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With all the injuries at wide receiver, the Rams decide to bring back a familiar face in Xavier Smith in lieu of trading for a receiver. Smith was on the 49ers’ practice squad after the Rams waived him earlier this season. He caught 18 passes for 303 yards for the Rams last year, seeing the bulk of his opportunities as kick returner. Smith figures to operate as receiving depth with special teams utility once again.

What Smith did do was lose his footing on a punt return, letting the ball bounce off his chest and arms and right to the Seahawks. It immediately led to a touchdown in what finished as a four-point loss. Kyren Williams replaced Smith afterwards. Smith battled Tutu Atwell for a roster spot all season and eventually won out because of his work on special teams. Welp. An exclusive rights free agent in 2026, Smith was mostly a shot-play weapon and doesn’t figure to have a real fantasy role next season.

Smith operated as the WR2 with Davante Adams out of action, a role that would have likely been far less conducive to fantasy production had the Rams not been playing from behind throughout after going down 21-0 at the half. The significantly negative game script forced the Rams away from a 12 and 13-personnel base offense, allowing for more snaps for the speedy youngster. Adams is reportedly due back to the game-day roster in Week 18, meaning Smith is likely headed back to a situational role when the Rams take on the Cardinals to end their regular season.

Smith was wide open for a 48-yard connection with Matt Stafford to set up a score. The 28-year-old certainly has some speed, but even with Davante Adams not available, there just aren’t enough targets to make him fantasy relevant at this stage.

Entering the day with just 85 yards on the season, Smith unexpectedly led the Rams with 82 yards through the air in Sunday’s defeat. His longest gain on the afternoon came on a 51-yard catch thanks to a beautifully thrown deep ball by Matthew Stafford. It was a good outing for Smith, but with the low target count, we can chalk this performance up as a one-off.

He and Konata Mumpfield (33 snaps, zero catches) led the Rams’ WR3 platoon with Jordan Whittington only playing seven snaps. None of these players are worthwhile roster spots in this current incarnation of the Rams’ offense, though perhaps if a team thoroughly game-scripted the Rams they’d pop up. Nobody has really stepped up to fill the Tutu Atwell role to this point.