Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Wide Receiver #11
Jaxon Smith-Njigba News
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Continues Early Dominance
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba hauled in 12 of 16 passes for 134 yards in Thursday night's 17-14 loss to the hosting Denver Broncos. The former Ohio State Buckeye put on another clinic despite only a full practice on Wednesday, recording 100-plus receiving yards for the fifth time in six tries. It was also the second time he'd notched double-digit receptions in an outing this season. After another standout performance, Smith-Njigba is on pace for a stellar 139 receptions, 2,031 yards, and 20 receiving touchdowns. While those marks are likely to come down, they speak to how astounding the 24-year-old's play has been. Next up on the docket for Seattle are the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football in Week 7. Smith-Njigba will again be an elite WR1 option.
Oct 15, 2026 8:16 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba a WR1 Despite Ankle Injury in Week 6
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (ankle) should deliver another WR1 performance in Week 6 against the Denver Broncos. Denver may rank as the No. 4 defense against opposing wide receivers in fantasy, but JSN has proven himself to be matchup-proof this season. Perhaps the most threatening factor to Smith-Njigba's Week 6 success is his current ankle injury. Smith-Njigba got hurt during Seattle's Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. While he was able to play through the injury during that game, JSN was constantly working through pain on the sideline. He has been a limited participant in practice throughout the week, but he is upgraded to full on Wednesday. Smith-Njigba's practice participation on Monday and Tuesday does raise the question as to whether the injury will limit his output at all. Even so, Smith-Njigba leads the league with a 36% target share. Injured or not, Smith-Njigba should push for double-digit targets regardless of the game script. Start him as you usually would in Week 6.
Oct 14, 2026 2:30 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Still Listed as Limited on Tuesday
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day this week on Tuesday, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. The 24-year-old reigning Offensive Player of the Year had his ankle taped up heavily during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, but it did not really slow him down at all, as he played 84% of the offensive snaps and caught five of his eight targets for 102 yards and his seventh touchdown of the season. Smith-Njigba has just 14 targets over the last two games after seeing 36 targets in the first three games of 2026, but he continues to produce as an elite WR1 for fantasy managers. The two-time Pro Bowler currently leads the league in receiving yards (583), touchdowns (seven), and yards per game (116.6) going into a short week this Thursday night against the hosting Denver Broncos. Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II (ankle) is expected to miss a second straight game, so Smith-Njigba should eat yet again in primetime. There have been no indications that JSN's ankle injury will slow him down or keep him from playing to kick off Week 6.
Oct 13, 2026 3:08 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Dealing With Ankle Injury on Short Week
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (ankle) was estimated as a limited participant in practice on Monday due to an ankle injury, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. Smith-Njigba had his ankle wrapped up during the Week 5 loss to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but he remained in the game and had his fourth 100-yard game in the first five weeks of the 2026 season and added his seventh touchdown reception on five catches. The 24-year-old's ankle injury did not really slow him down in the 32-29 loss in Seattle, and we would be surprised if it kept him from playing on a short week this Thursday night in Denver against the Broncos. Through five games in his fourth season in the NFL, the two-time Pro Bowl and last Year's Offensive Player of the Year leads the league in receiving yards (583), touchdowns (seven), and yards per game (116.6) on 37 receptions (50 targets). Even if All-Pro Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II returns from his ankle injury in Week 6, JSN should be started with confidence in all fantasy football leagues.
Oct 12, 2026 1:08 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Solidifies Status as Top-Scoring Fantasy Receiver
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught five of his eight targets for 102 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 5 loss against the San Francisco 49ers. The 24-year-old is already closing in on 600 receiving yards so far this season, and he's up to seven touchdowns through five weeks. In addition to helping keep the Seahawks in a prime spot for a playoff push, Smith-Njigba is living up to the hype that came with his mid-first-round draft capital in redraft leagues. It is worth noting that Smith-Njigba did briefly exit Sunday's game with an apparent leg injury. He returned to the contest and continued to play at a remarkable level, but it will be something worth monitoring as the Seahawks publish their practice participation reports ahead of Week 6 against the Denver Broncos.
Oct 11, 2026 9:25 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba a Great Play Despite Tough Matchup in Week 5
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba should remain matchup-proof in Week 5 despite a tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Smith-Njigba has shredded every tough defense he has played this season. JSN and quarterback Sam Darnold have developed an exceptional timing that results in the utmost trust between the two. The 49ers are allowing just 21.7 points per game to opposing wide receivers in fantasy, but Smith-Njigba could reach that total on his own. He torched the 49ers for 208 receiving yards in two matchups in 2025 despite Darnold only throwing for a total of 248 yards in those games. Regardless of whether the Seahawks are trailing or need to ride him to a big lead, there should be no hesitations around locking in Smith-Njigba as your WR1 in Week 5.
Oct 9, 2026 3:04 PM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba a Clear WR1 in Week 4
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in another smash position in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are middle of the pack, allowing 27.43 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. However, JSN has not scored fewer than 26.2 fantasy points in a game this season. While he almost certainly cannot maintain his pace to reach 34 touchdowns this season, Smith-Njigba is seeing enough volume each week to push for 20-plus fantasy points. The Seahawks are also fresh off a bad loss to the Washington Commanders. The Chargers, on the other hand, are entering this matchup on a three-game losing streak. As such, Seattle should be able to take care of business in this game, but they will need to use the passing game to do so given that the running game has not gotten going quite yet. Fire up JSN with the utmost confidence this week.
Oct 2, 2026 8:48 AM EST
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Has Huge Performance in Loss to Commanders
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a great day at Washington with 10 catches on 14 targets for 128 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the team's 33-31 loss to the Commanders. The talented wide receiver out of Ohio State now has a touchdown in each of his team's first three games and multiple touchdowns in two of the three contests. Smith-Njigba backed up his three-TD performance in Week 2 against the Cardinals with this huge fantasy performance and is quickly establishing himself as one of the top fantasy receivers. The Seahawks had Sam Darnold back in the lineup at quarterback after missing most of two games with a glute injury. This should be a healthy connection all season long and Smith-Njigba should be an elite fantasy wide receiver.
Sep 27, 2026 1:23 PM EST
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
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