What It Means:

Smith-Schuster has not yet lived up to the contract he signed with the Patriots during the offseason, managing injuries for most of the first half of the season. While Smith-Schuster is now finally healthy, teammates Kendrick Bourne (knee) and DeVante Parker (concussion) will be sidelined for Week 9, putting the former Steelers wideout back atop the depth chart in New England. The team will be counting on him to produce given their young, unproven receiving corps behind him.

Smith-Schuster has a $5,200 salary on FanDuel and is projected to score 7 fantasy points in Week 9. The Commanders have already had one of the weaker defenses in the league but will now be approaching the second half of the year without either of their top young pass-rushers (whom they traded at the deadline). The Patriots' passing game could look competent in this soft matchup.