Rashid Shaheed earned consistent looks from quarterback Sam Darnold during spring practices as Seattle expands his route tree. Regardless, Seattle self-identifies as a run-first offense, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba anchors this passing game following a massive season defined by an elite 35.9-percent target share and 3.72 yards per route run.
Adding short and intermediate targets to Shaheed’s portfolio raises his fantasy floor after being restricted to a low-volume deep role in 2025. Game scripts will drive Shaheed’s weekly upside. He has significant best ball appeal and is a screaming value in dynasty start-ups as PlayerProfiler’s Dynasty WR55.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was ...
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was ...
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged ...
The Seattle Seahawks are preparing to heavily deploy pre-snap motion under new play-caller Nick Fleury, a strategic shift that added an average of 0.25 yards per play across the league last season. This versatile alignment directly impacts tight ends AJ Barner, who earned a 15.0-percent target share in 2025, and Elijah Arroyo, who posted a 16.9 college yards per reception on his way to be drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
While it remains uncertain how frequently quarterback Sam Darnold target tight ends, the schematic change elevates the overall fantasy ceiling for this entire passing offense. Under Fleury, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed should enjoy more clean releases, and Arroyo will likely see a significantly higher snap share and route participation rate per PlayerProfiler.
More Shaheed and less Kupp is music to the ears of fantasy gamers around the world. This sentiment makes good sense after the Seattle Seahawks re-signed Rashid Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million contract despite an ordinary 59-reception, 687-yard line that yielded just 8.7 Fantasy Points Per Game.
This financial commitment signals a true structural shift in Seattle, directly threatening Cooper Kupp coming off a paltry 7.3 Fantasy Points Per Game season. Shaheed brings a 32.2-percent Deep Target Share to the table, making him the clear choice to take the pressure off Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a more dynamic WR2 for the offense. Shaheed will be a spike week specialist WR3/4 and great ADP value across all fantasy football formats this season.
First reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has signed a record-breaking four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seahawks that includes $120 million guaranteed and makes him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.
The 2025 Offensive Player of the Year earned this historic payday after leading the league with 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 119 catches while helping Seattle secure a Super Bowl LX title. Coming just days after the team exercised his fifth-year option, this landmark deal officially keeps the star wideout under contract through the 2031 season.
The Seattle Seahawks came out of Super Bowl LX victorious, but it wasn’t due to the production of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who finished the game with four receptions on 10 targets, totalling just 27 yards. The Offensive Player of the Year was shadowed by Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and allowed more volume to flow through Walker and Kupp.
The lack of production in the big game should not make fantasy managers shy away from drafting Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his current ADP. The Seahawks roster will look very similar heading into the 2026 season, and there’s no reason to think Darnold and JSN would lose their historic chemistry. With a top 5 ADP on both FastDraft and Underdog, drafters should be selecting Smith-Njigba with confidence that he can duplicate his 2025 season and anchor your team to Best Ball success.
Author: Dane Madoche (@FF_DaMaddog)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba smashed the franchise receiving record for the Seahawks this season, recording 119 receptions for 1793 yards and 10 touchdowns, finishing as the wide receiver two overall in PPR formats. He now becomes the second Seahawk to win the award.
Njigba found instant chemistry with Sam Darnold, was the focal point of the offense, and will once again be the primary driver in the Super Bowl on February 8th. He recorded the most games with over 100 yards in Seahawks history, as well as the most receptions. We saw the breakout happening in 2024, and he blew the doors right off in 2025, showing he has what it takes to be an elite receiver in the NFL for a long time.
Author: Dane Madoche (@FF_DaMaddog)
