Smith might actually be more of disaster in fantasy because there are fewer positions available in fantasy lineups and there's almost no way to bench him. Matt Forte (see below) is another guy in that category.
Smith's lack of production is merely an indicator of how bad Jake Delhomme has been. Sure, Smith is getting double-teamed. But he's beaten doubles his entire pro career. He's averaging 51.8 yards per game, which is about half the 101.5 he had last year and Smith's next touchdown will be his first.
Perhaps the best thing he's done this year is stand by the comments he made after Sunday's game, which happened to be the Panthers' second consecutive win.
"Am I going to go back and apologize for what I said? No," Smith said Wednesday. "I want to win and I want to be involved in a win. And if a person feels like he's uninvolved, it should be taken in the manner in which it has been said."
Here are just a few others who are in the dud file for now:
* Trent Edwards, quarterback, Bills: Remember when he was a chic pick? He has one touchdown and five picks in his last four games and will be out for a while with a concussion.
* Carson Palmer, quarterback, Bengals: Has just one more touchdown pass than Kansas City's Matt Cassel's seven.
* Matt Forte, running back, Bears: Take out the Week 4 game against the Lions and Forte is averaging 2.3 yards per carry.
* Calvin Johnson, wide receiver, Lions: Knee and thigh injuries - and the fact that there is a big, blue lion on his helmet - have kept his numbers down.
* Roy Williams, wide receiver, Cowboys: As bad as Terrell Owens' numbers are (15 catches, 215 yards, 1 TD), they are worse for Williams (11-214-1).
Three up
* Laurence Maroney, running back, Patriots: Could become the most popular "Laurence" in England since Olivier if he repeats that 123 yard effort this week against the Bucs in London.
