Jonnu Smith will be key for Titans holding off Steelers
By John Buhler
Jonnu Smith is expected to play on Sunday for the Tennessee Titans vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The best game of the NFL Week 7 slate will be between a pair of undefeated teams, as the Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on Sunday afternoon. Whoever wins this game will be 6-0 and will emerge as the most formidable challenger to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. One player who needs to have a big game for his team is tight end Jonnu Smith.
The Fantasy Footballers feel great about starting Smith this weekend because he wasn’t on the Titans’ designated injury list on their final practice of the week on Friday. Smith had to leave Week 6’s overtime thriller vs. the division rival Houston Texans last week due to an ankle injury. Though the Titans went on to win without him, they know they need him to hold off Pittsburgh in Week 7.
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Pittsburgh may have the best position group in all of football, as that front-seven of the Steelers is absolutely loaded. While they will have to adjust to life without linebacker Devin Bush the rest of the way, who tore his ACL last week vs. the division rival Cleveland Browns, it’s been hard for most offenses to move the stick on them all year. However, the Titans aren’t most NFL offenses.
The Titans offense needs to be multi-dimensional to defeat the Steelers.
We are well aware of what running back Derrick Henry can do with the ball in his hands. We are also well aware of how great of a quarterback Ryan Tannehill has become since arriving in Nashville two years ago. This might be the best quarterback/running back tandem in the game today. However, they can’t do it alone, and will need players like Smith to step up big time to win.
Look for Smith to be a big part of the Titans’ passing offense, especially on third down and in the red zone. Though he may not be 100 percent, he’ll need to play through his ankle injury because the Titans’ No. 1 wide receiver option in A.J. Brown isn’t 100 percent either. He’s dealing with a knee injury. So while the Titans ground game looks great, their receiving corps is a tad banged up.
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On the season, Smith has 19 catches for 234 yards and five touchdown grabs. When you’re averaging about four catches, nearly 60 yards and a touchdown per ball game, yes, you are going to want to start Smith vs. the Steelers, especially if you play in a PPR league. As long as there are no hiccups before now and kickoff Sunday, feel confident to play and get production out of Smith.