Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs Jonathan Taylor
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Jul 5, 2026
Should you draft Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Jonathan Taylor?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SF | 14.9 | WR14 | 13 | 9 | 124 | 0 |
2 | PIT | 14.3 | WR19 | 10 | 8 | 103 | 0 |
3 | NO | 18.1 | WR7 | 6 | 5 | 96 | 1 |
4 | ARI | 11.0 | WR25 | 5 | 4 | 79 | 0 |
5 | TB | 23.2 | WR3 | 9 | 8 | 132 | 1 |
6 | JAX | 26.2 | WR3 | 13 | 8 | 162 | 1 |
7 | HOU | 22.3 | WR7 | 14 | 8 | 123 | 1 |
8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | WAS | 18.0 | WR9 | 9 | 8 | 129 | 0 |
10 | ARI | 17.8 | WR9 | 6 | 5 | 93 | 1 |
11 | LAR | 16.1 | WR10 | 12 | 9 | 105 | 0 |
12 | TEN | 33.1 | WR1 | 10 | 8 | 167 | 2 |
13 | MIN | 3.3 | WR71 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 0 |
14 | ATL | 24.6 | WR3 | 10 | 7 | 92 | 2 |
15 | IND | 14.8 | WR14 | 9 | 7 | 113 | 0 |
16 | LAR | 19.6 | WR6 | 13 | 8 | 96 | 1 |
17 | CAR | 11.7 | WR22 | 12 | 9 | 72 | 0 |
18 | SF | 11.4 | WR16 | 8 | 6 | 84 | 0 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | MIA | 11.3 | RB22 | 18 | 71 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 0 |
2 | DEN | 28.5 | RB1 | 25 | 165 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 1 |
3 | TEN | 31.3 | RB1 | 17 | 102 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 0 |
4 | LAR | 12.1 | RB22 | 17 | 76 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 0 |
5 | LV | 30.1 | RB2 | 17 | 66 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 0 |
6 | ARI | 21.7 | RB7 | 21 | 123 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 0 |
7 | LAC | 32.7 | RB3 | 16 | 94 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 0 |
8 | TEN | 36.4 | RB1 | 12 | 153 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 1 |
9 | PIT | 6.7 | RB30 | 14 | 45 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 |
10 | ATL | 48.1 | RB1 | 32 | 244 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 0 |
11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
12 | KC | 7.6 | RB26 | 16 | 58 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
13 | HOU | 13.6 | RB19 | 21 | 85 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 0 |
14 | JAX | 11.4 | RB20 | 21 | 74 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
15 | SEA | 11.6 | RB21 | 25 | 87 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
16 | SF | 15.4 | RB18 | 16 | 46 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 0 |
17 | JAX | 15.9 | RB13 | 21 | 70 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
18 | HOU | 4.9 | RB48 | 14 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 |
Latest takes
“It's hard to ignore how efficient Jaxon Smith-Njigba was in 2025. Smith-Njigba ranked fifth in targets, but was second in receiving yards (1,794). Four of his touchdowns came on passes of 20+ yards downfield, on which he had an absurd 60% catch rate. Sam Darnold played out of his mind, and the Seahawks ran pure, so efficiency is always a concern when looking year to year for fantasy football.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 3“The Seahawks wasted no time rewarding reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the biggest wide receiver contract in NFL history this offseason.”
Nikhil Mehta· Jun 27“Jaxon Smith-Njigba is only 24 years old and is coming off a season in which he won the Offensive Player of the Year. He reeled in 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 21.2 fantasy points per game average ranked second behind only Puka Nacua. Smith-Njigba finished in the top three in nearly every major efficiency metric, and he did that on a whopping 163 targets.”
Wolf Trelles-Heard· Jun 27
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“Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year after leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards.”
Sharp Football Staff· Jun 24“The only cause for concern is Klint Kubiak leaving to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, which could lead to a dip in Sam Darnold's efficiency. The positive side, though, is that the team didn't make any major additions at receiver, aside from bringing back Rashid Shaheed. If Zach Charbonnet isn't back and rookie Jadarian Price can't adapt to the NFL quickly, could we see even more volume from Smith-Njigba?”
Tom Strachan· Jun 17“It was a truly special year for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, leading the league in receiving yards (1,794), catching 119 passes on 163 targets for 10 touchdowns, and helping the Seahawks to a Super Bowl.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 17“It was a truly special year for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, leading the league in receiving yards (1,794), catching 119 passes on 163 targets for 10 touchdowns, and helping the Seahawks to a Super Bowl.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 6“The Seahawks have one of the league's best wide receivers in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.”
Nikhil Mehta· May 10“That production resulted in a first-team All-Pro nod along with a Pro Bowl invitation in addition to OPOY honors. Smith-Njigba remained an important contributor on offense through Seattle's playoff run and helped the team win Super Bowl LX.”
Adam La Rose· Mar 24“His production saw a notable jump in 2024 (100 receptions, 1,130 yards, six touchdowns) before spiking once more this past season. With the Seahawks having traded away D.K. Metcalf, Smith-Njigba saw his yards per reception figure increase to a career-best 15.1. He also set a new personal mark with 10 touchdowns while leading the NFL in receiving yards.”
Adam La Rose· Mar 24“As a rookie, the former first-rounder averaged fewer than 37 receiving yards per game. Over time, though, Seattle's setup at the receiver spot has made Smith-Njigba more of a focal point.”
Adam La Rose· Mar 24“Jaxon Smith-Njigba has not needed to wait long to secure his Seahawks extension. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year agreed to terms with Seattle on Monday, with team and player finalizing a four-year, $168.6MM pact.”
Adam La Rose· Mar 24“Bobo will remain in place on a Seattle team which has Jaxon Smith-Njigba attached to a massive extension worked out earlier today.”
Adam La Rose· Mar 24“The Seahawks inked Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a record-breaking four-year, $168.6MM deal that resets the wide receiver position's average annual value ($42.15MM) and guarantees ($120MM).”
Ben Levine· Mar 24“With the salary cap surpassing $300MM, Smith-Njigba will aim to match or outpace Chase and Jefferson's pacts during negotiations.”
Adam La Rose· Mar 23
“Jonathan Taylor was absolutely dominant for the first half of last season. From Week 12 onwards, he was the RB21, with an explosive run rate of 0.7% (41st). Taylor is heading into a contract year, likely his last massive one, after turning 27 this offseason, and he'll be motivated with his quarterback returning and virtually no competition for touches.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 25“The entire Colts offense runs through Jonathan Taylor, with DJ Giddens and incoming seventh-round rookie Seth McGowan as his backups.”
Edward DeLauter· Jun 23“Taylor is heading into a contract year, likely his last massive one, after turning 27 this offseason. He'll be motivated, have his quarterback returning, who might need to lean on the run game more, and once again has virtually no competition for touches.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 21
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“Jonathan Taylor was absolutely dominant for the first half of last season. According to teams synced with our FantasyPros tools, the Colts back led all players in playoff advance rate at 66.8%. Simply drafting Taylor gave you a two-in-three chance of making the playoffs.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 21“Jonathan Taylor led the NFL in snap share last season (89%) and ranked second in opportunity share (84%). Without an injury, he isn't coming off the field.”
Jeff Krisko· Jun 21“Taylor is heading into a contract year, likely his last massive one, after turning 27 this offseason. He'll be motivated, have his quarterback returning, who might need to lean on the run game more, and once again has virtually no competition for touches.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 19“Jonathan Taylor was absolutely dominant for the first half of last season, leading all players in playoff advance rate at 66.8%. However, from Week 12 onwards, he was the RB21, with an explosive run rate of 0.7% (41st).”
Tom Strachan· Jun 19“Taylor is heading into a contract year, likely his last massive one, after turning 27 this offseason. He'll be motivated, have his quarterback returning, who might need to lean on the run game more, and once again has virtually no competition for touches. There's a very real world where Taylor is a top-two back this season.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 17“Jonathan Taylor was absolutely dominant for the first half of last season. Had Daniel Jones not gotten injured, Taylor most likely could have stayed effective throughout the whole season.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 17“Taylor was the fantasy RB4 in points per game, but from Week 12 onwards, he was the RB21, with an explosive run rate of 0.7% (41st) and ranking 36th in yards after contact, with just three rushing touchdowns.”
Tom Strachan· Jun 6“If you had a tier of running backs with Jonathan Taylor and Omarion Hampton, but you can get Hampton cheaper, you'll then need to determine whether the difference moves you more toward targeting someone like Hampton or if the cost justifies taking Taylor.”
Richard Janvrin· Jun 4“They noted how dramatically his fantasy production shifted depending on the health and effectiveness of the Colts' offense, and questions about Daniel Jones' health, the passing game, and Taylor's long-term durability all contributed to skepticism about drafting him as a top-three running back.”
FantasyPros Staff· May 21“While Jonathan Taylor still sits near the top of fantasy RB rankings, the conversation highlighted growing concerns surrounding his current draft cost. The hosts pointed to Taylor's heavy workload and dependence on quarterback play as reasons for caution.”
FantasyPros Staff· May 21“Jonathan Taylor rushing yards Under 1225.5 CZR -115 (1 unit)”
Warren Sharp· May 20“Taylor finished last season with massive rushing totals, but his year felt uneven due to a dramatic late-season drop-off. The FantasyPros crew pointed to quarterback instability and schedule imbalance as major factors behind the decline.”
FantasyPros Staff· May 10
So who do you have — Smith-Njigba or Taylor?
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