WR · KC · GWTTKB

JuJu Smith-Schuster — fantasy football 2026

Every game, every stat category, and what the board says. 4.32 points per game in 2025, usage worth 4.5.

29 years old · 9 seasons of experience · 2017 draft class

Updated 2026-08-16 · free, no account, no paywall
Every figure below comes from our database. Where a stat is not held, the row is absent rather than zero.

The offense he plays in, 2026

Kansas City Chiefs returns 4 of 6 continuity slots, replacing rb1, oc. Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, Andy Reid as head coach, Eric Bieniemy calling it. The offense projects to 34 pass attempts a game at medium confidence and 25.8 rushes.

In: Justin Fields (qb2), Cyrus Allen (wr5), Andrew Armstrong (wr7), Kenneth Walker III (rb1), Emmett Johnson (rb3), Emari Demercado (rb4). Out: Marquise Brown (wr3), Isiah Pacheco (rb1), Kareem Hunt (rb2).

The projected target split across the offense:

Rashee Rice19.1%
Travis Kelce13.3%
Tyquan Thornton12.4%
Xavier Worthy12.1%
Brashard Smith7.7%
Cyrus Allen7.4%

Our written view on this offense in 2026

What the offense looks like: Highly relevant offense to own pieces of. Mahomes needs to return to his MVP form to support WR other than Rice, but Kenneth Walker III may be about to feast in KC if he can stay healthy. Of note, if Walker were to suffer an injury, RB Emmett Johnson has a great opportunity to fill in and be a valuable back.

Key additions: OC Eric Bieniemy retuns to Chiefs as OC. Previously served as OC from 2018 - 2022. Add RB Kenneth Walker III in free agency on massive 3 year deal.

Key departures: Isiah Pacheco left Chiefs for Lions in free agency. RB Kareem Hunt is also likely gone from the team. WR Hollywood Brown also left to the Eagles in free agency. Chiefs lost RT Jawaan Taylor in free agency (mid).

Notes: Rashee Rice is slotted to operate as WR1 & holds high value for 2026 season. Mahomes should be recovered from torn ACL. Kelce is in his final season most likely. Xavier Worthy has struggled to produce, could break out, but not looking great right now. Chiefs sign Kenneth Walker III in free agency (reigning superbowl MVP RB from seahawks) and he is set for monster season. Brashard Smith should operate as receiving back and Emmett Johnson will battle for 3rd string back with Emari Demercado.

How the volume number was reached: Same QB Patrick Mahomes returning — anchor to 2025 actuals (34.4 att/g); Regressed 42% toward league mean 33.5, floored at 30 → 34 att/g; New OC Eric Bieniemy — pass rate and tempo may shift.

Offensive environment: KC rates 24.1 against a league average of 23, 1.1 points above it on opponent-adjusted least squares (multi-capture merge).

2026 schedule

Opponent-adjusted pass defense faced, against 2025 ratings. Positive is an easier slate.

Full season-2.5 · harder
Weeks 1–6-1.3 · neutral
Weeks 12–17-5.1 · harder
Fantasy playoffs (15–17)-4.9 · harder

Read this narrowly. Our own testing found that season-long strength of schedule does not survive as a draft input — defensive quality is among the least stable team properties year to year, and a preseason slate is built on last year's identities. The playoff-weeks column is the only one we would let break a tie, and even then it is a tiebreaker rather than a reason. The finding.

What happened when he missed time

From the absence record rather than a depth chart — who actually gained when he was out.

SeasonGames missedMain beneficiaryTheir PPR gain
20233Kendrick Bourne+8.6
20243DeAndre Hopkins+5

Dynasty context not redraft

Everything in this section is about his dynasty trade value — what he is worth as a long-term asset in the trade market. It is not a forecast of his 2026 fantasy scoring. A player can be a fine redraft pick while his dynasty value falls, and the reverse. The redraft read is above; this is a different question with a different answer.

Where he sits in the dynasty value cycle

His dynasty value has moved -25.5% over the last twelve months. The market cycle classifies him as post-crash. The base rate that applies: after a -25% crash, WRs recover only 15% of the time (keep falling 85%).

For context on how long this lasts at the position: the average career at his position produces 2.1 elite seasons and 2.6 startable seasons.

The five most similar seasons, and what their dynasty value did next

Matched on production profile — production-driven (pedigree ignored). The last column is how that player’s dynasty value moved the following year — a market outcome, not a scoring one.

PlayerSeasonTheir PPGSimilarityNext year
Tyler Boyd20245.277%-37.2%
Nelson Agholor20236.170%+25.4%
Curtis Samuel20244.666%-22.1%
Tyler Boyd20238.563%-35.2%
Demarcus Robinson20247.362%-2.7%

Of the 5 with a following season on record, 1 gained value, 4 lost it and 0 held roughly flat.

Four years of dynasty value

02,0004,0006,000202120222023202420252026
Monthly superflex value, 2020-04 to 2026-07. Down 90% across the series, peaking at 6,956.

The player

Draft capital and athletic profile

Drafted2017, round 2, pick 62 by PIT
CollegeUSC
Age at draft20
Height6′1″
Weight215 lb
40-yard dash4.54s
Vertical32.5″
Broad jump120″

Availability and volatility

Career PPR per game7.9
Week-to-week variation0.9
Boom rate15.5%
Bust rate44.8%
Games missed per season1.3
Injury historyShoulder, Concussion, Ankle, Hamstring
Correlation between his posted line and his actual score-0.09

That correlation is how closely the books’ posted line tracked what he actually scored, week to week. A higher number means the market has him figured out and there is less to exploit; a lower one means his weeks are harder to price.

Injury type matters more than games missed. Measured across our injury database, knee and foot returns stay below a player’s pre-injury baseline for all three of the first games back, while hamstring returns over-recover by the third.

The record, season by season

2025 · KC · 17 games

His best game was Week 4 against BAL — 13.6 PPR on 6 targets and a 17.1% target share, in a game that finished 37-20. His worst was Week 15 against LAC at 0, on 1 targets, final score 13-16. Across 17 games he cleared 20 points 0 times and came in under 8 points 13 times. In the 10 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 2.7; in the 7 decided by more, 6.7. He scored more when the game was not close.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 4.5 points per game. He scored 4.32, 4.3% below it. The engine classified the season as neutral. On receiving touchdowns specifically he finished 1 against 2.2 expected, a gap of -1.2.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1LAC21-2710.55555013.2%80%
2PHI17-201.5135010.3%70%
3NYG22-99.54455011.4%69%
4BAL37-2013.64636117.1%78%
5JAX28-313.7231707.5%66%
6DET30-178.73357010.7%62%
7LV31-06.5333508.8%36%
8WAS28-74.9222906.3%30%
9BUF21-281.211203.4%28%
11DEN19-22000000%34%
12IND23-201.812804.7%47%
13DAL28-31001003.1%33%
14HOU10-201.512506.9%38%
15LAC13-16001003.3%52%
16TEN9-262.21412018.2%91%
17DEN13-204.63316015%81%
18LV12-143.3221306.7%78%

Production

Receptions33
Targets45
Receiving yards345
Touchdowns1
Points per game4.32
Yards per target7.67
Catch rate73.33%

Role

Snap share57.24%
Target share8.62%
Air-yards share5.98%
WOPR0.172
RACR1.441

Efficiency

Average depth of target5.6
Yards after catch per reception5.8
Yards before catch per reception4.7
Total YAC191
Broken tackles3
Drop rate0%
Passer rating when targeted84
Receiving EPA per game0.15

Scoring position

Red-zone targets9
Red-zone target share11.5%
End-zone target share12.5%
Expected receiving TDs2.2
Actual receiving TDs1
Receiving TD luck-1.2

Who else ate

The offense threw it 584 times. He took 8.21% of the targets. 1 team-mate cleared the competing-target threshold.

Travis Kelce19.71%
Rashee Rice14.23%
Marquise Brown13.5%
Xavier Worthy13.32%
JuJu Smith-Schuster 8.21%
Noah Gray6.75%

By quarterback

He caught passes from 2 quarterbacks that season, and the splits are not close.

QBGamesTargetsPPGY/TTgt%
Patrick Mahomes14364.538.447.62%
Chris Oladokun393.374.5613.3%

Blowouts against close games

4 of his 17 games were blowouts, 37% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 6.8 in those and 2.66 in close games — a meaningful share of his scoring came with the game already decided.

2024 · KC · 11 games

His best game was Week 5 against NO — 20 PPR on 8 targets and a 23.5% target share, in a game that finished 26-13. His worst was Week 16 against HOU at 0, on 1 targets, final score 27-19. Across 11 games he cleared 20 points 1 time and came in under 8 points 9 times. In the 6 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 3.1; in the 5 decided by more, 6.9. He scored more when the game was not close.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 4.1 points per game. He scored 4.83, 14.1% above it. The engine classified the season as lucky.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1BAL27-20001003.7%22%
3ATL22-179.7231718.3%55%
5NO26-132078130023.5%67%
11BUF21-301.811803.2%36%
12CAR30-271.612605.6%55%
13LV19-172111002.2%56%
14LAC19-175.1223105.6%49%
15CLE21-77.713717.9%51%
16HOU27-19001002.4%36%
17PIT29-103.8221805.3%50%
18DEN0-381.4124011.8%94%

Production

Receptions18
Targets26
Receiving yards231
Touchdowns2
Points per game4.83
Yards per target8.88
Catch rate69.23%

Role

Snap share51.91%
Target share7.23%
Air-yards share6.77%
WOPR0.156
RACR1.393

Efficiency

Average depth of target5.6
Yards after catch per reception8.6
Yards before catch per reception4.2
Total YAC155
Broken tackles4
Drop rate0.1%
Passer rating when targeted106.4
Receiving EPA per game0.12

Scoring position

Red-zone targets6
Red-zone target share5.2%
End-zone target share5.9%
Expected receiving TDs1.36
Actual receiving TDs2
Receiving TD luck0.64

Who else ate

The offense threw it 600 times. 2 team-mates cleared the competing-target threshold.

Travis Kelce23.37%
Xavier Worthy17.22%
DeAndre Hopkins10.37%
Noah Gray8.61%
Samaje Perine6.15%
Kareem Hunt5.62%

By quarterback

He caught passes from 2 quarterbacks that season, and the splits are not close.

QBGamesTargetsPPGY/TTgt%
Patrick Mahomes10245.179.466.77%
Carson Wentz121.4211.8%

Blowouts against close games

2 of his 11 games were blowouts, 9.8% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 2.6 in those and 3.07 in close games — his scoring did not depend on garbage time.

2023 · NE · 11 games

His best game was Week 14 against PIT — 13 PPR on 6 targets and a 23.1% target share, in a game that finished 21-18. His worst was Week 3 against NYJ at 1.5, on 3 targets, final score 15-10. Across 11 games he cleared 20 points 0 times and came in under 8 points 9 times. In the 8 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 6; in the 3 decided by more, 4.4. He scored more when the game was live.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 7.3 points per game. He scored 5.55, 24.5% below it. The engine classified the season as unlucky.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1PHI20-257.34733013%54%
2MIA17-247.85628014.3%59%
3NYJ15-101.5135011.1%74%
4DAL3-382.41514017.2%47%
5NO0-343.6346012.9%50%
8MIA17-317.311313.6%34%
9WAS17-2011.16751016.3%36%
10IND6-101.911903.8%99%
12NYG7-1032410011.4%65%
13LAC0-62.11311012.5%92%
14PIT21-18134690023.1%98%

Production

Receptions29
Targets47
Receiving yards260
Touchdowns1
Points per game5.55
Yards per target5.53
Catch rate61.7%

Role

Snap share64.36%
Target share12.65%
Air-yards share13.34%
WOPR0.284
RACR0.741

Efficiency

Average depth of target7
Yards after catch per reception3.2
Yards before catch per reception5.7
Total YAC94
Broken tackles0
Drop rate0%
Passer rating when targeted48.2
Receiving EPA per game-0.94

Scoring position

Red-zone targets3
Red-zone target share7.5%
End-zone target share6.3%
Expected receiving TDs0.74
Actual receiving TDs1
Receiving TD luck0.26

Who else ate

The offense threw it 557 times. 0 team-mates cleared the competing-target threshold.

Demario Douglas14.6%
Ezekiel Elliott12.01%
Hunter Henry11.28%
DeVante Parker10.17%
Kendrick Bourne10.17%
Rhamondre Stevenson9.43%

By quarterback

He caught passes from 2 quarterbacks that season, and the splits are not close.

QBGamesTargetsPPGY/TTgt%
Mac Jones9385.14.1811.51%
Bailey Zappe297.5511.2217.8%

Blowouts against close games

2 of his 11 games were blowouts, 9.8% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 3 in those and 5.96 in close games — his scoring did not depend on garbage time.

2022 · KC · 16 games

His best game was Week 7 against SF — 25.4 PPR on 8 targets and a 23.5% target share, in a game that finished 44-23. His worst was Week 2 against LAC at 4, on 3 targets, final score 27-24. Across 16 games he cleared 20 points 3 times and came in under 8 points 8 times. In the 9 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 12.8; in the 7 decided by more, 10. He scored more when the game was live.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 10.2 points per game. He scored 11.58, 5.7% above it. The engine classified the season as neutral. On receiving touchdowns specifically he finished 1 against 3.45 expected, a gap of -2.4.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1ARI44-2111.96879020.5%66%
2LAC27-244331008.8%74%
3IND17-2013.95889024.2%70%
4TB41-319.65846023.5%63%
5LV30-296.33833019%86%
6BUF20-2422.355113114.3%88%
7SF44-2325.478124123.5%55%
9TEN20-1718.8101288019.4%83%
10JAX27-175.32433011.4%38%
12LA26-106.8333808.1%38%
13CIN24-276.53435017.4%76%
14DEN34-2822.491174126.2%81%
15HOU30-2416.8101088024.4%88%
16SEA24-105.73427014.8%83%
17DEN27-244.1232107.3%65%
18LV31-135.5223508.3%73%

Production

Receptions78
Targets101
Receiving yards933
Touchdowns3
Points per game11.58
Yards per target9.24
Catch rate77.23%

Role

Snap share70.44%
Target share16.94%
Air-yards share16.91%
WOPR0.374
RACR1.65

Efficiency

Average depth of target7.3
Yards after catch per reception6
Yards before catch per reception6
Total YAC465
Broken tackles3
Drop rate0.1%
Passer rating when targeted102.5
Receiving EPA per game3.04

Scoring position

Red-zone targets18
Red-zone target share14.4%
End-zone target share11.1%
Expected receiving TDs3.45
Actual receiving TDs1
Receiving TD luck-2.45

Where that ranked

Against everyone in the 80+ targets pool that season:

Points per game34 of 51
Yards per target12 of 51
Target share42 of 51
Air-yards share47 of 51

Who else ate

The offense threw it 650 times. He took 16.56% of the targets. 1 team-mate cleared the competing-target threshold.

Travis Kelce24.92%
JuJu Smith-Schuster 16.56%
Marquez Valdes-Scantling13.28%
Jerick McKinnon11.64%
Justin Watson5.57%
Mecole Hardman5.57%

Blowouts against close games

3 of his 16 games were blowouts, 23.1% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 14.27 in those and 12.79 in close games — a meaningful share of his scoring came with the game already decided.

2021 · PIT · 5 games

His best game was Week 2 against LV — 16.4 PPR on 7 targets and a 17.5% target share, in a game that finished 17-26. His worst was Week 5 against DEN at 0.6, on 1 targets, final score 27-19. Across 5 games he cleared 20 points 0 times and came in under 8 points 3 times.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 10.4 points per game. He scored 6.96, 32.1% below it. The engine classified the season as very_unlucky.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1BUF23-169.24852025%91%
2LV17-2616.46741117.5%96%
3CIN10-245.5342506.9%40%
4GB17-273.12811020.5%95%
5DEN27-190.601004%38%

Production

Receptions15
Targets28
Receiving yards129
Carries3
Rushing yards9
Touchdowns1
Points per game6.96
Yards per target4.61
Catch rate53.57%
Yards per carry3

Role

Snap share72%
Target share14.78%
Air-yards share14.22%
WOPR0.32
RACR1.214

Efficiency

Average depth of target6.5
Yards after catch per reception4.5
Yards before catch per reception4.1
Total YAC68
Broken tackles3
Drop rate0%
Passer rating when targeted51
Receiving EPA per game-1.63
Rushing EPA per game0.14

Scoring position

Red-zone targets0
Red-zone target share0%
End-zone target share0%
Red-zone carry share2.5%
Goal-line carry share5.9%
Expected receiving TDs0
Actual receiving TDs0
Receiving TD luck0
Expected rushing TDs0.43

Who else ate

The offense threw it 663 times. 2 team-mates cleared the competing-target threshold.

Diontae Johnson26%
Chase Claypool16.15%
Najee Harris14.46%
Pat Freiermuth12.15%
Ray-Ray McCloud10.15%
James Washington6.77%

2020 · PIT · 16 games

His best game was Week 1 against NYG — 24.9 PPR on 6 targets and a 19.4% target share, in a game that finished 26-16. His worst was Week 15 against CIN at 2.5, on 6 targets, final score 17-27. Across 16 games he cleared 20 points 4 times and came in under 8 points 4 times. In the 9 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 16.8; in the 7 decided by more, 11.8. He scored more when the game was live.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 15.6 points per game. He scored 14.63, 1.4% above it. The engine classified the season as neutral. On receiving touchdowns specifically he finished 7 against 5.81 expected, a gap of 1.2.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1NYG26-1624.96669219.4%86%
2DEN26-2111.87848019.5%91%
3HOU28-2116.34543114.3%73%
5PHI38-296.84528014.7%75%
6CLE38-72.6246017.4%65%
7TEN27-2417.591485028.6%82%
8BAL28-2413.77867025%76%
9DAL24-1921.36793115.6%91%
10CIN36-1022.791377128.3%84%
11JAX27-35.94519010.9%79%
12BAL19-1417.78937117.6%93%
13WAS17-239.871028018.9%86%
14BUF15-2617.56755118.9%100%
15CIN17-272.53615015.8%91%
16IND28-2424.691396126.5%93%
17CLE22-2418.56865119%84%

Production

Receptions97
Targets128
Receiving yards831
Touchdowns9
Points per game14.63
Yards per target6.49
Catch rate75.78%

Role

Snap share84.31%
Target share19.4%
Air-yards share14.84%
WOPR0.394
RACR1.256

Efficiency

Average depth of target5.5
Yards after catch per reception4.2
Yards before catch per reception4.4
Total YAC409
Broken tackles4
Drop rate0%
Passer rating when targeted99.4
Receiving EPA per game1.57

Scoring position

Red-zone targets22
Red-zone target share22.9%
End-zone target share28.2%
Expected receiving TDs5.81
Actual receiving TDs7
Receiving TD luck1.19

Where that ranked

Against everyone in the 80+ targets pool that season:

Points per game21 of 51
Yards per target48 of 51
Target share36 of 51
Air-yards share51 of 51

Who else ate

The offense threw it 656 times. He took 19.66% of the targets. 2 team-mates cleared the competing-target threshold.

Diontae Johnson22.12%
JuJu Smith-Schuster 19.66%
Chase Claypool16.74%
Eric Ebron13.98%
James Washington8.6%
James Conner6.61%

By quarterback

He caught passes from 2 quarterbacks that season, and the splits are not close.

QBGamesTargetsPPGY/TTgt%
Ben Roethlisberger1512014.376.3819.43%
Mason Rudolph1818.58.1319%

Blowouts against close games

3 of his 16 games were blowouts, 13.3% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 10.4 in those and 16.8 in close games — his scoring did not depend on garbage time.

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