Jaxon Smith-Njigba enters his rookie year for the Seattle Seahawks as another talented part of a good offense, as he is the No.3 wide receiver behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. However, after having wrist surgery on Thursday, he may be out for potentially up to a month.
What exactly happened to JSN, and how should fantasy football managers value him as he appears set to miss the first part of his rookie season?
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What Happened to Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
While he didn’t play much last season at Ohio State, JSN showed two seasons ago how good he can be when he set a Big 10 record with 1,606 receiving yards, including a 15-catch, 347-yard performance in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
He only played in three games last year due to injury, but that didn’t deter the Seahawks from taking him No. 21 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
While Pete Carroll has said the surgery went well, it is looking more likely that Smith-Njigba will miss the opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
Editor’s Note:Â JSN has not been placed on the PUP list to begin the season, but his status for week one has yet to be determined. We’ll update when there is more information available.
Pete Carroll said JSN had a slight fracture and they want to make sure to do things right. 3-4 week issue and they’re staying optimistic about his timetable.
— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree)
What Are Seattle’s Options if Smith-Njigba Misses Time?
With Metcalf and Lockett already on the roster as established stars, the Seahawks aren’t counting on Smith-Njigba to be a No. 1, but he still has a prominent role on this team. However, a bigger issue with the injury to Smith-Njigba is the fact the Seahawks are having injury issues at the wide receiver position.
Jake Bobo is the only receiver not named Metcalf or Lockett who isn’t listed as questionable, and Dee Eskridge has been suspended for the first six games of the season after violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Don’t be surprised if the Seahawks bring in a receiver or two for a workout.
What Does This Mean for Smith-Njigba’s Fantasy Ranking?
Smith-Njigba currently sits at WR41 in the PFN consensus rankings and is looked at as a Round 9-12 type of player. Once the wrist is healed, JSN should be able to pick things up pretty fast.
With the Seahawks, his fantasy value is going to be tough to gauge because he isn’t the No. 1 option or even the No. 2. With guys like Metcalf and Lockett, as well as a strong rushing attack with Kenneth Walker, there are plenty of Seahawks who are going to be getting the ball.
Smith-Njigba is a guy who could see more looks late in the season, but this isn’t your typical first-round pick at receiver who is expected to be the “go-to guy” from Day 1.
