What to do with Alex Smith, Taylor Heinicke in the Wild Card round of the 2021 NFL playoffs

Game status: Alex Smith will be INACTIVE and Taylor Heinicke will get the start vs. the Bucs.

Game day update: Things are trending toward Smith NOT playing due to his calf injury, per Ian Rapoport. Smith reportedly came into the facility sore on Friday and Rapoport is hearing that if he is dealing with the same soreness on game day, he will not play and Taylor Heinicke will get the start.

Running back timeshares and tight end rotations are nothing new for fantasy football players, just another hazard of the game to be negotiated. Quarterback committees are another matter entirely, but that’s what we could be seeing Washington do this week, according to head coach Ron Rivera, with Alex Smith banged up.

Fantasy Football analysis: Washington QBs Alex Smith ($5,100), Taylor Heinicke ($4,100)

Smith is dealing with a calf injury that kept him out of action in Week 15 and 16. He was able to play in the regular-season finale, though not at 100 percent, and he completed 22 of 32 passes for just 162 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Heinicke saw his only action of the season in Week 16 against the Panthers, completing 12 of 19 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown.

Tampa Bay’s defense has been easier on opposing quarterbacks over the later half of the season than it was to start out. I still wouldn’t let that lure me into using either one of these quarterbacks in any fantasy format this week.

Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation

Don’t touch either one of these players.