JuJu Smith-Schuster Fantasy Outlook on Rise With Week 5 Matchup Against Banged Up Ravens Secondary

Following a report that he'd be a game-time decision, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is active for Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Smith-Schuster has frustrated his fantasy owners to no end this season, as he currently has just 17 catches for 258 receiving yards and one touchdown. Those numbers extrapolate to a 68-1,032-4 receiving line over 16 games, a far cry from the 111-1,426-7 line he compiled last season. Smith-Schuster is currently the WR40 in standard leagues, behind the likes of Nelson Agholor and Cole Beasley.

Despite the frustrating start, JuJu owners have no choice but to roll out their likely number one wide receiver on a weekly basis. Smith-Schuster is not seeing nearly the same target volume he saw last season, but hopefully that number can improve as Mason Rudolph gets more comfortable in the Steelers' offense.

While the Week 5 matchup against the Ravens may seem daunting, it's actually a fairly positive setup for JuJu and the Steelers' passing game as a whole. Currently without their top corner in Jimmy Smith, the Ravens' pass defense has not been as elite as it's been in the past this season. Baltimore is allowing the 12th-most fantasy points to wide receivers so far, and have given up a whopping nine double-digit point performances in PPR leagues to the position.

Especially beneficial for Smith-Schuster, the Ravens have been most exploitable in the slot, giving up big games to slot receivers like Larry Fitzgerald (five catches for 104 yards), Christian Kirk (six for 114) and Jarvis Landry (eight for 167).

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