Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

22-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
Seattle Seahawks
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Smith-Njigba was a divisive prospect coming out of Ohio State last year, with his credentials as a first-round pick almost entirely dependent on his 1,600-yard sophomore season. He barely played as a freshman -- no crime in an offense loaded with future first-round WRs -- and then caught just five passes in three games during an injury-plagued junior campaign. Smith-Njigba excelled in agility drills at the 2023 Combine, but he skipped the 40-yard dash (later running a 4.48-4.53 at his pro day) and didn't make up for it with size (6-1, 196). Seattle took the plunge with the 20th overall pick, making "JSN" the first of four straight receivers drafted. Of the four, Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison definitely had better rookie seasons, while Quentin Johnston came away looking worse than Smith-Njigba. Truthfully, Smith-Njigba's unusual usage makes it tough to draw conclusions from his rookie season even though he took on 93 targets and 675 snaps in 17 games. He took 68 percent of his snaps either in the slot or lined up tight to the formation, and more than one-third of his targets came from behind the line of scrimmage. Smith-Njigba's failure to draw looks downfield might seem damning -- just 24 targets 10-plus yards from the LOS -- until you remember he was a 21-year-old in the same offense as a healthy DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. We can't project big volume with Metcalf and Lockett still around and QB Geno Smith still throwing the passes, but new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb could boost the pace and play volume relative to sluggish former OC Shane Waldron, and Smith-Njigba's continued development could allow him to overtake Lockett this year or next. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Signed a four-year, $14.42 million contract with the Seahawks in May of 2023.
Quiet finish to stellar campaign
WRSeattle Seahawks
January 5, 2025
Smith-Njigba corralled four of five targets for nine yards while taking his only carry for four yards in Sunday's 30-25 win over the Rams.
ANALYSIS
Smith-Njigba had an unusually quiet finale to what was a true breakout fantasy season in 2024. The 22-year-old still hit a milestone despite Sunday's paltry yardage total, reaching 100 receptions for the first time in just his second season in the NFL. The Ohio State product's 100-1,130-6 receiving line led all Seattle receivers, and he could be in store for even more in 2025 if impending UDFA DK Metcalf decides to part ways with his longtime club after falling into JSN's shadow. Whatever the case, Smith-Njigba is shaping up to make a huge jump in ADP next season after putting up WR1 numbers as a sophomore.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 2024 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
67.4
 
Air Yards Per Snap
1.29
 
% Team Air Yards
29.2%
 
% Team Targets
24.0%
 
Avg Depth of Target
8.4 Yds
 
Catch Rate
73.0%
 
Drop Rate
2.2%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
4.8
 
% Targeted On Route
20.7%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.70
 
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2024
2023
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Seattle SeahawksSeahawks 2024 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

88886%
15291%
77575%
14486%
71369%
10462%
30129%
4125%
596%
00%
444%
00%
263%
21%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Jaxon Smith-Njigba lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
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Side
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2024 Jaxon Smith-Njigba Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Jaxon Smith-Njigba's measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* All metrics are from his Pro Day (not the combine).
Height
6' 0"
 
Weight
197 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.52 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.21 sec
 
Hand Length
9.00 in
 
Arm Length
30.62 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Jaxon Smith-Njigba See More
Box Score Breakdown: Week 18 Usage & 2025 ADP Estimates
8 days ago
Ravens TE Mark Andrews finished the season strong and should stay busy during the playoffs, especially if WR Zay Flowers is sidelined by a knee injury
NFL Reactions: Week 18 Recap
10 days ago
Jim Coventry reacts to Week 18, including Mike Evans, who recorded his 11th consecutive season with 1,000 receiving yards.
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 18 Matchups
11 days ago
Justin Jefferson looks truly unstoppable in a game where the Vikings need points and the Lions probably can't cover.
DraftKings NFL: Week 18 DFS Breakdown
12 days ago
The Week 18 DraftKings contest features Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a top mid-range value. Ryan Belongia analyzes the strategy and the picks.
NFL Game Previews: Week 18 Matchups
13 days ago
The Week 18 comes down to a Sunday night showdown between the Lions and Vikings with the NFC's No. 1 seed on the line. Erik Siegrist previews the games.
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Smith-Njigba didn't play much as a freshman at Ohio State and was limited to three appearances as a junior while battling hamstring injuries, but in between he put up 1,606 yards as a sophomore in an offense that also featured 2022 first-round picks Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. For what it's worth, Wilson has said Smith-Njigba is the best player of the trio -- a statement that became all the more interesting when both Wilson and Olave topped 1,000 yards as NFL rookies. While he doesn't quite have the straight-line speed to match his college teammates, the slot-based Smith-Njigba made waves at the 2023 combine with elite marks in the three-cone drill (6.57 seconds) and short shuttle (3.93). That's like where he'll play for the Seahawks, who made him the first wide receiver selected in this year's draft at 20th overall. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett figure to dominate the targets, but Smith-Njigba gives Seattle a third wideout it's lacked in recent years and could make an immediate impact in three-receiver sets.
More Fantasy News
Modest numbers in win
WRSeattle Seahawks
December 26, 2024
Smith-Njigba brought in three of six targets for 32 yards in the Seahawks' 6-3 win over the Bears on Thursday night.
ANALYSIS
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Stays hot with 100 yards plus TD
WRSeattle Seahawks
December 22, 2024
Smith-Njigba had eight receptions on 12 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown while taking his lone carry for five yards in Sunday's 27-24 loss to Minnesota.
ANALYSIS
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Leading receiver on SNF
WRSeattle Seahawks
December 15, 2024
Smith-Njigba corralled 10 of 12 targets for 83 receiving yards in Sunday's 30-13 loss to Green Bay.
ANALYSIS
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Stays hot with fifth touchdown
WRSeattle Seahawks
December 8, 2024
Smith-Njigba brought in all five of his targets for 82 yards and a touchdown while adding four rushing yards on one attempt in Sunday's 30-18 win over Arizona.
ANALYSIS
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Fourth straight game over 70 yards
WRSeattle Seahawks
December 1, 2024
Smith-Njigba caught all four of his targets for 74 yards and added a five-yard run in Sunday's 26-21 win over the Jets.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Opening up Seahawks' offense
WRSeattle Seahawks
November 23, 2024
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett said Friday that Smith-Njigba's performance in his sophomore year has unlocked Seattle's offense, particularly when the latter lines up in the slot, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
In the two games DK Metcalf was sidelined due to an MCL sprain he suffered against the Falcons in Week 7, Smith-Njigba logged 13 catches on 20 targets for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Even when Metcalf returned for Week 11 against the 49ers, Smith-Njigba still led the Seahawks' pass catchers with 10 catches for 110 yards, with 38 of those yards taking place on Seattle's game-winning drive. Smith-Njigba leads all receivers in yards and receptions while operating out of the slot, and his 272 yards after the catch is eighth-most in the NFL among wideouts.
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