Lewis Smith

Smith arrives at Pittodrie with a real reason for optimism: he scored seven Premiership goals last season and posted roughly 7.7 expected goals, which helps explain why Stephen Robinson moved quickly to sign him and plug him into Aberdeen's Starting XI. This is a practical starter rather than a lottery ticket; he has five appearances in the last 5 game weeks and 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks, is listed as a STARTER and averages about 85 minutes per match, so his floor is strong while a Sorare Edge projection of 78 points with medium model confidence outlines a clear upside. Tactically this is a mixed bag because Hearts were one of the meaner defenses last season, conceding roughly 28 times, but the fixture at Aberdeen on August 1 sets up a scenario where Smith's finishing and chance-creation can pay off if the Dons control the game, making him a sensible, medium-risk starting punt with upside rather than a boom-or-bust punt.