Who Should I Start? Sterling Shepard or JuJu Smith-Schuster

Sunday, February 22, 10:27 AM

Across 13 games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard recorded 39 receptions for 371 yards and one touchdown on 53 targets. With veteran Buccaneers wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. sidelined for a significant portion of the year by injury, Shepard saw increased opportunity for playing time, particularly early in the season. However, he was largely unable to hold off Bucs rookie wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson, and the late-season return of second-year wideout Jalen McMillan pushed Shepard even further down the depth chart. Shepard is now set for unrestricted free agency, and a change of scenery away from the crowded wide receiver room in Tampa Bay could help his fantasy outlook. Still, Shepard is entering his age-33 season and has not recorded 40 receptions in a season since 2020. Regardless of where he ends up in 2026, Shepard's fantasy-relevant days may be behind him.

Saturday, November 8, 10:29 AM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has fallen off the fantasy radar after three lower-volume outings. The veteran receiver saw his snap share fall from 63 percent to 36 percent when Rashee Rice returned from suspension in Week 7, and he's been held to fewer than one-third of the snaps ever since then. During that three-week span, he had six total catches, bottoming out last week with just one target, one catch, and two receiving yards. The 28-year-old now finds himself behind Rice, Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, and Marquise Brown in the pecking order. As long as those pass catchers stay healthy, Smith-Schuster will remain off the fantasy radar on the other side of the Chiefs' Week 10 bye.