Oct 27, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) celebrates after a play as Washington Commanders safety Tyler Owens (18) looks on during the second quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

JuJu Smith-Schuster’s Value Could Shine vs Chargers

Originally posted on Kansas City Chiefs on SI
By Dominic Minchella | Last updated Dec 13, 2025 12:00 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs need all hands on deck for tomorrow's battle against the Los Angeles Chargers. There are still several ways the Chiefs can make the playoffs, though their odds are slim, but it starts with getting a victory over their AFC West division rival.

Now, the Chiefs will be without some offensive weapons tomorrow afternoon, as both Trey Smith and Jawaan Taylor have been ruled out on the offensive line, and head coach Andy Reid revealed that veteran wide receiver Hollywood Brown would not be available for tomorrow's game.

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Knowing that the Chiefs are going to need some firepower to get past the Chargers, Patrick Mahomes may look to include veteran wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster in the action. While pairing Brown with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy is optimal, Smith-Schuster provides a ton of value.

Juju's Value

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This season, Smith-Schuster has made the most of his one-year signing by collecting 304 receiving yards across 13 games played this season. He's also scored one touchdown, and while his longest reception of the year went for 30 yards, he can provide you with several first-down opportunities.

Against the Houston Texans in Week 14, the Chiefs couldn't move the football down the field, resulting in only scoring 10 points. But this season, Smith-Schuster has secured himself 17 first downs, which is the most he's had in the last three seasons.

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On top of that, his reception percentage sits at 77.1, and he's averaged over 11 yards per reception. While he's not going to give you the flashiest of plays, he's a vital option to lean on, knowing the struggles seen last week.

Smith-Schuster in Need of a Kickstart

On top of Smith-Schuster's value, tomorrow's game presents him with the opportunity to get more involved than Chiefs Kingdom has seen in several weeks. His last big game came against the Washington Commanders, where he brought in 29 receiving yards in two receptions.

Since Smith-Schuster has collected 15 receiving yards across five games, with two games not landing a single reception. Knowing that Smith-Schuster is capable of great things, and knowing that the Chiefs need some great things to go their way, this seems like a perfect opportunity.

Whether or not the Chiefs decide to bring Smith-Schuster back following this year remains up in the air, but if he can find a way to be a game-changer in the final remaining games of the campaign, the possibility of a return could very much increase.