Fantasy Impact: Seahawks Take Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the 2023 NFL Draft

The Buckeye star joins a talented wide receiving corps in Seattle.

The Seahawks selected Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the No. 20 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He missed most of last season due to an injured hamstring, but he was a stat sheet stuffer in 2021 with 95 catches, 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. Smith-Njigba is a slender wideout at 6’1” and 196 pounds, but he’s a strong route runner with impressive ball skills who creates space at the line.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba fantasy football ranking and analysis

Those fantasy fans looking for some instant gratification will likely be disappointed though, as Seattle already boasts a solid duo of wideouts in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. That makes Smith-Njigba the third option in the pass attack at best, barring any injuries to his veteran teammates. It’s not a great fantasy landing spot for 2023, but he could be a nice long-term PPR option for those in dynasty leagues.

Smith-Njigba does give Geno Smith another weapon in his arsenal, so the move is a good one for last year’s surprising fantasy QB5 from a season ago. As for Metcalf and Lockett, the rookie’s presence shouldn’t alter their draft stock drastically. 

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