Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s MVP Case Gains Momentum as Seahawks’ Star Shines Bright in 2025 Season 🌟
The Seattle Seahawks have been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season and a lot of that is because of the phenomenal play of third-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The Seahawks wideout has topped 100 receiving yards in all but two of Seattle's eight games this season and currently leads the league with 948 receiving yards, more than 100 yards ahead of Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase (831).
Although Smith-Njigba is only tied for the 14th-fewest odds to win the NFL MVP (+10000, per DraftKings), former player and current ESPN analyst Andrew Hawkins believes he is the 'actual MVP,' and he certainly has a point.
Andrew Hawkins puts Jaxon Smith-Njigba at the top of MVP race
"Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the actual MVP of the NFL. ... The person who is dominating is JSN," Hawkins said during an appearance on Thursday's edition of "Get Up." "He's averaging 118 yards per game. Last year, he had 1,100 yards. He has 948 (yards) in eight games (this season). Last thing I'll say, 4.6 yards per route. Had Calvin Johnson done that in 2012 when he broke the receiving record, he would have had 3,503 yards that season."
Quarterbacks have won the MVP award each season dating back to the 2013 campaign, with former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson taking the crown in 2012. Amazingly, no WR has ever won the award, so the odds are certainly stacked against Smith-Njigba.
With that said, his 2025 season he been nothing short of extraordinary. His 948 yards are by far the most on the Seahawks, well ahead of Cooper Kupp, who has 293 yards.
Not only that, he has been QB Sam Darnold's clear go-to option, with his 79 targets more than twice as many as Kupp (33). That speaks to a player who is reliable, but also willing to make plays down the field whenever the ball is in his vicinity.
Let's face it, 12 of the 13 players ahead of Smith-Njigba on the oddsboard are QBs, so it will likely not matter how his dominant season so far stacks up in the end. Johnson had 1,964 yards when he set the receiving yards record back in 2012, but Smith-Njigba is on pace to eclipse that mark if he stays healthy and remains at his current pace.
As impressive as that would be, all signs point to that still not being enough for him to actually win the MVP award. However, that would still be a remarkable accomplishment and one that would definitely be MVP worthy, even if the award goes elsewhere.
Brian Schottenheimer Reveals Why Cowboys Rookie RB Jaydon Blue Was Inactive
Jaydon Blue was supposed to be a big part of the Dallas Cowboys offense in 2025.
The 2025 fifth-round pick from Texas may ultimately end up being that this year, but Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke about what Blue needs to do to get on the field after he was a healthy scratch for their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Blue, still just 21 years old, watched starter Javonte Williams and veteran reserve running back Miles Sanders combine for 107 yards on 19 carries in Dallas’ 24-20 loss at Lincoln Financial Field. Williams added a pair of first-half rushing touchdowns, and Sanders ripped off a 49-yard run in the second half — though he did also cough up a costly fumble in the third quarter.
The Cowboys will host the New York Giants on Sunday in a game between 0-1 teams.
What Did Brian Schottenheimer Say About Jaydon Blue?
Sanders’ fumble — just the second in the past two seasons — may open the door for Blue to get some reps against the Giants, especially with fellow rookie and No. 4 back Phil Mafah on injured reserve.
But Blue needs to take advantage of the opportunity, according to Schottenheimer.
“He’s extremely talented,” Schottenheimer said. “But there’s a way you have to perform, especially with a mantra of ‘compete every day.’ If you’re not putting it out there, if you’re not doing right every day — and you take a step back on a Thursday maybe did great on a Wednesday, I’m not saying he did — that’s going to get noticed.”
Williams’ performance may also have set Blue’s potential back, especially in the first half since he averaged 4.2 yards per carry in the first 30 minutes with both touchdowns and four runs that resulted in first downs.
Sanders, who is on his third team in the past four seasons, and Williams, who also was let go by the Denver Broncos — who drafted him in the second round in 2021 — are both trying to earn their carries.
“This is an incredibly talented roster,” Schottenheimer said. “You have to earn your chance to get out there. It’s not because you’re the first overall pick of the draft or whatever it is. Like, there’s got to be consistency.”
Even though Blue hasn’t yet made it on the game field, Schottenheimer feels it will come with a player as talented as Blue.
“It is consistency,” Schottenheimer said. “At the end of the day, with young players it hits at different times.”
Will Jaydon Blue Play Against The Giants?
Schottenheimer, to his credit, says he’s spoken with Blue about what he can do to ensure he gets out there in the future.
“Some of the hard guys who were inactive, we’ve had those hard conversations with them,” Schottenheimer said. “They understand where they need to go, and I have no question they will respond to that.”
It’s hard to believe Blue would be in street clothes Sunday in Arlington, Texas, especially with the potential for a bruising, 5-9, 196-pound back to fire up the home crowd at AT&T Stadium.
But Schottenheimer would not guarantee him playing in Dallas’ home opener.
“Will that be this week? I don’t know. We’ll see,” Schottenheimer said. “The cool thing for them is they can determine that.
“Consistency is clearly the thing we’re looking for with young players.”
