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Game status: Alex Smith is officially INACTIVE for the Wild Card game against the Bucs.
Game day update: Alex Smith will not play, per Adam Schefter. Taylor Heinicke will get the start.
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.
The Washington Football Teams is in a difficult situation with its quarterbacks heading into Saturday’s Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Alex Smith is listed as questionable on the official injury report with a calf injury. After missing practice on Tuesday, he was a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday, with all indications pointing to him making the start. However, there’s still talk that Washington could platoon Smith with backup Taylor Heinicke.
Fantasy impact: Alex Smith (calf)
Smith did play through his injury to close out the regular season in a must-win game against Philadelphia, hence the belief that he’ll suit up for their win-or-go home game this week. Whether he plays or not, the truth is that both Smith and Heinicke offer very little in the way of fantasy appeal. Their status is more important for the impact it will have on Washington’s offensive skill players, since the Football Team, as huge underdogs, is likely going to have to pass the ball a lot to chase points in this one.
Smith has been a drain on his wide receivers, with a limited impact in the passing game. Heinicke, partly just by virtue of being healthy, would likely mean better yardage totals for the pass catchers.