Is JuJu Smith-Schuster A Good Fit With The Patriots? Fantasy Football Outlook

Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster recently signed with the New England Patriots in free agency. The former USC Trojan was a second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017.

Smith-Schuster spent the first five years of his career in Pittsburgh. Over the first two seasons, the former USC star was unstoppable, totaling 169 receptions on 235 targets for 2,343 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns alongside Antonio Brown.

Unfortunately, the veteran receiver struggled with poor quarterback play starting in 2019. Furthermore, Smith-Schuster missed significant time with injuries. The former USC star wide receiver missed 12 games in 2021 with a shoulder injury. After five years with the Steelers, Smith-Schuster signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs last offseason.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

What Did JuJu Smith-Schuster Accomplish In 2022?

Last year the former second-round pick had a solid year in Kansas City. Smith-Schuster had 78 receptions on 101 targets for 933 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He finished second on the team in receptions, targets, and receiving yards, only behind Travis Kelce. Meanwhile, the veteran receiver was fourth on the team in receiving touchdowns.

Despite the lack of touchdowns, Smith-Schuster had a solid fantasy year in 2022. The former second-round pick was the WR29 for the year, averaging 9.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he was productive when given enough targets. In the nine games with five or more targets, Smith-Schuster averaged 13 fantasy points per game.

The veteran receiver played 16 games last season. Had he averaged 13 fantasy points per game, Smith-Schuster would have ended the year as the WR9 with that fantasy points per game average.

Is JuJu Smith-Schuster A Good Fit With The Patriots?

After signing a one-year deal in back-to-back offseasons, the veteran receiver signed a three-year contract with the Patriots worth $33 million, with $22.5 million coming in the first two years.

New England had one of the worst wide receiver cores in the NFL last season. Only one wide receiver had more than 35 receptions in 2022. Furthermore, Rhamondre Stevenson led the team in receptions with 69 and finished second with 88 targets.

Meanwhile, the Patriots traded Jonnu Smith to the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week. Then, they lost their leading wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in free agency. The duo had 94 receptions on 134 targets for 1,049 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season, with Meyers accounting for most of that production. Smith-Schuster is walking into a fantasy-friendly situation.

More Fantasy Football Analysis