Who Should I Start? Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Brian Thomas Jr.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17.7 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 88.2 | 0.5 |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba News
Wednesday, July 22, 11:41 AM
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.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 51.1 | 0.3 |
Brian Thomas Jr. News
Saturday, July 25, 7:08 AM
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated highlights improved health as the biggest reason for optimism that Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will have a bounce-back year in 2026. After recording 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, Thomas Jr. hauled in just 48 catches for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games in 2025. However, the 23-year-old played through early-season wrist and shoulder injuries before missing time later in the year due to a high-ankle sprain. While the Jaguars have other capable pass-catchers in wide receivers Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter (knee), Thomas Jr. profiles as Jacksonville's highest-upside wideout. If health was truly the largest reason for his struggles in 2025, Thomas Jr. could end up being a bargain selection for fantasy managers at his current redraft ADP of WR35.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Brian Thomas Jr.
Still trying to decide between Smith-Njigba and Thomas Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is projected to score 17.7 points this week while Brian Thomas Jr. is projected to score 10.3 points.
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