Who Should I Start? Mecole Hardman or Ainias Smith

Tuesday, March 18, 9:06 PM

Free-agent wide receiver/return specialist Mecole Hardman (knee) is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Hardman will take his speed to the Packers while contributing both on offense and special teams as a kick returner. The 27-year-old former second-rounder (56th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 out of the University of Georgia caught only 12 of 14 targets for 90 yards and no touchdowns while carrying the ball five times for 62 yards and a touchdown in 12 regular-season games before suffering a knee injury in December that landed him on Injured Reserve. The Packers could use the receiver depth with Christian Watson (knee) likely to miss around half of the 2025 season, but Hardman could struggle for consistent involvement in Green Bay's offense, much like he did in KC, behind Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs.

Saturday, August 16, 6:07 PM

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Ainias Smith caught two passes on two targets for 19 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 22-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. In a woeful showing for the Eagles passing game as a whole, Smith was the leading receiver for his team with this performance. His highlight play came in a nine-yard scoring catch from a Kyle McCord pass across the middle of the field just before halftime. The second-year wideout didn't get many snaps last year and is currently slotted as the sixth WR on Philly's depth chart. While he was the most productive receiver out there for the Eagles today, that's not saying much. Smith needs to get more involved in the offense before having any fantasy value for this upcoming season.