Oakland Raiders: 5 players whose stock has dropped this preseason

Keith Smith, FB

Keith Smith had a great game vs the Green Bay Packers, but was it enough to hold on to a roster spot on a team that is likely to carry only one fullback?

While Smith performed well Thursday night, a game in which he caught four passes for 15 yards including a 5-yard touchdown reception, this was his first action in the preseason since injuring his knee before training camp. Since the start of camp, rookie UDFA Alec Ingold has taken all of the starting snaps at fullback, and has been playing exceptionally well.

Ingold has shown that he is a very versatile player who is proficient at blocking and is a crisp route runner out of the backfield with sure hands. All of these attributes are what head coach Jon Gruden looks for in a a fullback.

Smith, who joined the Raiders in 2018 as a free agent after leaving the Cowboys, followed his former special teams coach, Rich Bisaccia. In addition to being a solid fullback, Smith is a great special teams player and has a personal relationship with coach Bissacia.

However, due to the fact that he missed a majority of practice, and the Raiders seem to like what they see from Ingold, there is a strong possibility that the team decides to move on from Smith and stick with the rookie.