Rod Smith

53-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
 Free Agent  
2023 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Rod Smith in 2023. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Smith announced his retirement from the NFL on July 24, 2008.
WRFree Agent
July 23, 2008
The Broncos and Smith will have a joint news conference on Thursday afternoon to announce his retirement, the Denver Post reports.
ANALYSIS
Smith, who has been on the reserve/retired list since February, will end his career as the greatest receiver in the history of the franchise, amassing 849 receptions, 11,389 yards and 68 touchdowns over his 12-year career.
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
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2023 Rod Smith Split Stats
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Smith was placed on the reserve/retired list in February and announced his retirement in July.
A hip injury in 2006 limited Smith to his poorest numbers since 1996. He recorded just 52 catches for 512 yards and three touchdowns, and did not take part in any of the team's offseason organized team activites. Both he and the Broncos believe he will be ready for the season, and if his hip is fully recovered, he could see a slight resurgence in his numbers. Still, he will be 37 years old at the start of the season, and it is looking more and more like Brandon Marshall will take Smith's role as the No. 2 receiver.
The seemingly ageless Smith was one of the most reliable targets in the league, bringing in 85 passes on 126 targets (67 percent) and dropping just three balls all year. And while the Broncos traded for downfield threat Javon Walker this offseason, Smith’s role as possession go-to guy is safe; instead it’s fellow wideout Ashley Lelie whose role figures to diminish. At 36 years old, Smith can’t blow by defenders anymore, but he uses his solid, 6-0, 200-pound frame to catch balls in traffic and absorb contact. Smith had just one catch of 40 yards or more last season, so don’t expect any scores from long distance. He was an effective red-zone threat last year with five scores in just 12 targets, but he went 4-for-19 in 2004 and 3-for-18 in 2003, so we wouldn’t read too much into that.
After averaging less than 12 yards per catch from 2001-2003, Smith, at age 34, bumped his average reception up to 14.5 yards, thanks in large part to the emergence of Ashley Lelie (20 yards per catch). Smith was targeted 139 times last year, good for 13th in the league, and caught 57 percent of the passes thrown to him. Smith also was targeted 19 times in the red zone last season, but he converted only four, after catching just 3-of-18 for scores in 2003. At age 35, Smith isn’t a burner, but at 6-0, 200 pounds, he’s got good size, and he runs crisp, precise routes. Unless second-year man Darius Watts takes a major step up, Smith should continue to be the Broncos’ main possession option and see plenty of action on short and intermediate routes again this season.
He’s strictly a possession receiver now (under 12.0 yards per catch since 2000) and turned 34 in May. Smith was targeted 114 times last year and caught 65 percent of those mostly short throws. His TD potential increased with Shannon Sharpe’s decision to join the TV analyst ranks (Last year Sharpe turned his seven red-zone catches into six TDs).
While Smith earns marks for consistency -- he rolled up his sixth straight 1,000-yard season in 2002 -- he's no longer someone who ranks with the elite receivers in the league. Now 33, Smith doesn't get deep nearly as much as he used to -- his longest catch last year was a pedestrian 46 yards, and he averaged just 11.5 yards per reception after going for 16 yards a catch in 2000. He also didn't have a single 100-yard game in 2002 after rolling up 13 of them in the two previous seasons combined, and Smith's five touchdowns from last year are less than you'd expect from a No. 1 wideout. Smith still figures to be Denver's featured receiver for another year or two, though Ashley Lelie offers just as much upside, at a much cheaper price, and Ed McCaffrey is still around to steal some of the production.
More Fantasy News
WRDenver Broncos
February 15, 2008
The Broncos placed Smith on the reserve/retired list on Friday.
ANALYSIS
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WRDenver Broncos
Hip
January 11, 2008
Though Smith's career is likely over due to hip problems, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan would like to keep Smith on as part of the organization, the Denver Post reports.
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Rod Smith: Hip Surgery Slated
WRDenver Broncos
Hip
January 4, 2008
Smith has surgery scheduled for his hip Tuesday in Southern California, the Denver Post reports.
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WRDenver Broncos
Hip
December 28, 2007
Smith acknowledged Friday that his NFL career could be finished and that he may need replacement surgery on his hip, the Denver Post reports.
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Rod Smith: Done for Season
WRDenver Broncos
Hip
November 1, 2007
Smith (hip) will not play this season, the Broncos' official site reports. "After seeing the doctor (and) after practicing for about a week, he could see that he’s a little too far away to have a chance to be activated in the next couple of weeks," coach Mike Shanahan said. "So, obviously, he won’t be activated in the next two weeks, which means he won’t be activated for this year."
ANALYSIS
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