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.
Massive output in loss
WRSeattle Seahawks
November 3, 2024
Smith-Njigba finished with seven receptions (on 13 targets) for 180 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 26-20 overtime loss to the Rams.
ANALYSIS
Smith-Njigba produced his finest stat line as a pro despite his team taking the loss Sunday. It was the sophomore's first game with two touchdowns while recording over 100 receiving yards. Smith-Njigba will enter Seattle's bye week with a respectable 50-568-3 receiving line across nine games, setting up a Nov. 17 matchup against San Francisco in Week 11.
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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
75.7
 
Air Yards Per Snap
1.39
 
% Team Air Yards
28.4%
 
% Team Targets
22.7%
 
Avg Depth of Target
9.1 Yds
 
Catch Rate
66.7%
 
Drop Rate
4.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
4.8
 
% Targeted On Route
19.7%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.49
 
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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

49086%
15085%
41472%
13576%
38968%
4324%
19033%
10358%
417%
95%
336%
3319%
214%
106%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Jaxon Smith-Njigba lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the 49ers pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
SF
@ 49ers
Sunday, Nov 17th at 4:05PM
Overall QB Rating Against
60.5
 
Cornerbacks
62.8
 
Safeties
47.8
 
Linebackers
66.6
 
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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
Weekly Rankings: Week 11 Value Meter
Yesterday
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Target Breakdown: WR & TE Usage Report + Week 10 Waivers Preview
9 days ago
WR DeAndre Hopkins didn't need long to get comfortable in his new home, taking on a larger role and scoring two touchdowns in his second game for the Chiefs.
Backfield Breakdown: RB Usage Report & Week 10 Waivers Preview
9 days ago
Rico Dowdle and Chase Brown thrived in expanded roles Week 9, but it's unclear if they'll match the huge workloads moving forward. RW's Jerry Donabedian has the scoop, plus his Week 10 waivers preview.
Weekly Rankings: Week 10 Value Meter
9 days ago
Justin Jefferson gets a sweet matchup against the Jaguars this week.
Box Score Breakdown: Week 9 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
10 days ago
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the star of Week 9, leading the league in fantasy points and air yards despite taking nearly all of his snaps in the slot. RW's Jerry Donabedian has the full breakdown from Sunday.
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
Leading receiver in loss
WRSeattle Seahawks
October 27, 2024
Smith-Njigba brought in six of seven targets for 69 yards in Sunday's 31-10 loss to the Bills.
ANALYSIS
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Single-digit yardage in win
WRSeattle Seahawks
October 20, 2024
Smith-Njigba brought in three of six targets for nine yards in the Seahawks' 34-14 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Solid showing in loss
WRSeattle Seahawks
October 10, 2024
Smith-Njigba brought in five of nine targets for 53 yards and committed a fumble recovered by Seattle in the Seahawks' 36-24 loss to the 49ers on Thursday night.
ANALYSIS
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Hits paydirt Sunday
WRSeattle Seahawks
October 6, 2024
Smith-Njigba hauled in four of his seven targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 29-20 loss to the Giants.
ANALYSIS
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Garners 12 targets on MNF
WRSeattle Seahawks
September 30, 2024
Smith-Njigba finished with eight catches off of 12 targets for 51 yards in Monday's 42-29 loss to Detroit.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be WR1 sans Metcalf
WRSeattle Seahawks
October 25, 2024
Smith-Njigba could be quarterback Geno Smith's go-to target for Sunday's game against the Bills as DK Metcalf is unlikely to play due to a left knee sprain, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Metcalf sprained his left knee late during the Seahawks' 34-14 win over the Falcons this past Sunday, finishing with four catches on seven targets for 99 yards and a score. Smith-Njigba finished with just three catches on six targets for nine yards, but that low output against Atlanta was partially due to a negative game script. Against a Bills' offense that has been bolstered by the acquisition of Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper, Smith-Njigba, Tyler Lockett and tight end Noah Fant should all see heavier involvement in the passing game in Metcalf's absence.
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