Jaxon Smith-Njigba

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• Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Cranks it up in second half

  5D ago • By RotoWire

  Smith-Njigba brought in eight of 11 targets for 122 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks' 13-10 win over the Patriots on Wednesday. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year endured a relatively difficult first half after making a 13-yard catch on the second play from scrimmage, losing starting quarterback Sam Darnold to a hip injury after the first drive of the game and experiencing some trouble separating from Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez. However, JSN picked up the pace significantly as No. 2 signal-caller Drew Lock got into a rhythm, recording key third-down catches on consecutive second-quarter possessions and then delivering a dynamic 45-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the fourth quarter following Drake Maye's first interception. Smith-Njigba also subsequently managed a timely 11-yard grab on the drive that culminated with Jason Myers' go-ahead field goal that served as the final points for either side, and the star receiver ultimately delivered game-high totals in receptions, receiving yards and targets. Any extended absence on Darnold's part would stand to affect Smith-Njigba's week-to-week upside, but the standout receiver's chemistry with Lock as Wednesday's game unfolded was encouraging.

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• Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Not concerned about run game

  13D ago • By RotoWire

  Smith-Njigba said Tuesday in his appearance on ESPN's SportsCenter that rookie running back Jadarian Price had "a great training camp" and will help relieve pressure on the passing game in 2026. After letting Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker walk in free agency, the Seahawks will be counting on Price -- the No. 32 overall pick in April's draft -- as well as George Holani and Emanuel Wilson (hamstring) to lead the backfield while Zach Charbonnet (knee) is out for at least the first four games of the season. Walker's tough running combined with Charbonnet's skills on passing downs helped ensure that defenses couldn't devote more resources to shutting down Smith-Njigba, who blossomed into arguably the NFL's top wideout in 2025. After taking most of his snaps out of the slot in his first two seasons, Smith-Njigba thrived while transitioning into more of a perimeter role, compiling a massive 119-1,793-10 receiving line over 17 regular-season games on his way to winning Offensive Player of the Year honors. A league-high 32.6 percent target share played a part in Smith-Njigba achieving his lofty production, but even if supporting pass catchers such as Rashid Shaheed and AJ Barner are more involved in 2026, Smith-Njigba could avoid a major dip in production if the Seahawks lean more heavily on the passing game as a whole. The Seahawks ranked third in the NFL with a 49.7 percent run rate in 2025, and despite Smith-Njigba's early praise for Price, it would still be surprising if the rookie was trusted right away to handle the sort of workloads that Walker and Charbonnet previously shouldered.

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• Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Always willing to be coached up

  08/13/2026 • By RotoWire

  Smith-Njigba is always willing to be coached up in an attempt to be a better player, Anthony Moeglin of Roundtable Sports reports. Smith-Njigba is coming off of a 2025 campaign during which he caught 119 on 162 targets for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns over 17 regular-season games, ultimately being named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. That hasn't stopped him from challenging himself, though. "He's the only No. 1 wideout I've been around where you can challenge him, and he's not taking it personally... he wants to be coached, he wants to be challenged," said Seahawks wide receiver coach Frisman Jackson. It's hard to imagine that Smith-Njigba has another level to his game, but with Seattle's former top running back Kenneth Walker leaving for Kansas City in free agency, the team may have to lean on the passing game at times in 2026, potentially leading to even more opportunities for Sam Darnold to connect with his star wide receiver in the passing game.

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• Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Eying another step forward

  07/28/2026 • By RotoWire

  Smith-Njigba said he wants to show "different levels" and become an "upgraded version" of himself in 2026 after leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards last regular season, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports. Smith-Njigba enters camp as Seattle's clear offensive centerpiece after an Offensive Player of the Year season and Super Bowl run, but his surroundings have shifted. With former OC Klint Kubiak gone and first-time play caller Brian Fleury taking over, the offense could look notably different despite the return of quarterback Sam Darnold. Smith-Njigba is coming off a season that proves his elite fantasy ceiling beyond a doubt, but it remains to be seen whether Fleury can effectively move him around the formation and create mismatches the way Kubiak did.

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• Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Fifth-year option picked up by SEA

  03/21/2026 • By RotoWire

  The Seahawks exercised Smith-Njigba's fifth-year option for 2027 on Friday. An obvious no-brainer for Seattle after Smith-Njigba was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 after securing 119 of 163 targets for an NFL-high 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns across 17 regular-season appearances. JSN then added another 17 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns on 26 targets across three playoff contests. Through three seasons, Smith-Njigba is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was a first-team All-Pro last season. With the optioned picked up, Smith-Njigba is set to earn $23.8 million in 2027.

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