Who Should I Start? Kenneth Walker III or Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Monday, January 8, 4:43 AM

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III took 17 carries for 78 yards in Week 18. He also caught his only target for three yards in the win over the Arizona Cardinals. Ten of Walker's attempts were for three yards or less but his stat line was bailed out with four rushes that resulted in gains of at least 11 yards. Coming into the season his status as the starter was threatened after the Seahawks drafted Zach Charbonnet in the second round of the 2023 draft. Injuries aside, Walker held onto his role all year but Charbonnet's efficiency makes depth chart projections murky for 2024. Playing in 15 games in 2023, Walker had 219 carries for 905 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 29 catches for 259 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Monday, January 8, 5:25 AM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught three of his five targets for 14 yards in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. The receptions were tied with tight ends Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson for the team lead but made for a quiet end to a modest debut season for the Ohio State product. Selected 20th overall in the 2023 draft, there were hopes that Smith-Njigba would replicate the first-year successes of his former college teammates Garrett Wilson and Christian Olave. As it was, Smith-Njigba proved to be firmly entrenched as the third receiver on Seattle's depth chart and was probably lucky to see the amount of work that he did. His production was also hindered by the routes designed for him, as his average depth of target of 5.8 yards was among the lowest in the league. His rookie year will conclude with 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games.