Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Fantasy Value after Sam Darnold's Injury

Quick Facts

• Sam Darnold left Seattle’s Week 1 win over New England with a hip injury.
• Drew Lock stepped in and led the Seahawks to a 13-10 comeback win.
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished with 8 catches for 122 yards and 1 TD.
• JSN caught a 45-yard touchdown from Lock in the fourth quarter.
• Lock completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a TD.
• Darnold’s injury could impact Seattle’s offense if he misses extended time.

Key Takeaways

• JSN remains a must-start fantasy receiver.
• His strong performance with Lock is an encouraging sign for his fantasy value.
• Lock is a downgrade from Darnold, but he clearly showed he can get JSN the ball.
• JSN’s volume gives him a strong floor even with a backup quarterback.
• If Darnold misses multiple weeks, JSN’s ceiling takes a hit, but his fantasy value should remain strong.
• I would not sell JSN because of Darnold’s injury.

JSN Just Proved He Can Produce Without Darnold

Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s fantasy managers had to hold their breath when Sam Darnold went down with a hip injury in Seattle’s season opener against New England. Darnold was forced out early after taking a sack and finished the night completing just one of two passes for 13 yards. The one completion went to Smith-Njigba. At first, losing the quarterback who helped lead Seattle to a Super Bowl last season looked like a major problem for JSN’s fantasy value. Then Drew Lock stepped in and helped lead the Seahawks to a 13-10 comeback win. More importantly for fantasy managers, Smith-Njigba was still the focal point of the offense. JSN finished the night with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, including a massive 45-yard touchdown from Lock in the fourth quarter that tied the game. That performance changes the conversation.

Drew Lock Is Not Darnold, But He Can Feed JSN

Nobody should pretend Drew Lock is the same quarterback as Sam Darnold. Darnold was one of the biggest reasons Seattle’s offense was expected to take another step this season, and losing him for an extended period would obviously hurt the entire offense. However, Lock showed Wednesday that he can keep the passing game functional.He completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown after taking over. Most importantly, Lock didn’t shy away from throwing to JSN when Seattle needed a play. The 45-yard touchdown was especially encouraging. On fourth down, Lock found JSN underneath, and Smith-Njigba did the rest, turning a short completion into a huge touchdown. For fantasy purposes, that is exactly what you want to see.

JSN’s Volume Should Remain Safe

The biggest reason I am not panicking about JSN is his role. Smith-Njigba is not dependent on hitting three or four deep passes every game to have fantasy value. He can rack up catches underneath, work from the slot and create yards after the catch. That makes him much safer with a backup quarterback than a receiver who relies almost entirely on deep targets. Seattle also has other weapons, including Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed, but JSN looks like the receiver most capable of remaining heavily involved regardless of who is throwing the ball. Wednesday night was a perfect example. Even with Darnold leaving almost immediately, JSN still finished with 122 yards and a touchdown.

Should Fantasy Managers Be Worried?

There is definitely some concern, especially if Darnold ends up missing multiple games. But the latest news is relatively encouraging. Initial testing showed no fracture, and Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald described that as “great news.” An MRI was scheduled for Thursday, and later reporting indicated the injury was muscular rather than structural. Darnold is expected to miss Seattle’s Week 2 matchup with Arizona. That means this may not be a season-long problem. If Darnold only misses a game or two, I would barely change my outlook on JSN. If he misses several weeks, however, I would lower expectations slightly. The ceiling probably takes a hit with Lock under center, particularly against tougher defenses. The floor still looks strong.

JSN Remains a Must-Start Fantasy Receiver

After what we saw Wednesday night, I would not be selling Jaxon Smith-Njigba because of the Darnold injury. If anything, his performance should make fantasy managers feel better. He caught eight passes, topped 120 yards, and scored a touchdown while playing with both quarterbacks. That is exactly the type of usage you want from a fantasy WR1. Darnold’s injury is obviously something to monitor, but JSN has already shown he can produce without him. If Darnold returns quickly, JSN remains a high-end fantasy WR1. If Lock has to start for a few weeks, I would still view Smith-Njigba as a strong WR1, but you should maybe look into other strong WR options. The quarterback situation creates some uncertainty, but after Wednesday night, I am much less worried about JSN than I was when Darnold first went down.