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The Seattle Times Seahawks fantasy football takes on Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from The Seattle Times Seahawks about Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

80
Insights
61
Positive
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Negative
Insight ledger

All The Seattle Times Seahawks insights about Jaxon Smith-Njigba

PositiveMatchupOct 15, 2026
Smith-Njigba was cleared to play despite an ankle injury suffered late in Sunday's loss to the 49ers, setting up a favorable matchup against Denver's depleted secondary. With Patrick Surtain II out with an ankle injury, the Broncos are running man coverage at a sub-20% rate and relying more on zone coverage. SumerSports noted Smith-Njigba is the most efficient WR against zone coverage since the start of last season. the source David Mendelson highlighted that Smith-Njigba has the top YPRR (yards per route run) against zone coverage of any WR in the league at 4.45, predicting he could go for 100+ yards.
PositiveRoleOct 14, 2026
Smith-Njigba carries a significant share of the Seahawks offense; the source notes 'it's been a lot of Smith-Njigba and not much elsewhere' despite the team discussing finding more distribution in the passing game. He is available for Thursday's game against Denver despite tweaking his ankle against the 49ers, missing only a handful of plays and progressing from limited practice participation Monday and Tuesday to full participation before the team left for Denver.
PositiveProjectionOct 14, 2026
Smith-Njigba is ahead of his Week 6 pace from last season despite playing through a sore ankle; he has 37 catches for 583 receiving yards and 7 TDs through five games this season versus 34 catches for 534 yards and 2 TDs through five games last year. His 583 receiving yards lead the NFL and his 15.8 yards per touch is also league-leading; his 599 total yards from scrimmage is almost double the second-most on the Seahawks roster (Emanuel Wilson's 301 yards).
NegativeUsageOct 11, 2026
Smith-Njigba caught five passes for 102 yards but dropped a critical pass with under a minute left in the game on third-and-10 from midfield that would have moved the ball inside San Francisco's 20. The drop came when the Seahawks were down three and needing a first down. Smith-Njigba said: 'That's the one I want. So definitely would have loved to have those back. But I can't sulk in it. … I guess I was thinking too much at that time. Just needed to play free and catch the ball at the end of the day.'
PositiveRoleSep 29, 2026
Despite the Seahawks' roster additions and the expectation that opponents would devise defensive schemes to contain Smith-Njigba after his 2025 MVP season, he continues to be the focal point of the offense. Quarterback Sam Darnold noted that Smith-Njigba is 'continuing to improve' and praised his unsatisfied mindset and commitment to winning, while teammate Cooper Kupp highlighted his work ethic and belief that he has not yet arrived, suggesting sustained elite performance and development.
PositiveUsageSep 25, 2026
Jaxon Smith-Njigba threw three touchdown passes in last Sunday's 31-7 win at Arizona while Darnold was out. In an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" posted Friday, Smith-Njigba expressed excitement about Darnold's return, saying "we get to have Sam Darnold back, so I'm excited to show out each and every week." When asked if Darnold is returning this week, Smith-Njigba smiled, flashed two thumbs up and said "It looks good. He looks good out there, I'll say that. He looks really good. You can expect it."
PositiveProjectionSep 21, 2026
Smith-Njigba has 3,838 yards in 53 career games (10th all-time for Seahawks) and can easily move into seventh by season's end; his 24 receiving TDs are already ninth in team history. Per-game stats place him at the top of many lists: 5.6 receptions per game (first all-time, ahead of T.J. Houshmandzadeh at 4.9) and 72.2 yards per game (first, ahead of Darrell Jackson at 67.1). He became the fifth receiver in NFL history with at least eight catches, 120 receiving yards, and a touchdown in each of his team's first two games.
PositiveUsageSep 20, 2026
Smith-Njigba caught 9 receptions for 155 yards and a career-high 3 touchdowns against Arizona, including two second-half TDs on high-leverage third-down situations (third-and-seven and third-and-six). Coach Mike Macdonald awarded him the game ball and cited six impressive stats in his performance. The source notes his explosive play-making ability, exemplified by an 82-yard TD reception on the second snap using a double move against cornerback Will Johnson, tied for the fifth-longest receiving touchdown in franchise history.
PositiveUsageSep 20, 2026
Smith-Njigba had no issues adjusting to Drew Lock at quarterback, catching three touchdown passes in the Seahawks' 31-7 win over Arizona. He finished with eight catches for 151 yards and all three scores, including an 82-yard touchdown on Seattle's second offensive play (fifth-longest receiving TD in franchise history), a 7-yard score to open the second half, and a 12-yard TD in the fourth quarter. With 151 yards, he now ranks third in franchise history for most receiving yards in a player's first four seasons.
NegativeUsageSep 20, 2026
Reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba accounted for 122 of Seattle's 200 receiving yards and 8 of 17 receptions in Week 1 against New England, with a target share of 45.8%, the second highest in the NFL. The source notes the Seahawks were top-heavy at receiver, with the sudden QB change to backup Drew Lock, a defensive struggle limiting snaps to 48, and first-year coordinator Brian Fleury's debut potentially contributing to the reliance on JSN, though Seattle will need to spread targets out more as the season progresses.