Ranks for remainder of the playoffs 

January, 18, 2012
01/18/12
1:12
PM ET
Raise your hand if you thought oft-maligned San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith would have the best game of his disappointing career Saturday against the New Orleans Saints. No, my hand isn't raised, either. I did think Smith was a smart pick in the ESPN Gridiron Playoff Challenge game, though, because his price was right and the Saints hardly resemble a strong defensive squad. But for him to outscore, from a fantasy aspect, Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning is quite surprising. Smith accounted for four touchdowns, two in the final 2:11 of an exciting, memorable win.

The questions for fantasy owners as the NFL playoffs shrink to four teams is whether Smith's performance was merely a byproduct of the wretched defense he faced, or whether he can succeed again this coming weekend and, of course, long-term. It's not like the New York Giants, Smith's NFC title game foe, had one of the top defenses during the 2011 regular season, either, though they did keep the mighty Rodgers in check Sunday. And from a larger standpoint, is Smith, whose individual statistics brought some value to fantasy owners this season but were still underwhelming, still emerging as a legitimate fantasy weapon?


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Eric Karabell | email

ESPN.com Senior Writer

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