Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Wide Receiver #11
Jaxon Smith-Njigba News
Jaxon Smith-Njigba a Good Bet For Another Massive Fantasy Outing in Week 3
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has begun the 2026 season with a bang. He should keep up his high output in Week 3 against a Commanders defense allowing 32.65 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. JSN has scored no fewer than 26.2 points in either game this year. He already has four touchdowns on the season and is demanding a 44% target share in this offense. What is more, he has done the vast majority of his damage with backup quarterback Drew Lock due to Sam Darnold's (glute) injury. Darnold will be back in Week 3, but Smith-Njigba should get loose consistently against this defense. There is no one on the Commanders' defense scary enough to suggest JSN may finish any lower than as a WR1 this week. Lock him into your lineup and expect more big things in Week 3.
Sep 25, 2026 2:22 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Delivers Three Touchdowns in Enormous Win
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine of his 11 targets for 155 yards and three touchdowns during Sunday's Week 2 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Smith-Njigba was spectacular in the victory, offering top-tier production for backup quarterback Drew Lock in the absence of Sam Darnold (glute). The 24-year-old looks well on his way to ranking as the overall WR1 in PPR leagues this season, and he could defend his title as the Offensive Player of the Year. Through two games, he has 17 catches, 277 yards, and four touchdowns. Not only should managers be excited that Smith-Njigba has been playing so well, but also that he has been able to produce as a WR1 even with Lock as his quarterback. He remains a high-end WR1 every week, including Week 3 against the Washington Commanders.
Sep 20, 2026 8:37 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba a WR1 in Week 2 Despite Backup Quarterback
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba should be considered a WR1 in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals despite Drew Lock starting at quarterback for the injured Sam Darnold (glute). Smith-Njigba demonstrated that he can be quarterback-proof, with Lock supporting a massive 26.2-point outing from him in Week 1. Lock dialed in with his No. 1 wide receiver and continually fed him the rock. That figures to remain the same in Week 2. Hopefully, Seattle will be playing more in control against an inferior Arizona Cardinals opponent on Sunday. That should allow the offense to dictate more, which could create lanes in which JSN can operate. Smith-Njigba's 11 targets in Week 1 were par for the course. He should push for double-digit targets once again in a plus-matchup in Week 2. The Cardinals just allowed Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (ribs) to go wild against them in Week 1. As such, you should stay the course with JSN.
Sep 18, 2026 6:33 AM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Scores the Decisive Touchdown in Week 1 Win
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught eight of his 11 targets for 122 yards and one touchdown during Wednesday's Week 1 victory over the New England Patriots. His touchdown came on a massive 45-yard reception and briefly tied the game before Seattle eventually pulled away late in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks ran into some early adversity on Thursday night as quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury during the opening drive and was subsequently ruled out. However, Drew Lock played well after taking over for Darnold, helping to fuel the big game from Smith-Njigba, who was the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year last season. The 24-year-old receiver showed that he is capable of producing high-end fantasy results despite catching passes from a backup quarterback and being covered by a superstar cornerback like Christian Gonzalez. Even if Lock remains the starter going forward, Smith-Njigba should continue to rank as a high-end WR1 in all fantasy leagues. Seattle now has 11 days off before returning to action in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Sep 9, 2026 8:49 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Primed to Begin WR1 Campaign on Wednesday Night
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a league-winner across all formats in the 2025 season. The former Ohio State standout smashed his ADP, finishing as the overall WR2, joining Puka Nacua as the only players at his position to average more than 20.0 PPR points per game. He would catch 119 of his 163 targets (fourth-most in football) for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. During the regular season, he would only fall below double-digit PPR points in one game (Week 13) and would eclipse the 25.0 PPR point mark in five contests. On Wednesday night, Smith-Njigba and the reigning Super Bowl champions will host the New England Patriots, whom they faced in last February's season finale. In this contest, Smith-Njigba was relatively quiet, catching only four of his 10 targets for a mere 27 yards. However, despite the modest effort, Smith-Njigba enters the 2026 season as the clear alpha of this WR room and should draw a massive target share against this New England defense. Smith-Njigba carries elite upside at his position, even though his matchup on paper is a bit tough, facing a New England secondary that allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards last season. He profiles as the definition of a must-start in all season-long formats and is a top play in all DFS single-game showdown competitions.
Sep 3, 2026 12:06 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Worth the Investment in First Round of Fantasy Drafts
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is fresh off a spectacular 2025 season in which he was named Offensive Player of the Year. He was in a tight race with Puka Nacua for the title of top-scoring fantasy receiver, and although those honors ultimately went to the Rams receiver, Smith-Njigba was still a fantasy league winner with 119 catches, 1,793 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. Heading into 2026, Smith-Njigba should continue to be viewed as an elite option at the wide receiver position. His price tag has adjusted to his remarkable year, but even at an ADP of 6.1, we'd still feel confident drafting the Seahawks' superstar. He has quarterback stability with Sam Darnold returning to feed him the football, and he has a legitimate chance to finish as the overall WR1 in fantasy leagues if Nacua ends up being suspended for his off-the-field actions. Smith-Njigba's current ADP makes him the third receiver off the board behind Nacua and Ja'Marr Chase. Fantasy football experts seem to agree with this price tag, as he checks in as the WR3 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for 2026. You're not getting Smith-Njigba at a discount right now, but you're also not overpaying. He's a very talented, high-upside option in the middle of the first round.
Aug 29, 2026 7:31 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Still Belongs Near the Top of Draft Boards
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already expensive in redraft, but his summer has done nothing to knock him off the top tier. He led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards last season, catching a franchise-record 119 passes with 10 touchdowns on 163 targets. Seattle did change offensive coordinators, though Brian Fleury has kept plenty of carryover from Klint Kubiak's system, and Smith-Njigba has continued making plays with Sam Darnold. He beat Devon Witherspoon for a long touchdown in camp earlier this month and remains the clear centerpiece of the receiver room. The volume could come down some. Rashid Shaheed is expected to have a bigger offensive role after a full offseason in Seattle, while Cooper Kupp is still involved. Smith-Njigba was doing all of that damage last year in an offense that attempted the fourth-fewest passes in the league, though, so he does not need another 163 targets to stay elite. RotoBaller moved him from WR4 in its July PPR rankings to WR3 in the latest update. At this point, he still belongs near the top of fantasy draft boards.
Aug 23, 2026 11:11 AM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Almost Unstoppable at Seahawks Camp
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was almost unstoppable at training camp last week as the team prepares for the Super Bowl defense in 2026. Smith-Njigba caught multiple touchdown passes from Sam Darnold and received praise from head coach Mike Macdonald, who said, "It was great to see him come alive. Some of those in high-leverage situations, too. There's defensive attention on where he's at all times, too, so for him to be able to make those plays, it's great for the Seahawks, great for him." The reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year is looking to repeat his 2025 performance, when he had 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. With a new play caller, things could look schematically different in Seattle, but fantasy managers should expect another big year from Smith-Njigba.
Aug 11, 2026 7:52 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wants to Be an "Upgraded Version" of Himself
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards in 2025 on his way to winning the Offensive Player of the Year Award and finishing the year as the fantasy WR2, but he is not simply resting on his laurels. In discussing his expectations for the upcoming season, Smith-Njigba told reporters, "I want y'all to see different levels, almost a different player out there, and just kind of an upgraded version." The Seahawks were able to retain a remarkable number of starters from their Super Bowl-winning squad, but their biggest hit could come from the loss of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who schemed up big plays for Smith-Njigba through heavy motion and play action usage. With his 15.1 yards-per-reception average putting him in rarified air among players with more than 110 catches, Smith-Njigba is a possible regression candidate for 2026, but as the clear focal point of the Seahawks' offense, expectations remain high, and he is RotoBaller's WR3.
Jul 28, 2026 5:48 AM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Remains a Solid Pick at Current Redraft ADP
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was arguably the best pass-catcher in the NFL in 2025, recording 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets across 17 games. The 24-year-old finished the year as the WR2 in per-game PPR scoring, averaging over 21 fantasy points per contest. Entering 2026, Smith-Njigba once again profiles as the clear number one option in the Seahawks' passing game. Seattle could also be forced to throw the ball a bit more this season, as the team lost running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency after logging the NFL's third-highest run rate in 2025. By current redraft ADP, Smith-Njigba is coming off the board as the WR3 and a late first-round pick in 12-team leagues. Even if Smith-Njigba's production regresses to some degree in 2026, he profiles as a high-end fantasy WR1 who has a good chance to pay off his current draft-day price.
Jul 22, 2026 11:41 AM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Remains an Elite Wide Receiver Option Entering 2026
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was arguably the best pass-catcher in football in 2025, recording 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets across 17 games. The 24-year-old was remarkably efficient, averaging 3.61 yards per route run while seeing 35.8% of the Seahawks' total targets. Entering 2026, Smith-Njigba once again profiles as the clear number one option in a Seattle passing game that lacks another obvious high-volume target-earner. The Seahawks threw the ball at the third-lowest rate in the NFL in 2025 but may be forced to turn to the air more often this season after losing running back Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. With Smith-Njigba entering the prime of his career, he has a legitimate case to be the number one overall pick in redraft leagues ahead of 2026.
Jul 6, 2026 12:02 PM EST
Should Jaxon Smith-Njigba Be Viewed as the Overall Dynasty WR1?
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as a superstar in 2025, recording 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets across 17 games. The 24-year-old put together one of the most preposterously efficient pass-catching seasons in NFL history, averaging 3.61 yards per route run. Entering 2026, Smith-Njigba may face some standard regression to the mean from an efficiency perspective. However, the Seahawks were one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL last season, finishing the year ranked 30th in pass rate. If Seattle is forced to turn to the air a bit more this upcoming season, a slight volume bump for Smith-Njigba could help make up for any drop-off in efficiency. Either way, Smith-Njigba is entering the prime of his career and appears poised to be one of the best wide receivers in fantasy football for the foreseeable future. In dynasty formats, he has a legitimate case to be valued as the number one overall wide receiver.
Jun 12, 2026 6:48 AM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Firmly Entrenched in Top Tier of Dynasty Receivers
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba solidified himself among the top tier of fantasy football superstars during the 2025 campaign. In his third NFL regular season, Smith-Njigba exploded for 119 catches, 1,793 yards, and 10 touchdowns (all career-high marks). He was the WR2 in PPR leagues, ranking among the top 10 receivers for the second year in a row. As the 2026 season approaches, Smith-Njigba finds himself in Tier 1 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football wide receiver rankings, but he hasn't yet claimed the overall WR1 spot. The latest rankings have Ja'Marr Chase first, Smith-Njigba second, and Puka Nacua third. It's a fair evaluation, especially since Chase's quarterback situation is far more appealing long-term than Smith-Njigba's. Still, it would surprise nobody if Smith-Njigba finished the 2026 season (or any season) as the overall WR1, especially given Joe Burrow's injury history in Cincinnati. All in all, Smith-Njigba is an undisputed top-three dynasty receiver, and any fantasy manager looking to acquire him will have to be comfortable parting with a hefty return package.
May 5, 2026 7:31 AM EST
Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba the WR1 in Dynasty Fantasy Football?
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba took another substantial step forward in 2025, catching 119 of his 163 targets for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. He set new career-highs in all four categories, and he also had the best fantasy finish of his young career, ranking as the overall WR2 in PPR leagues. He and Puka Nacua were neck-and-neck in the race for the WR1 title, with the Rams' receiver ultimately edging out Smith-Njigba by 16.1 fantasy points. Smith-Njigba has certainly lived up to his hype as a former first-round pick, and he has shown that he can produce regardless of which quarterback is throwing him passes. With that said, he'll certainly appreciate the consistency the Seahawks have at the quarterback position for now, with Sam Darnold under contract through 2027. At just 24 years old, Smith-Njigba's youth, productivity, and role in a high-powered offense make him an elite fantasy football option. But is he the best of the best? As it stands, Smith-Njigba ranks #2 among wide receivers in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings. He's in the top tier, but he ranks one spot behind Ja'Marr Chase and one spot ahead of Nacua.
Apr 11, 2026 9:05 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Becomes Highest-Paid Wide Receiver in NFL History
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks have agreed on a four-year, $168.6 million extension that will make the reigning Offensive Player of the Year the highest-paid receiver in NFL history. The deal comes days after the team exercised Smith-Njigba's fifth-year option and includes over $120 million in guaranteed money, also a record according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter. A first-round pick in 2023, Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 receiving yards en route to a memorable Super Bowl-winning season. He is now tied to Seattle through the 2031 season, earning the kind of money that was reserved exclusively for quarterbacks only a few short years ago.
Mar 23, 2026 5:48 AM EST
Seahawks Exercise Jaxon Smith-Njigba's Fifth-Year Option
The Seattle Seahawks exercised the fifth-year option for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on Friday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. As Schefter mentions, this is a precursor to a much larger contract extension that the Seahawks and Smith-Njigba will be working on after the 24-year-old won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2025 in his second season in the league and helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX. The former 20th overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State made his second straight Pro Bowl and led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards during the regular season while adding 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns. JSN displayed excellent chemistry with quarterback Sam Darnold in 2025 and was nearly impossible to stop by opposing defenses because of his quickness and yards-after-the-catch ability. After his outstanding season, Smith-Njigba will be one of the first receivers off the board in fantasy football drafts later this year.
Mar 20, 2026 5:09 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba the WR1 Overall in Fantasy After Career Year?
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba did it all in 2025 in just his third year in the NFL after the Seahawks took him 20th overall in the 2023 draft out of Ohio State. Smith-Njigba set career-highs across the board, led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards, and capped it all off by winning a Super Bowl ring and the Offensive Player of the Year award. The 24-year-old caught 119 of his 163 targets and added 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts. He added 17 catches for another 199 yards and two touchdowns in three playoff games. There's a good chance JSN will be one of the first receivers off the board in the first couple of rounds of fantasy football drafts later this year. He also had 1,000 receiving yards last year and now has 3,551 yards and 20 touchdowns on 282 receptions in 51 games in his first three years in the NFL. Smith-Njigba has quickly become an elite threat at his position with tremendous yards-after-the-catch ability.
Mar 19, 2026 5:46 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Thinks he Should be "Highest-Paid" at his Position
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn't in a rush to sign a new deal after winning Super Bowl LX, but the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year did say that he thinks he deserves to "be the highest-paid in my position," according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. It would mean an extension worth more than $40 million in new-money average. The Seahawks can exercise a fifth-year option on the former first-rounder's contract by May 1, but they plan to work out a new deal with JSN this offseason. The 24-year-old picked a great time to have the best year of his career, setting a franchise record and leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards despite the fact that the Seahawks ran the ball more than any other team. Smith-Njigba also had 10 touchdowns and went for 199 yards and two touchdowns in three playoff games. He finished second to only Puka Nacua in overall fantasy points in 2025 and will surely be a first-round fantasy selection in drafts this fall.
Feb 21, 2026 6:13 AM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Carries Enormous Momentum After Breakout Year
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to trend up after a historic third season in the NFL. He made a Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year, exploding for 119 catches, 1,793 yards, and 10 touchdowns. As a result, he ranked as the overall WR2 in full-PPR leagues and was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. In some situations, this may be an intriguing opportunity to sell high, but that's not the case with Smith-Njigba. He's just 24 years old and should only continue to improve within the coming seasons. There could be more OPOY awards in his future, and he'll remain a real threat to finish as the overall WR1 in fantasy football. He's one of the top dynasty players and should be a top-four pick in 2026 redraft leagues.
Feb 16, 2026 12:11 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Takes a Backseat in Super Bowl Win
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught four of his 10 targets for 27 yards during Sunday's Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots. Just a few days after being named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year, Smith-Njigba was held in check by a historic defensive performance from Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. While the young receiver was smothered, this simply redirected more volume to Cooper Kupp and running back Kenneth Walker III, who both fueled the victory. Fantasy managers should expect that Smith-Njigba, who had 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season, will continue to get plenty of attention from the NFL's top cornerbacks going forward. He was relatively quiet in a tough matchup on Sunday night, but he should overcome most of those challenging situations in 2026 -- very similar to how he performed during the 2025 regular season. He enters 2026 fantasy drafts as a top-three receiver in all leagues.
Feb 9, 2026 1:33 PM EST
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