Kevin Smith is considered the Lions' best pass-protector among running backs. It's yet another reason Smith is trending up right now. The Lions are a pass-first team and Smith excels in that area of the game. Despite playing hurt in five of his seven appearances last season, he still racked up 22 catches for 179 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Kevin Smith is listed as the starting running back on the Lions' first depth chart of training camp. It's out of sight, out of mind for Jahvid Best (concussion). We suspect the veteran Smith would have gotten the nod over Mikel Leshoure, though, had the latter not missed the past nine days with a hamstring injury. While this news is less than surprising, it's still noteworthy for fantasy purposes. Smith continues to climb the cheat sheets.

Lions RB Kevin Smith says he feels the best he's "ever felt, body-wise and mentally." Smith has been spectacularly injury prone since coming into the league as a third-round pick in 2008, but says he feels "strong and healthy," and has avoided "nicks and bruises" thus far in camp. With Jahvid Best (concussions) yet to be cleared to practice and Mikel Leshoure suspended for the season's first two games, Smith should open the year with a starting job, but his injury history is reason for serious trepidation in fantasy drafts.

The Detroit News agrees with MLive.com that Kevin Smith is the "frontrunner" to open the season as the Lions' starting running back. Beat writer Chris McCosky concedes it has as much to do with Smith's "availability" as anything else, but believes he "hasn't looked this physically strong since his rookie year." MLive.com's Anwar Richardson opined Friday that Smith looks "much stronger" than he did in 2011. Things could change quickly if both Jahvid Best (concussions) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles) prove their health early in the preseason, but it's clear Smith needs to stop slipping to the final rounds of fantasy drafts.

MLive.com's Anwar Richardson considers Kevin Smith "likely" to open the season as the Lions' starting tailback. Smith took the first-team reps to open training camp with Mikel Leshoure on the twos and Jahvid Best (concussions) awaiting medical clearance. Leshoure is suspended for the first two games, and Best's status is completely up in the air. Smith currently has a middle of the 13th-round Average Draft Position. Being drafted as an RB5, Smith offers nice fantasy value at the low price.

Kevin Smith received the first-team reps at tailback for the Lions on Friday. With Jahvid Best on active/PUP and Mikel Leshoure out the first two weeks of the season due to a suspension, this makes a ton of sense. Although Best figures to be healthy in time for Week 1, Smith figures to see a healthy dose of snaps early on in the year.

Kevin Smith has added muscle mass while slimming down from 217 pounds to 209 this offseason. "I'm healthy, so I've been able to attack my lifting," Smith said. He believes he's as quick as he's ever been, and observers have noted that he looks "stronger and more explosive" in OTAs. Smith is an intriguing fantasy wildcard with two question marks in front of him in the Detroit backfield.

Lions re-signed RB Kevin Smith.

The Lions are reportedly in discussions to re-sign free agent RB Kevin Smith. The versatile Smith should come cheaply enough considering his checkered injury history. The Lions reportedly have visions of a Saints-like backfield with Smith joining Jahvid Best (concussions) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles).

GM Martin Mayhew confirmed that the Lions are interested in re-signing Kevin Smith. Smith may be as injury-prone as any back in the NFL, but he was impressive in late-season action whenever he took the field semi-healthy. The Lions could use him in a New Orleans-style three-back committee if he's brought back.