receivers during that time. So I'm betting Smith keeps the streak alive until next season.

Week Sixteen Analysis: The Steve Smith Relevance Revival continues as he's now topped 100 yards or scored in each of the last three games. Considering he'd only accomplished either feat twice in the previous nine games, it's time to celebrate. So crack a beer, kick up your feet and watch Smith destroy one of the worst defenses in the league, the Oakland Raiders. If you don't count the two games against the Chiefs, the Raiders have allowed a significant fantasy day to a wideout in every game. By significant I mean that ten wide receivers have topped 65 yards and scored against the Raiders, while another two have been held under 60 yards but have scored twice.

Week Fifteen Analysis: It's too bad that it took Cam Newton and Steve Smith this long to get in the groove, but back-to-back weeks of over 100 yards could cause owners to believe yet again. He makes a compelling start this week in San Diego. The Chargers have not fared well against number one wideouts this season. In the last three weeks Torrey Smith toasted them for 144 yards, A.J. Green racked up nine catches and 85 yards and Mike Wallace had his best game in years last week, going off for 112 yards and two touchdowns. With that evidence, I like Smith's chances of his third straight 100-yard effort.

Week Eleven Analysis: Steve Smith has been around long enough to have faced the Buccaneers 19 times. Recent history hasn't been kind to Smith when it comes to Tampa, as he's been held to fewer than 50 yards in four of his last seven against the Bucs. However, Aquib Talib was the guy shutting down Smith in the past, and he's now in New England. And Smith notched a 106-yard performance against them in Week 1. In the last four weeks the Buccaneers have given up six touchdowns to opposing wide receivers and allowed nine different wide receivers to top 60 yards. This Bucs secondary is not good. I would be surprised if Smith doesn't have a good day.

Week Nine Analysis: Steve Smith has now topped 80 yards in five of seven games and topped 100 yards in three of those five. What's holding him back is the goose egg in the touchdowns column. That should change this weekend as he gets to take a trip to Washington for a cushy matchup against the Redskins. The Redskins have allowed the most yardage to opposing wide receivers, which plays into Smith's strength. What makes him a great candidate to score is that the Redskins' opponents are averaging over seven red zone passing attempts per game, which is the most in the NFL by more than one per game. Smith should get a shot at six on Sunday.

Week Three Analysis: Last Sunday against the Saints, Steve Smith scored his second-straight 100-yard game and his fourth such game in his last five September starts. That was a lot of "S's." He left last week's contest after aggravating his knee, but returned to the game after a brief visit to the locker room. Although he's been held out of practice this week, the Panthers plan on Smith taking the field against the Giants on Thursday night. New York's secondaryhas been "Grain Belt Premium Big Friendly" to opposing wide receivers this season. The Giants have allowed five touchdowns and four performances of 73 or more yards to wideouts in this young season. Prince Amukamara likely returns, but he's hardly battle tested enough for this matchup.

Week Two Analysis: Granted that it was significantly aided by Pierre Garcon's 88-yard touchdown catch and run, but the Saints allowed 12.3 yards per catch last week, which was more than two yards worse than any other team in the league. While Robert Griffin III only threw the ball 26 times, the Saints looked flustered, confused and lost in the secondary. Maybe they're missing Tracy Porter? Enter Cam Newton and Steve Smith. This duo seems to be cut from the same cloth as RGIII and Garcon, but they're both more accomplished (at least for now). Newton hit Smith seven times for 106 yards last week, attainable numbers to say the least. Smith was seventh among wide receivers in yards after the catch last year and has had at least 79 yards and a score in each of the last two meetings with New Orleans.

Week One Analysis: Steve Smith is one of the most electrifying players in the league when he has the ball in his hands. He exhibited that with nine games of 79 or more yards last season, including six games with 100-plus yards. However, an infection in his left foot that has sidelined him for a few weeks, has knocked him down my rankings. And his dreadful numbers against the Tampa Bay defense last year, which included only three receptions for 41 total yards in three games, make him a lesser attractive option to say the least. If you possess a better option at wide receiver, this could be a good week to use him.

NEXT: #7 MICHAEL CRABTREE