On an otherwise awful offense, Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba remains the best receiver in football.
Smith-Njigba was last year’s NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and through six games this year he’s even better: He’s averaging more catches per game and more yards per game than he did last year, and he currently leads the NFL in multiple statistical categories, including receptions (49), receiving yards (717), receiving touchdowns (seven) and yards per touch (14.7).
At his current pace, Smith-Njigba would gain 2,032 receiving yards this season. That would give Smith-Njigba the first 2,000-yard receiving season in NFL history and break Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,964 yards in a season.
Smith-Njigba is also on pace for 139 catches, which would be the fourth-most in a season in NFL history, and 20 receiving touchdowns, which would be the third-most in a season in NFL history.
The bad news for the Seahawks is that they’re 3-3 despite having the NFL’s best wide receiver. Because starting quarterback Sam Darnold has been absolutely terrible when throwing to anyone other than Smith-Njigba, and backup Drew Lock also didn’t do much when throwing to anyone else in the two games Lock had to fill in for the injured Darnold.
When throwing to Smith-Njigba this season, Darnold and Lock are a combined 49-for-66 for 717 yards, with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. That’s a passer rating of 131.9.
On all throws not to Smith-Njigba, Darnold and Lock are a combined 76-for-131 for 738 yards, with four touchdowns and five interceptions. That’s a passer rating of 68.2.
The Seahawks’ running game has struggled this year as well, after letting last year’s starting running back, Kenneth Walker, leave in free agency, and still not having last year’s No. 2 running back, Zach Charbonnet, as he recovers from a knee injury.
So it’s been all Smith-Njigba. He’s doing his best to carry the Seahawks’ offense by himself, but he could use some help.