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Jaxon Smith-Njigba 2023 Outlook: Could Start Slow After Wrist Surgery
1 year agoSeattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an intriguing prospect coming into the NFL, but his year-one production is tough to project -- especially given his wrist surgery just weeks before the 2023 campaign. The former Ohio State Buckeye posted 1,600 yards as a sophomore (2021) playing alongside Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson but played in just three games in 2022. He was once viewed as a top-10 prospect in the 2023 class, but ultimately fell to No. 20 overall. Now, he shares a position room with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The immense target competition is cause for concern but as Lockett enters his age-31 season in 2023, could Smith-Njigba carve out a role as a volume slot receiver? It's possible. Geno Smith's passing offense was one of the best in the NFL last year, and Smith-Njigba is sure to get a ton of favorable matchups in the intermediate areas of the field. With all the mouths to feed in Seattle, the rookie could fail to be a consistent fantasy producer, but boom weeks should be expected. That said, his greatest value might be in best ball leagues. In traditional leagues, he's a high-upside pick for WR-heavy builds at his WR34 ADP. If Lockett or Metcalf miss multiple games, he could smash his draft position. Again, his outlook is dependent on how he comes back from his wrist ailment.
