JuJu Smith-Schuster

JuJu Smith-Schuster

26-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
New England Patriots
2022 Fantasy Outlook
Joining forces with Patrick Mahomes is one thing; doing so a week before the Chiefs traded their best receiver is another. And while Kansas City also signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the former Packer won't match the volume Tyreek Hill saw last season (159 targets). That leaves Smith-Schuster, still only 25, as the likely No. 2 option behind TE Travis Kelce, barring a fourth- year leap from Mecole Hardman or a huge instant impact from second-round pick Skyy Moore. Early success is a familiar subject for Smith-Schuster, who finished his rookie season (2017) with 917 yards before jumping to 1,426 in Year 2. Since then, he's managed only 1,512 yards in three seasons, averaging a mere 45.8 per game and missing 17 contests (five in 2019, 12 in 2021). The good news, besides his relative youth, is that Smith-Schuster's struggles were at least somewhat a product of circumstances. With 4.54 speed, he's never been much of a deep threat, but in his first two seasons there were occasional shots downfield and plenty of intermediate looks, while the last two years saw his aDOT sink to 5.5 (2020) and 6.5 (2021). The Steelers turned him into a pure possession/slot guy, adjusting to poor O-line play and a veteran QB with declining arm strength. Neither of those things is a problem now for Smith- Schuster, who hopes to restore his value with a one-year, incentive-laden contract. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract with the Patriots in March of 2023.
Signs on with New England
WRNew England Patriots
March 15, 2023
The Patriots and Smith-Schuster agreed to terms Wednesday on a three-year, $33 million contract, Taylor Bisciotti of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Smith-Schuster took a one-year prove-it deal with Kansas City last offseason with the hope of kickstarting his career, but he turned in a somewhat underwhelming campaign despite having Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback. Despite being the Chiefs' de facto No. 1 wideout, Smith-Schuster finished 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns over 16 regular-season outings, and he largely disappeared over the final month of the season and into the playoffs. He'll now head to Foxboro to replace slot man Jakobi Meyers as Mac Jones' current top wideout.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do JuJu Smith-Schuster's 2022 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
45.6
 
Air Yards Per Snap
1.00
 
% Team Air Yards
16.3%
 
% Team Targets
16.3%
 
Avg Depth of Target
7.2 Yds
 
Catch Rate
77.2%
 
Drop Rate
4.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
6.1
 
% Targeted On Route
18.1%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.67
 
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2022
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2020 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
New England PatriotsPatriots 2022 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

65365%
00%
51751%
00%
50250%
00%
45545%
00%
42442%
00%
12512%
00%
141%
00%
141%
00%
10%
00%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where JuJu Smith-Schuster lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2022 JuJu Smith-Schuster Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do JuJu Smith-Schuster's measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 1"
 
Weight
215 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.54 sec
 
Vertical Jump
32.5 in
 
Broad Jump
120 in
 
Bench Press
15 reps
 
Hand Length
10.50 in
 
Arm Length
32.88 in
 
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45 days ago
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45 days ago
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
After lighting up the league as a rookie with 11.6 YPT in 2017, Smith-Schuster’s per-play efficiency has declined every year, culminating in a tailback-like 8.6 YPC (last) and 6.5 YPT (33rd) last year. While Smith-Schuster has never been a burner (4.54 40), his meager per-play production last year was mostly due to Ben Roethlisberger’s lack of arm strength and the Steelers using short passes in lieu of a running game — Smith-Schuster’s aDOT was a league-low 0.8, i.e., on average he was catching passes less than a yard from the line of scrimmage. At 6-1, 215, Smith-Schuster is a tough, stoutly-built receiver, and when not standing right on the line of scrimmage, capable of good routes. He also saw a fair amount of red-zone work — 19 targets from inside the 20 and eight from inside the 10, netting him nine TDs. A free agent this offseason, Smith-Schuster re-signed with the Steelers on a one-year, $8 million deal. He’ll face competition from the quicker and more talented (but also drop-prone) Diontae Johnson and physical freak Chase Claypool, but Smith-Schuster himself is still only 24 and should be a prominent part of the offense, no matter what the Steelers do at quarterback.
With Antonio Brown gone, Smith-Schuster was poised for a huge role in Year 3, but just about everything went wrong. First, his quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, made it through only a game and a half before an elbow injury knocked him out for the year. The combination of Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges was below average even for backups, and Smith-Schuster suffered a knee injury in Week 11 that cost him four and a half games. As a result, it's hard to make much of his 2019 numbers. Smith-Schuster still managed 13.1 YPC and 8.0 YPT and had two catches of 40-plus yards on only 69 targets, so there's nothing alarming there, even under terrible circumstances. At 6-1, 215, Smith-Schuster is stout for a wideout, and while his timed speed at the combine was nothing special (4.54 40) he's made big plays ever since he got into the league (13 catches of 40-plus yards in two and a half full seasons). Roethlisberger is set to return, claiming he's throwing without pain for the first time in years, but Smith-Schuster has a little more competition for targets than he did a year ago - last year's third-round pick Diontae Johnson showed promise, third-year man James Washington also came on in the season's second half and the team drafted WR Chase Claypool in the second round. That said, Smith-Schuster, still only 23, is easily the most accomplished receiver on the squad and the only one with whom Roethlisberger has a rapport. Smith-Schuster's price in 2020 could be the cheapest it'll be for the next five years.
The age-old fantasy question for wide receivers is whether you'd rather have the only game in town that attracts most of the defense's attention, or someone with a quality complement who cuts into his workload but also pulls away defenders. With Antonio Brown gone, Smith-Schuster's 2019 will provide a case study, as he is now the unquestioned No. 1 for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. Smith-Schuster has been a star since entering the league in 2017, with a whopping 11.6 YPT on 79 looks as a rookie and a 166-111-1,426-7 line as a sophomore last year. While he couldn't match his 2017 efficiency, he finished with a respectable 8.6 YPT, almost a full yard better than Brown's. At 6-1, 215, Smith-Schuster is built like Hines Ward - far more stout than the quicker, thinner Brown. And while, like Brown, Smith-Schuster showed pedestrian speed at the combine - 4.54 40 - he's made big plays throughout his young career with 11 catches of 40-plus yards on 245 targets. The Steelers signed Donte Moncrief this offseason, and second-year man James Washington should have an increased role, but it's unlikely the two will replace Brown's 168 overall targets or his 24 looks in the red zone. Yes, defenses will key on Smith-Schuster as the team's top weapon in the passing game, but volume is almost always king, and we can probably view last year's 166 targets (4th) as his healthy floor.
Smith-Schuster is a rising star. The only problem is he's playing opposite the league's best - and most targeted (on a per-game basis) - receiver, Antonio Brown. Still, it's hard to overstate Smith-Schuster's impact. He hauled in a whopping 59 of his 78 targets (73.4 percent) and averaged 11.6 YPT (1st among the league's 52 75-target receivers). He also had six catches of 40-plus yards (T-4th), ahead of everyone except Tyreek Hill, Brown and Brandin Cooks. And Smith-Schuster didn't turn 21 until November. At 6-1, 215, Smith-Schuster is stout and powerful in the Hines Ward mold, and he generated big plays despite below average timed speed - 4.54 40 at the combine. He's a fluid route runner, has excellent hands and has earned the trust of his quarterback to occupy the No. 2 role, so much so that the team dealt the massively talented but mercurial Martavis Bryant to Oakland on draft day. Smith-Schuster saw 15 red-zone looks (six of which were from inside the 10), and that number should increase in Year 2 as he gains market share in the offense, given his toughness and ability to make catches in traffic. The Steelers offense will likely revolve primarily around Brown and star tailback Le'Veon Bell, but there are worse things to be than the clear No. 3 option in a top offense with a narrow tree. And should Brown get hurt, the sky's the limit.
Selected in the second round at 62nd overall in this year's draft, Smith-Schuster was a three-year starter at USC, averaging over 70 receptions and 1,000 yards per season. Despite not possessing elite measurables, the former Trojan certainly passes the eye test as a fluid athlete and savvy route-runner. He enters the fold initially as the Steelers' No. 4 option at receiver behind Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Eli Rogers but could push for immediate playing time with a strong preseason showing.
More Fantasy News
Seven catches in Super Bowl win
WRKansas City Chiefs
February 12, 2023
Smith-Schuster recorded seven catches on nine targets for 53 yards in Sunday's 38-35 Super Bowl win over the Eagles.
ANALYSIS
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Full practice Wednesday
WRKansas City Chiefs
February 8, 2023
Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
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Gets back on practice field
WRKansas City Chiefs
Knee
February 7, 2023
Kansas City head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced Monday and will likely do so again Tuesday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
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Status in question for Super Bowl
WRKansas City Chiefs
Knee
February 3, 2023
Smith-Schuster (knee) is listed as questionable after the first week of preparation ahead of Super Bowl LVII versus the Eagles on Feb. 12.
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Not seen practicing
WRKansas City Chiefs
Knee
February 3, 2023
Smith-Schuster (knee) didn't appear to practice Friday, as he was playing catch with Kadarius Toney (ankle/hamstring) while the Chiefs' healthy players were warming up, Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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