The two primary reasons so many fantasy owners and analysts didn't want to believe in new Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. this season were because he appeared to be joining a struggling offense that couldn't convert on deep plays last year, and also, to be painfully blunt, because Smith's skills seemed to have regressed to the point he was more bluster than fantasy-relevant. It took about half a game this season, however, to see that at least one of those points was no longer valid, as Smith, 35, looks rejuvenated and spry, and Sunday's performance, in which he scored two touchdowns in what had to be a satisfying rout against his former Carolina Panthers, only highlighted the point.

Smith caught seven of his 10 targets for 139 yards and two scores, his first multi-touchdown game since Week 1 of 2011, which was also the NFL debut for Cam Newton (more on him later). Smith looked terrific the first half of 2011, but not as much, well, since. Entering this season, in the 39 games since Week 9 of 2011, he had topped 100 receiving yards only six times and scored 11 touchdowns. Last season he averaged only 11.6 yards per reception, well below his career mark. For him to enter this Week 4 among the top-10 wide receivers in standard and point-per-reception formats was stunning for several reasons, a reflection not only on Smith's play but the opportunity that didn't figure to be there. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Smith's 429 receiving yards through his first four games with a new club are the most for a player 35 or older.

Most expected the top Flacco weapons to be exciting wide receiver Torrey Smith and steady (when healthy) tight end Dennis Pitta, along with a running back known for catching many passes out of the backfield, but he is currently and infamously unemployed.