Call me crazy, but I kind of like JuJu Smith-Schuster in Week 1. He might even make his way into my lineup.
Admittedly, a less than ideal choice, but I’m somewhat lean at the position, having drafted as supporting wide receivers both Jordan Addison (suspension) and Darnell Mooney (day-to-day with a shoulder injury). When drafting, I tend to prioritize collecting a bunch of backup running backs, rather than picking lesser receivers who don’t seem much better than what’s typically available on the waiver wire.
Smith-Schuster looks like that waiver wire guy for Week 1 (and perhaps for all of September). Brett Veach says the veteran will be filling in for Rashee Rice for the first six games.
“JuJu’s (Smith-Schuster) been here for a while, and JuJu, to his credit, I think he looked better with this camp than he did the last camp he was here.” said Veach, “He’s really taking care of his body, so that’s a good thing because we’re getting JuJu fresh and at the beginning of the season.”
Now, Smith-Schuster is not what anybody would call an elite option. He has no speed. But he’s big, with some ability to work the middle of the field. He’s a lot more stout than their other main wide receivers – Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Tyquan Thornton – with more ability to work in traffic. So I believe Veach when he says Smith-Schuster will be plugging into a lot of that Rashee role.
And Smith-Schuster has worked there some, with some established rapport with Patrick Mahomes. On the first drive of the last preseason game, Mahomes and Smith-Schuster were able to improvise for a completion on a scramble drill to convert a third-and-10.
I think back to that Monday night game against the Saints last year, when Smith-Schuster caught 7 passes for 130 yards. And he chipped in 31- and 29-yard catches in the playoff win over Buffalo last year.
Back in 2022, Smith-Schuster caught 78 passes in 16 games. That season ended with Smith-Schuster catching 7 passes in the second half to help rally KC past Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.
As far as I can tell, Smith-Schuster is in fine form right now, mentally and physically. So if you’re in a PPR league and scouring the waiver wire, looking for a receiver to plug in, I think he’ll probably be the No. 1 option in most leagues, with a decent chance of getting out of the week with top-40 numbers. (I would have him a bit lower in standard and TD-only formats.)
—Ian Allan