Jaxon Smith-Njigba's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Seattle Seahawks new head coach Mike Macdonald said "his practice habits are awesome" when discussing wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's big day at organized team activities this week. The feeling inside the organization was that Smith-Njigba really improved in that regard as his rookie season progressed, along with his wrist healing later in the year. After Seattle selected him with the 20th overall pick last year out of Ohio State, the 22-year-old caught 63 of his 93 targets for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games (three starts). While those numbers might have been a bit disappointing for some given his draft pedigree, you also have to remember he did it with both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett ahead of him on the receiver depth chart. Seattle may be impressed with his work ethic, but it's probably going to take an injury to one of Metcalf or Lockett to take the next step for fantasy managers.

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.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba saw a season-low two targets in Week 17. The one catch he made resulted in a 12-yard touchdown, salvaging an otherwise forgettable outing. Working behind veterans DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett (toe), Smith-Njigba never had the big rookie breakout that fantasy football players were hoping for in 2023. His best game of the season came in Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals, when he caught four passes for 63 yards (his season-high, tied once) and a touchdown. Metcalf was absent from that contest but he will be starting in Week 18 when the Seahawks and Cardinals square off again on Sunday. Arizona's secondary is exploitable but their run defense is the worst in the league, so it is likely that Seattle leans on the run to the detriment of their pass catchers. Smith-Njigba is on the field often enough to warrant taking a chance on in DFS lineups but managers in a Week 18 championship game should not bank on the aforementioned breakout game occurring in the season finale.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was targeted just twice in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rookie made one reception in the game for a 12-yard touchdown. Smith-Njigba's other target came on a wonderfully timed gimmick play that fell apart. In motion before the play, quarterback Geno Smith flipped Smith-Njigba the ball almost as soon as he took the snap himself but the receiver muffed the exchange. The play initially looked like a fumble recovered by the Steelers but it was ultimately ruled an incomplete forward pass. Smith-Njigba never had the fabled rookie breakout in 2023 but had several outings where he was a worthwhile flex start lending room for optimism about what 2024 will entail. In Week 18, the Seahawks visit the Arizona Cardinals where Smith-Njigba will again be fighting for attention behind veterans DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.