Player insights

Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads UPI senior sports writer Alex Butler's Top 50 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for Week 3 of the NFL season.

JSN delivered one of the biggest performances from a Seahawks receiver in recent memory in Week 2; he caught an 82-yard touchdown on Seattle's opening drive, the longest touchdown of his career, after executing an excellent initial fake that manipulated Budda Baker's positioning and allowed him to get behind the safety.

Smith-Njigba turned in one of the best games of his career with nine catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona, demonstrating elite production as a major part of Seattle's passing game.

JSN caught an 82-yard touchdown on Seattle's opening drive in Week 2, the longest TD of his career. The play exploited Arizona's defensive rules: JSN's initial fake pulled Budda Baker downhill, while Elijah Arroyo's route and Drew Lock's play fake reinforced the action, leaving Baker in a bad position and JSN behind him for the score.

Smith-Njigba turned in one of the best games of his career with nine catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona. He was a primary beneficiary of Seattle's offensive efficiency and Lock's accurate passing.

Smith-Njigba ranks fourth in flex rankings for Week 3 with a best rank of 3 and average rank of 5, showing expert support for his elite weekly projection with moderate variance.

Smith-Njigba has emerged as the engine of the Seahawks offense through two weeks, leading the NFL with 277 yards and 4 TDs. After a 155-yard, 3 TD performance against the Arizona Cardinals, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year won the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Player of the Week award (decided via fan vote). Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones noted: 'He has a way to catch the ball all over the field. He can obviously take the top of the defense…You've got to know where this guy is at all times, everyone not just the secondary.' The source describes him as 'a wideout for the Seattle Seahawks that has served as the engine for the offense so far in 2026.'

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, won the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Player of the Week award after a 155-yard, 3 TD performance against Arizona in Week 2. He leads the NFL with 277 yards and 4 TDs through two weeks. Daronte Jones notes: 'He has a way to catch the ball all over the field. He can obviously take the top of the defense…You've got to know where this guy is at all times, everyone not just the secondary.'

Smith-Njigba is the NFL's top pass-catcher with 22 receptions for league-best 277 yards and four touchdowns through two games; he was unstoppable in Seattle's 31-7 rout of Arizona, hauling in nine passes on 11 targets from Drew Lock and three touchdowns. He is likely to be matched up against Mike Sainristil, who has given up six receptions on eight targets (75%) to start the season. The source backs a parlay of Smith-Njigba 60+ yards receiving, 7+ receptions and anytime TD against Washington.

Received an A+ start/sit grade for Week 3 matchup against Washington, indicating strong fantasy upside in this specific week.

Smith-Njigba is the NFL's top pass-catcher with 22 receptions for league-best 277 yards and four touchdowns through two games; he was unstoppable in Seattle's 31-7 rout of Arizona, hauling in nine passes on 11 targets from Drew Lock and three touchdowns; he is likely to be matched up against Mike Sainristil, who has given up six receptions on eight targets (75%) and is off to a terrible start, setting up a favorable matchup for continued elite production.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the second most-bet anytime touchdown scorer by total number of wagers in Week 3 at -105 odds, reflecting public targeting of the Jets receiver.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 82-yard touchdown headlines the Seahawks' offensive breakdown in their dominant win over the Cardinals that pushed the team to 2-0 on the year.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba had an 82-yard touchdown in the Seahawks' dominant Week 2 win over the Cardinals that pushed Seattle to 2-0 and extended their winning streak to 12 straight games dating back to last season. His TD reception headlines the offensive breakdown, though the source credits the offensive line's complete performance up front as the primary driver of the win.

The source projects Jaxon Smith-Njigba to exceed 90 receiving yards against Washington; through two games he has 17 receptions for 277 yards and four touchdowns including a three-touchdown performance against Arizona, establishing him as Seattle's passing-game focal point regardless of quarterback. The source notes Washington's weak pass defense (allowed 37 points to Dallas) and Seattle's ability to attack through the air if the run game draws extra defenders, though game script risk exists if Seattle controls early.

The source projects Jaxon Smith-Njigba to exceed 90 receiving yards in Week 3 vs. Washington. JSN has 17 receptions for 277 yards and four touchdowns through two games, including a three-touchdown performance against Arizona, and has quickly become the focal point of Seattle's passing game regardless of quarterback. The source notes Washington allowed 37 points to Dallas and Seattle's offense has shown it can generate explosive plays through multiple areas of the field. The main concern is game script: if Seattle controls the game early, there may not be enough passing volume for JSN to approach another 150-yard performance, but 90 yards remains a reasonable target given his role.

Smith-Njigba is the biggest threat to Adams scoring the most receiving touchdowns; Wr Tyreek Hill believes he will be the first to reach 2,000 receiving yards in a season, falling 207 yards short last year and appearing poised to achieve it soon.

JSN has become Drew Lock's primary target option; the source notes Lock 'has not hesitated to push the easy button and just throw it to JSN,' indicating heavy reliance and target volume that Washington must account for defensively, suggesting sustained high usage and target share.

WR commanding an absurd 44% target share through two games in 2026, continuing his elite receiving role from 2025 when he led the NFL with 35.8% target share. The Seahawks have simplified the passing game for backup QB Drew Lock by scheming to throw to their best player, making JSN the primary receiving option.

JSN has become Drew Lock's primary target in high-leverage situations; the source notes Lock "has not hesitated to push the easy button and just throw it to JSN," making JSN a focal point of Seattle's offense. Washington's defensive gameplan will need to focus on slowing down JSN in order to have a shot at containing the Seahawks offense.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is being targeted at an absurd 44% share through two games in 2026, up from leading the NFL with a 35.8% target share last year. The Seahawks are simplifying the passing game for backup QB Drew Lock by scheming him to throw to his best player, making JSN the focal point of the offense.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is listed as a GPP-only play for DFS in the Commanders versus Seahawks matchup.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a key weapon for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks, contributing to the team's overall talent advantage, though Sam Wallace still prefers Bryce Young's trajectory in Superflex leagues.

The source rates Jaxon Smith-Njigba as an undisputed WR1 who continues to build off an already incredible 2025 season. Despite concerns about regression from other analysts, JSN commands roughly 44% of the Seahawks' target share and can overcome the QB injury situation. The source projects him at WR1 and explicitly states 'he continues to exist in his own plane of reality, with roughly three gaps between himself and anyone else.'