Smith-Schuster secured seven of eight targets for 130 yards in the Chiefs' 26-13 win over the Saints on Monday night. Smith-Schuster entered the night projected for solid volume, but the fact he led the Chiefs in receiving yards and finished second in both receptions and targets was still surprising. The veteran wideout's yardage total was his highest since Week 18 of the 2020 season, when he posted a 13-157-1 line on 19 targets against the Browns while a member of the Steelers. Smith-Schuster also displayed plenty of rapport with Patrick Mahomes during his first Chiefs tenure in 2022, as evidenced by a 78-933-3 line that season; therefore, Monday night's success could certainly have some staying power, considering the depleted state of Kansas City's receiving corps. Smith-Schuster will aim to carry over the momentum through a Week 6 bye and into a Week 7 road showdown against the 49ers on Sunday, Oct. 20.
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DraftKings points 6.1FanDuel Points 5.3REC 1.8REC YDS 29.5LNG 13.8TD 0.2CBSS fantasy points 4.2ESPN fantasy points 4.2Yahoo fantasy points 5.1
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Full season projectionsREC 23.5REC YDS 242.0LNG 20.0
Smith-Schuster secured seven of eight targets for 130 yards in the Chiefs' 26-13 win over the Saints on Monday night. Smith-Schuster entered the night projected for solid volume, but the fact he led the Chiefs in receiving yards and finished second in both receptions and targets was still surprising. The veteran wideout's yardage total was his highest since Week 18 of the 2020 season, when he posted a 13-157-1 line on 19 targets against the Browns while a member of the Steelers. Smith-Schuster also displayed plenty of rapport with Patrick Mahomes during his first Chiefs tenure in 2022, as evidenced by a 78-933-3 line that season; therefore, Monday night's success could certainly have some staying power, considering the depleted state of Kansas City's receiving corps. Smith-Schuster will aim to carry over the momentum through a Week 6 bye and into a Week 7 road showdown against the 49ers on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Smith-Schuster logged zero targets during Sunday's 17-10 victory over the Chargers. On a positive note, Smith-Schuster tallied the third-most snaps (32) of any Chiefs wideout in Sunday's contest behind just Xavier Worthy (45) and Justin Watson (42). Still, it didn't result in any looks in the passing game. There is hope, however, as Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports that head coach Andy Reid intends to spread the ball around more with Rashee Rice (knee) likely down for a significant period, if not the remainder of the year. That said, a few added looks in the passing game don't necessarily equate to fantasy relevance in most formats.
Smith-Schuster recorded two receptions (on three targets) for 17 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 22-17 win against the Falcons. Smith-Schuster came up empty in the first two games of the 2024 campaign, but he made the most of his three looks Sunday, hauling in two of them and turning in his first touchdown of the season; the score also proved to be a game-winning touchdown. He still ran fewer routes than Rahsee Rice, Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, so it's unlikely he'll yield regular fantasy production barring injuries thrusting him into a more prominent position.
Smith-Schuster wasn't targeted during Sunday's game versus the Bengals. Smith-Schuster only played 13 offensive snaps (20 percent) in the contest, sitting fourth among wideouts in snap share behind Rashee Rice (83 percent), Xavier Worthy (68 percent) and Justin Watson (45 percent). The veteran has yet to reel in a pass this year and has just one target to his name through two games, so he's on the outside looking in from a fantasy standpoint unless injuries pop up to others at the position.
Smith-Schuster failed to secure his only target during Thursday's 27-20 win over the Ravens. Smith-Schuster's lone look from Patrick Mahomes would've been a 20-plus yard touchdown had the veteran wideout been able to complete the catch, and he didn't see another opportunity after that second-quarter target. His 12 offensive snaps ranked just above Skyy Moore (10 snaps) on the wide receiver depth chart. If Marquise Brown (shoulder) isn't ready to return Week 2 versus the Bengals, Smith-Schuster will get another opportunity to work as Kansas City's No. 4 wideout.
Smith-Schuster is signing with the Chiefs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Kansas City was his first stop after a five-year stint in Pittsburgh, with Smith-Schuster catching 78 of 101 targets for 933 yards and three TDs in 16 regular-season games for the Chiefs in 2022. He had only 89 yards in three playoff appearances in that year, and then managed only 260 yards in 11 games last season after signing a three-year contract with the Patriots. Released by New England after a couple weeks of training camp, the 27-year-old will now try to re-establish himself in Kansas City, where he'll likely start off in a depth role and may even have to prove he's worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster.
The Patriots have released Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster, who logged 11 snaps without a target in Thursday's preseason opener, will now have an opportunity to catch on elsewhere on the heels of a 2023 campaign in which he recorded a 29-260-1 line on 47 targets in 11 regular-season contests. By parting ways with the 27-year-old, the Patriots now have one less option to consider in what remains a crowded wideout corps.
Smith-Schuster and K.J. Osborn were the first wide receivers through drills Thursday, Henry McKenna of FOX Sports reports. The new coaching staff in New England unsurprisingly seems to be deferring to the most experienced players at the start of training camp, but fantasy drafters figure to remain more interested in rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker as well as second-year pro DeMario Douglas. Competition for WR roles should be wide open, perhaps giving Smith-Schuster a chance to revive his career if he isn't totally washed up from a physical standpoint. Reports from spring practices weren't especially promising in that regard, even though Smith-Schuster is only 27 years old.
Smith-Schuster didn't look explosive at spring practices even though he says he's healthier than he was last year, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Graff notes that Smith-Schuster may end up competing with Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor for one or two roster spots, with the locks at WR likely being DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne (knee), K.J. Osborn and rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. The final math will partially depend on whether the Patriots keep Reagor as a kick return specialist or prefer to deploy a returner that also has a considerable role on offense (e.g. Douglas or RB Antonio Gibson). Either way, Smith-Schuster's guaranteed $7 million salary won't necessarily ensure him of a spot on the team after he had 260 receiving yards in 11 games last season. Knee surgery last offseason may have impacted his speed and strength, but it was head and ankle injuries that ultimately led to six absences.