Alex Smith is going as high as the fifteenth quartback being taken in standard league drafts.
Analysis: The Niners added plenty of talent on the outside for Alex Smith this offseason but there are plenty of causes for concern. Aside from the modest seventeen touchdown passes in sixteen games, Smith is extremely over hyped this year. He was sacked forty-four times last year, most in the NFL. Smith also fumbled seven times and did not average 200 passing yards per game last year. Tarvaris Jackson actually passed for more yards per game than Smith did last season. We also have to consider that the level of play will be much improved in the NFC West this coming year.
Yes, Alex Smith did just barely outscore Joe Flacco in 2011 but can we really count on him to repeat his five interception performance again? Smith did not throw for 300 yards in a game last year, so we cannot count on spot starting him outside of bye weeks. Flacco tossed for over 300 yards against the Steeler and Texan defenses last year. With Flacco you just have that feeling that if Vick or Newton gets injured he would not cost you a fantasy title like Smith may. Backup fantasy quarterbacks are important and in this case you have to pass on Smith with an ADP in the 110-120 range.