The Chargers passing game has been hit or miss this season, but it has shown plenty of potential when Justin Herbert ($5,900) is healthy. With the team in the playoff hunt at 8-5, every game the rest of the way will be critical, and in the coming weeks, it looks like there will be an opportunity for a new tight end option to emerge. Stone Smartt ($2,600) finished last season strong and is a great fantasy football sleeper to keep an eye on over the next few weeks.
Let’s take a look at why he’s important and how he can help your fantasy team.
The Smartt setup
Coming into the year, the Chargers added veteran tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Hayden Hurst (hip). These two split time early in the year, with Dissly emerging as the primary option, and even as a fringe fantasy starter in season-long leagues. Hurst landed on IR before Week 12, and Dissly went down with a multi-week injury on Sunday, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz:
Sources: #Chargers TE Will Dissly suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday night that is likely to sideline him a couple of weeks.
IR is not considered likely as of now. Dissly has been productive for LA, totaling 43 catches and 418 yards on the season. pic.twitter.com/caQnBbVKUp
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 10, 2024
Smartt took advantage of Dissly’s absence in the second half on Sunday against the Chiefs, catching three passes for 54 yards. His first two catches each went for 20+ yards and picked up key first downs as the Chargers rallied back into the game.
stone cole smartt pic.twitter.com/DthCNpvUMM
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 10, 2024
Smartt had only had three catches for 44 yards all season before his breakthrough second half against the Chiefs, but he definitely opened some eyes to his potential moving forward. With Dissly and Hurst out for the next few weeks, Smartt has a clear shot to be the Chargers’ top tight end.
How Smartt can help your fantasy team
If you were playing Dissly or need an emergency tight end on your season-long fantasy football team, Smartt is almost universally available and can be a nice scoop-and-start if you’re desperate.
In DFS contests like this week’s NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st], Smartt is basically a cheat code at his salary under $3,000. If you use him at TE or in your FLEX spot, he unlocks extra salary to stuff more stars into your other slots. There is no wide receiver at all that’s as cheap as he is, and no other fantasy football sleeper at tight end comes close to his potential upside at barely more than the minimum of $2,500 at that position as well.
Smartt gets a favorable matchup this week against the Bucs, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Tight ends have five touchdowns against Tampa Bay this season and have averaged 70.54 yards per game.
The Chargers’ tight ends have averaged 6.4 targets per game this season, and Smartt should get most of those looks for the next few weeks. In fact, Herbert may have to lean on the position even more if Ladd McConkey ($6,300) misses a second straight week due to knee and shoulder injuries.
The Chargers are currently three-point home favorites and Smartt is a good long shot value at +340 to score his first NFL touchdown.
The Verdict: Start Stone Smartt as a fantasy football sleeper
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
