Who Should I Start? Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Matthew Golden

Friday, September 5, 2:11 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is entering his first season as the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in Seattle's offense. Smith-Njigba broke out over the second half of the 2024 season en route to 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He enters the 2025 season with a new quarterback in Sam Darnold and a new play caller in Klint Kubiak. Darnold supported excellent fantasy seasons for wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota in 2024. JSN is going to be a target hog in a rebuilt Seahawks offense tailor-made for Darnold's strengths. In Week 1, Smith-Njigba will draw a relatively tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were No. 5 in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2024. Although San Francisco lost a couple of defensive pieces, they re-signed defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is a master of shutting down opposing offenses. Still, volume alone should help Smith-Njigba overcome any challenges the 49ers may present. You can safely deploy him as a WR2 in Week 1.

Thursday, September 4, 1:08 PM

Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden has done nothing but impress since the team selected him in the first round out of Texas in April. "Phenomenal," one team source said of Golden's presence. "Makes a wow play every day." The 22-year-old is already listed as a starter on Green Bay's depth chart, and the Packers "aren't hiding their affection for him." Although the Packers will use plenty of two-tight end sets, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Golden's "talent looks undeniable." With Jayden Reed (foot) up in the air to play in Week 1 against the division-rival Detroit Lions this Sunday, Golden could be a big part of Green Bay's passing attack right away, putting him in the WR3/flex conversation immediately in fantasy. Dontayvion Wicks and Savion Williams have also been banged up, giving Golden a clear path to opportunity.