Is JuJu Smith-Schuster A Starter For The Chiefs When He Returns?

Will JuJu Smith-Schuster start for the Kansas City Chiefs when he returns? John Johnson breaks down the JuJu Smith-Schuster return timeline and fantasy football outlook.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) looked like he would be a breakout fantasy start for exactly one game in 2024. In Week 5, he caught 7 passes on eight targets for 130 yards. The role of Chief Chain-Mover that was vacated by the fallen Rashee Rice (Patty Patomic-induced knee break) seemed to belong to JSS.

Well that didn't happen. Smith-Schuster entered Week 7 with a hamstring issue, played anyway, and logged just 10% of snaps because he re-aggravated his issue. He was quickly ruled out of Week 8 action by head coach Andy Reid. Then something else happened that made the situation worse.

So will the former Pittsburgh Steeler be a starter for the Chiefs when he returns?

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Will JuJu Smith-Schuster Start For The Chiefs When He Returns?

Sort of. The vet will likely at least take the majority of snaps in 3WR sets, but Kansas City signed WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans, and he'll make his debut in Week 8. It's likely they did this because of No. 9's injury, but they could have also been motivated by an overall lack of pass-catching talent on the roster.

Sources saying Deandre Hopkins was spotted driving towards Allen Park today 👀 pic.twitter.com/vGxd5lDvI3

— Certified Vanilla King (@MrCorrie) June 1, 2023

The longtime vet is arriving in style to take the job away from the 27-year old. Hopkins is far more skilled than any other WR on KC's roster, and it's likely he will take the Rice Role, since he's a better route runner with better hands and savviness than Smith-Schuster, whose career is likely drawing to a close due to quality of play rather than old age.

#Titans DeAndre Hopkins this season:

- played all 17 games
- 75 REC
- 1,057 YDS
- 7 TD

Hop was reliable all season long. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/vuJ6Gmmipj

— Matt (@MattCurrySports) January 7, 2024

DHop is still a solid player even at 32 years of age. It remains to be seen what his exact role in the offense is, or how long they'll take to ramp up his activity and involvement to full.

JuJu Smith-Schuster Fantasy Football Outlook

It's really not good. Fantasy managers who were duped into spending a waiver claim or FAAB on him were blindsided by both the injury and the trade, and his fantasy value has plummeted as a result. One silver lining exists for those managers who didn't also spend a claim or FAAB on rookie RB Carson Steele, who also had his starting job usurped after a very short time.

Thinking about the FAAB Andy Reid owes me after spending it all on Carson Steele and JuJu Smith-Schuster. pic.twitter.com/DEWw4Cu7WU

— Brian Drake (@DrakeFantasy) October 23, 2024

In the short term, when he returns from his hammy problems, he'll probably have a minimal role in the offense. Even after that, he could end up in a rotation with the other receivers behind Hop and rookie WR Xavier Worthy. Or in some kind of ugly rotation with everyone but Hopkins. Might not even be worth starting. Not great, Bob.

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