Who Should I Start? Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Brian Thomas Jr.

Monday, February 16, 12:11 PM

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.

Saturday, January 31, 5:22 AM

After topping 1,200 receiving yards and recording 10 touchdown catches as a rookie in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was expected to fully emerge as an elite player at his position in 2025. However, the 23-year-old battled through both injury and underperformance this past season, recording just 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games played. As the season progressed, Thomas Jr. appeared to fall behind Jaguars wideouts Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington on the team's pass-catching pecking order. Including the postseason, Thomas Jr. recorded fewer than five receptions in each of his final nine games of the year. Heading into 2026, the Jaguars' wide receiver depth chart will get even more crowded by wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter's (knee) return from injury. Thomas Jr. could re-emerge as the lead wideout in Jacksonville in 2026. However, his stock in both redraft and dynasty fantasy formats has taken a hit after his disappointing 2025 campaign.