Bottom Line

Despite a near-perfect environment, JuJu rarely flashed a high ceiling with the Chiefs last year. At 27, it’s quite possible his best ball is behind him.

Still, his 2023 landing spot looks ripe for another 100+ targets. That’s what gives him some fantasy juice as a low-end WR3/FLEX.

What We Learned Last Year

• Playing on a one-year deal, JuJu delivered OK results with Kansas City. He finished as the PPR WR27.
• He led Chiefs WRs in targets (101), catches (78), and yards (933).
• Smith-Schuster tallied only five top-24 fantasy weeks; three inside the top-12 (PPR).
• He scored 35.1% of his PPR points in a three-game stretch around midseason.
• He missed time in August with a knee injury and suffered his 4th documented concussion in Week 10. That cost him one game.
• Among 84 WRs with 50+ targets, JuJu ranked fourth in catch rate, 53rd in yards per catch, 35th in yards per route run, and 11th in yards after catch per reception.

What to Expect in 2023

• New England signed Smith-Schuster to a 3-year deal with $16 million guaranteed.
• He replaces current Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers, who leaves behind 96 targets (14 games).
• The Pats also added a big slot target in Mike Gesicki, who wasn’t a fit in Miami’s 2022 offense. He posted only 52 targets (fewest since his rookie year) but carries the upside for more in ‘23.
• New England didn’t make any other significant moves on offense. They’ll look for more out of second-year deep threat Tyquan Thornton. Round 6 rookie WR Kayshon Boutte is more of a project.
• New OC Bill O’Brien arrives as an upgrade for this entire unit – but especially Mac Jones, whose play dipped in 2022. We ultimately expect a balanced offense, far from a pass-happy approach.
• Smith-Schuster missed all of spring workouts due to the knee injury he suffered in last year's AFC Championship Game.