Durham

Smythe

In his seven seasons with the Dolphins, Smythe caught 132 passes for 1,228 yards and three touchdowns. Above all else, this has the look of a culture signing, as Smythe spent the 2018 season with Bears head coach Ben Johnson when Johnson was the Dolphins’ wide receivers coach. Smythe played 365 offensive snaps last season — the fewest since his rookie year — and was used primarily as a run blocker. We’d expect him to play a similar role in 2025 as long as Cole Kmet is healthy.

The Dolphins released Smythe in February after he caught nine passes for 53 yards during the 2024 season. A former fourth-round pick of the Dolphins, Smythe has not exceeded 35 receptions or 400 receiving yards in his seven seasons. It’s his blocking abilities the Bears are interested in. Ryan Poles, with new head coach Ben Johnson, has already added Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson to the offense. Adding in Smythe would continue to improve the Bears’ blocking for Caleb Williams and potentially Ashton Jeanty, if he is the pick at No. 10.

The Dolphins drafted Smythe with a 2018 fourth-round NFL draft pick and while never cleared 400 receiving yards in a single season, he successfully contributed to the offense’s successes as a blocker. The 29-year-old will likely sign on with another team soon enough, filling a similar role.

It was a typical outing for Smythe, who finished the 2023 season with 35 receptions for 366 scoreless yards. We’re now two years into Mike McDaniel’s tenure as the Dolphins’ head coach, and over that span, tight ends have offered little to no fantasy upside on a week-to-week basis. Miami is in need of an upgrade at the position, but it’s hard to know how much fantasy upside a tight end can carry with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane absorbing targets. Smythe will be a fade next season even if he is Miami’s TE1.

The Dolphins had several offensive linemen out, with Armstead (knee/ankle), Liam Eichenberg (calf), Robert Hunt (hamstring), and Austin Jackson (oblique) missing Wednesday’s practice. Tight end Durham Smythe (ankle) was also limited, severely hampering the Dolphins’ offensive blocking. It is just the first practice report of the week, so several players could return to practice, but for now, the Dolphins’ offensive line is banged up heading into Week 16.

The Dolphins declared WR Braxton Berrios, QB Skylar Thompson, RB Jeff Wilson, OL Robert Jones, OL Robert Hunt , TE Durham Smythe, and WR Chase Claypool inactive for Week 11 against the Raiders. Achane is returning from an injured reserve stint due to a Week 5 knee sprain. His big-play ability should make him an RB2 against a bendy Raiders defense. RB Jeff Wilson is a healthy scratch as a result. WRs Braxton Berrios (hamstring) and Chase Claypool (knee) are also inactive, though neither are significant contributors to the Dolphins offense.

Durham Smythe is also questionable. Both pass-catchers logged a pair of limited practices to close the week and should suit up on Sunday. If one or both are ruled out, there could be some room for a third receiver to earn some targets in the Miami offense, but we aren’t holding our breath.

Claypool has missed practice each of the last two days and is on the wrong side of playing in Week 11 against the Raiders. Even if he does suit up, Claypool isn’t expected to have much of a fantasy impact. In three games with the Dolphins, he’s managed just one catch for 15 yards on two targets. Braxton Berrios (hamstring) and Durham Smythe (ankle) who did not practice on Wednesday returned to the practice field on Thursday.

Braxton Berrios and Durham Smythe also sat out of Wednesday’s practice. None of the three pass-catchers have flashed much fantasy potential this year, but all three missing could funnel some extra targets to Cedric Wilson. This is a situation to keep an eye on throughout the week.

Whether or not Smythe plays will have little impact on fantasy managers, as the veteran tight end currently fifth on the team in receptions. Even in a week that features several high-end tight ends on bye, managers can almost certainly do better than streaming Smythe in a shootout against the Chiefs.