The NFL’s leader in receiving yards resides in Seattle.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the league with 696 yards, 80 more than a banged-up Puka Nacua and a whopping 171 ahead of third-place George Pickens. JSN’s 116.0 yards per game also outdistances Nacua (102.7) for the top spot.
Despite the dynamite start to the season, Smith-Njigba isn’t getting nearly the hype he deserves. If it were, say, Justin Jefferson, putting up these numbers, his face would be on every Wheaties box from Minneapolis to the Kerguelen Islands.
Through six games, JSN has destroyed every coverage that’s attempted to stop him. Even last week, when he was slowed early against Jacksonville, going for 24 yards on four targets in the first quarter, he still generated 117 by halftime and 162 for the game, which Seattle won, 20-12. Smith-Njigba explodes like a firework, generating 13 plays of 20-plus yards and five of 40-plus this season. His 30 receiving first downs are second only to Nacua.
Heading into Monday’s showdown, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans knows that he’s got his hands full with Sam Darnold’s go-to target.
“JSN has done an outstanding job this year for Seattle,” Ryans said Tuesday, via the team’s official transcript. “Darnold has found a nice target to throw to and he’s made that entire offense go. Whether you’re covering him or not, he’s making explosive plays game after game. He continues to show up. JSN, he’s definitely having a Pro Bowl-caliber year. He’s doing an outstanding job.”
Pro Bowl might be an undersell. Smith-Njigba is on pace for first-team All-Pro honors — right now, it really shouldn’t be particularly close.
Smith-Njigba’s play is reminiscent of should-be Hall of Famer Steve Smith Sr., another explosive playmaker who dominated on a run-first team and was often overlooked by the general public.
Monday night will mark JSN’s stiffest test of the season, when he goes up against Ryans’ potent defense, led in the secondary by Derek Stingley Jr., who has allowed a 51.5 passer rating as the nearest defender since 2024.
