Beat writer expects JuJu Smith-Schuster to play in Week 10 [UPDATE]

UPDATE: ESPN’s Dianna Russini tweeted on gameday morning that Smith-Schuster is expected to play. This is helpful confirmation heading into the 1:00 p.m. games given the late start of the Steelers game. If you were waiting on further news, this is sufficient confirmation to start Smith-Schuster if you were planning on it pending his game status.

The Pittsburgh Steelers unexpectedly added wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to their injury report in Week 10 with a foot injury on Friday. Smith-Schuster had not appeared on the report the first two days, but on Friday was listed as limited with the injury. He was given the questionable tag on their final injury report.

The receiver will go through pre-game warmups to test out the foot, but Saturday afternoon, beat writer Dale Lolley tweeted that he expects Smith-Schuster to play on Sunday.

Fantasy football analysis: Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

The Steelers and Rams don’t get going until 4:25 p.m. ET, which means we’re left wondering what to do with him as the early kickoffs arrive. If you can add James Washington or Diontae Johnson — or any receiver playing in the late slot — you’d at least be covered in case Smith-Schuster is deactivated after warmups.

If you can’t add an option, it’s certainly not a great matchup for Smith-Schuster against the improved Rams secondary. He’s a guy you start every week when healthy, but with the injury question mark, it at least offers you an excuse not to play him if you’ve got 1:00 p.m. options. I’d lean starting him, but it depends on your risk tolerance threshold.