Fantasy football news: Chiefs re-sign 2022 leading receiver

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to add depth to their receiver room by bringing back a familiar face.

As Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported on Aug. 26, the Chiefs signed veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster to their active roster, who had been waived by New England the previous week. Smith-Schuster spent the 2022 season with Kansas City and led all receivers with 933 receiving yards while being second on the team overall behind tight end Travis Kelce.

Pelissero did not report the details of the contract but it is assumed to be a one-year deal. Kansas City immediately lists Smith-Schuster as the fifth receiver on the depth chart, ahead of names such as Skyy Moore, Justyn Ross, Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman.

The signing came roughly two weeks after projected starter Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown went down with an injury in the first preseason game. With Brown questionable to play Week 1, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy singled out veteran Justin Watson as the guy he was looking at as a short-term replacement but Smith-Schuster could now be in the mix.

How JuJu Smith-Schuster signing with the Chiefs affects fantasy

Smith-Schuster has undoubtedly not had the career arc many projected he would with his early success in Pittsburgh but the move back to Kansas City could be the spark he needs. His 933 receiving yards and WR29 finish in 2022 was his best season since his breakout year in 2018.

After being released by New England, it appeared that Smith-Schuster's career was on its last legs, but signing with the Chiefs was the best-case scenario for him. The 27-year-old is already familiar with and succeeded in Andy Reid and Nagy's offensive system and while he will no longer be their featured receiver, the injury to Brown opens up a potential role for him.

However, with emerging second-year star Rashee Rice operating primarily out of the slot — the position Smith-Schuster played in 2022 — it would appear that the former USC Trojan is his direct backup. Kansas City still listing him behind Watson on the depth chart further muddles the situation. The team does like to employ multiple three and four-wideout sets, which could benefit Smith-Schuster, but the second slot is often occupied by Kelce.

While the adjustment period for Smith-Schuster is not expected to be as long as a typical acquisition would be given his familiarity with the offense, he figures to still play a reserved role, even with Brown out. His signing further puts Moore, Toney and Hardman — who were already cut candidates — on the roster bubble.

In deep league formats, Smith-Schuster should be added as a high-upside free agent anywhere he was dropped. But his ceiling is no higher than a WR3/FLEX and his impact should not be enough to lower the value of either Rice or Xavier Worthy.