The Seattle Seahawks’ receiving corps has undergone a massive transformation, creating both opportunity and uncertainty for fantasy managers heading into the 2025 season. With DK Metcalf gone and Tyler Lockett departed, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is positioned to finally break out as the team’s primary target under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Fantasy Outlook
Mason LeBeau Analysis: We just missed out on the Jaxon Smith-Njigba ADP explosion, which will be a blessing and a curse. A blessing because the path towards fantasy dominance is still pretty clear.
There’s no DK Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp is clearly in a WR2 role. This passing game, which should be a vast improvement with new OC Klint Kubiak, will run through “JSN.” The former first-round pick enters his third season already seeing a massive uptick in production and should be primed for a huge season.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 37.0 Fantasy Points, WR1
He had an additional 78 yards negated by holding penalties yesterday..
dude could’ve finished with 258 yards pic.twitter.com/c0ctYx0S8q
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) November 4, 2024
The curse is the reason his ADP didn’t shoot way up into the teens. While the offensive system should be an upgrade, the quarterback may not. Geno Smith moved on, and Sam Darnold will command the offense. While Darnold is coming off an incredible year, a lot of that production can be attributed to the stacked Vikings offense and the coaching he received. Smith-Njigba could be good, but he won’t be Justin Jefferson.
A new offense and quarterback leave projections a little less clear. His ADP didn’t fall quite as much as I’d hope, but you’ll still currently need to commit a third-round pick for him. He’s a very specific type of player — a master of space, both finding and creating it. He is not the physical style of receiver that true WR1s often are, but he’ll mostly reside in the slot, where some of that can be mitigated.
His best game last season came against the rival Rams when DK Metcalf was out, resulting in seven receptions, 180 yards, and two touchdowns. Should that be a sign of what is to come, then big things lie ahead. While I’m not all in on his fantasy prospect, I’d lean toward taking a shot on him at his current price. Darnold should be able to feed him the ball, and Kubiak should be able to find him favorable looks.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
Cooper Kupp Fantasy Outlook
Cooper Kupp’s days of fantasy dominance are over, but the veteran still has a role to play in Seattle. The former Ram steps into a Seahawks team with 246 vacated targets up for grabs following the departures of WR DK Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett, and TE Noah Fant. After Jaxon Smith-Njigba claims his share, Kupp is the expected WR2, followed by rookies Tory Horton and Elijah Arroyo.
Kupp is more suited to the Lockett role than he is the Metcalf role, with Horton likely to take on the more aggressive perimeter routes. That makes it difficult to get excited about Kupp, but he should continue to be a safe floor play in PPR when healthy.
Going in the eighth round, Kupp is a far less intriguing option than some of the younger names being drafted around him, which could see him slip further. There should be no doubting the player’s talent, though, and his skill set ages fairly well. Injuries remain a concern; Kupp hasn’t played 17 games since his triple crown-winning 2021 campaign, but the new Seahawk should probably be pushed back to the ninth round of drafts.
– Cameron Sheath, Fantasy Football Analyst
