We are now in Week 3 of the NFL season. That means the days of every player being healthy are long gone. As fantasy football managers prepare to set their lineups, last-minute updates can throw everything into chaos. Jaxon Smith-Njigba appeared on the injury report at the last possible moment. What is the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver dealing with, and is he in jeopardy of missing today’s game?
Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba Playing Week 3?
Fantasy managers never like seeing a push notification indicating a player has gone from “healthy to questionable.” That’s exactly what happened randomly to Smith-Njigba on Saturday afternoon, creating immediate concern among those counting on the third-year receiver for their lineups.
While it’s frustrating to see any player added to the injury report so late in the week, not every “Q” tag is created equal. Fortunately, Smith-Njigba is not injured in the traditional sense that fantasy managers fear. He is merely sick, which represents a far less concerning scenario than a physical ailment.
While it would be foolish to dismiss illness as nothing, especially given how it can affect performance and stamina, it’s exceedingly rare for players to miss games due to sickness alone. The NFL has seen countless examples of players battling through minor illnesses to take the field on game day.
The timing of Smith-Njigba’s questionable designation suggests the Seahawks are simply being cautious with their injury report obligations. Teams are required to list players who may be limited in any capacity, and illness certainly qualifies under those guidelines.
Fantasy managers should expect the Seahawks’ WR1 to play today against New Orleans. The late addition to the injury report appears to be more of a precautionary measure than an indication of serious availability concerns for Seattle’s primary receiving threat.
Smith-Njigba’s Fantasy Football Outlook
Puka Nacua, CeeDee Lamb, and Smith-Njigba.
Those are the three WRs who have finished top-15 at the position in each of the first two weeks this season, and it’s hard to say JSN’s name doesn’t belong in that tier.
I don’t think any of us doubted the potential in this profile, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who feared a bit of a learning curve in a new role with a new QB.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
Last season, Smith-Njigba was hyper-efficient (100 catches on 137 targets), operating mainly as a slot threat next to DK Metcalf. With that support gone and Cooper Kupp in, it was natural to think that he’d kick outside more, which was a naturally less efficient spot on the field.
Well, that’s been true. The first part. He spent 77.4% of his routes in the slot last season and is at 26.3% through two weeks this year. As for his efficiency numbers? They are nearly identical to his marks in 2021, and that’s something only the elite can pull off.
I’m not sure he can sustain that for 17 games, but he’s off to a great start and was always going to be a lineup lock.
Could he turn out to be the sleeper key that was needed at the drafts this summer?
— Kyle Soppe, PFSN Fantasy Analyst
