JSN’s Quiet Start Raises Eyebrows in Week 13
So, there’s been a lot of chatter today about Jaxon Smith-Njigba and whether he’s actually playing in this Week 13 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. And to clear that up right away — yes, he is on the field, he is healthy, and he is active. But if you’ve been watching the early part of the game, you’ve probably noticed something unusual: he hasn’t been targeted at all through the first quarter. For a player who’s been putting up historic numbers this season, that slow start is definitely surprising.
Now, let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture. JSN is in his third NFL season, and by this point, he has already established himself as one of the league’s elite wide receivers. Through 11 games, he’s racked up 1,313 receiving yards and is on a legitimate pace to potentially break 2,000 yards — which has never been done by a wide receiver in NFL history. That tells you just how consistently dominant he’s been.
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But today’s game began very differently. Seattle’s offense has struggled to get any rhythm, mostly because Sam Darnold has been under relentless pressure. When a quarterback is spending most of the first quarter scrambling or getting hit, it becomes nearly impossible to work through progressions or set up timing-based routes — which are often where JSN thrives. So while it might look like he’s being overlooked, the reality is that the offense hasn’t even had space to operate normally yet.
Despite the slow start, it feels like only a matter of time before Smith-Njigba finds his footing in this game. He’s been one of the most reliable players in the league this season, delivering big plays and monster stat lines week after week. Not a single defense has managed to truly shut him down, and even his worst outing came during a blowout where Seattle barely passed the ball at all. So the expectation is that once Darnold has a little more stability in the pocket — even just a little — the ball will start finding its way to JSN again.
And for anyone paying attention to fantasy or DFS plays this week, his upside was one of the big storylines coming in. Even against a strong Vikings defense that ranks well against wide receivers, his track record of explosive yardage, high-volume catches, and consistent production makes him one of the week’s most intriguing options.
Bottom line: yes, he’s playing. Yes, the quiet start is noticeable. But based on everything he’s shown this season, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he heats up quickly once Seattle settles in.
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