3 bold predictions for Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Seahawks’ Week 12 game against Arizona

Jaxon Smith-Njigba-mania is here. The breakout season is upon us, and the boy is playing absolutely killer ball right now. He has racked up the 3rd-most receiving yardage by a Seattle Seahawks wideout ever in a two-game span. That's not even counting a long catch that was called back against the Rams.

Seattle is mixing tempo well in its offense at times this season, even seeing some of the most success they've had when going no-huddle in non-no-huddle situations. JSN even mentioned in his most recent press conference that Seahawks wideouts feel that they are in better shape than a lot of the opponents they face, so tempo benefits them.

In an offense littered with playmakers on the perimeter and in the backfield, this is no small feat. Smith-Njigba may not instantly transform into the type of target hog that someone like Amon-Ra St. Brown is in Detroit, but that just means that the other options (like DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Kenneth Walker III, and Noah Fant) are worth going to in matchups as well.

Three bold predictions for Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 12 against the Cardinals

Still, having a dangerous threat from the slot is a gamechanger. Number 11 is even proving that he can win downfield and with yards after catch (YAC) as well.

Will this train gather so much kinetic energy that it rumbles off the tracks? Has it been the matchups or is this a sustainable and consistent level of play that has now been unlocked with him? Some have seen enough and know enough to make proclamations (see Gee Scott below). Can we possibly hope for a Josh Gordon-level 4-game stretch? Even if things don't go that far, the sophomore WR has a chance to stay hot and be a catalyst for the late-season transformation of this Seahawks team.

When the tandem of general manager John Scheider and head coach Pete Carroll selected Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the 20th overall pick in the draft last year, he was considered the best wideout available. Although his first year was viewed as disappointing by some swaths of fans, he has burst onto the scene in his second season. The Seahawks spotted the recent trend of high-caliber wideouts playing more and more in the slot position and decided to invest. This isn't Dogecoin, but 12s are starting to see the returns.

One team now stands between the Seattle Seahawks and a lead in the roller coaster NFC West. Can Jaxon Smith-Njigba continue to leave a mark, and make himself a factor in this game?

Prediction 1: Smith-Njigba will not cross the 100-yard barrier, but he will pass Malik Nabers for receptions this season

As previously mentioned, Seattle has a lot of options in the pass game. Smith-Njigba will not always rack up the yardage like a player who is the only good wideout on his team. Someone like Malik Nabers has been hailed as a game-changing force (which is true), but JSN has better stats than him (more yards on fewer targets, the longest catch of the season between the two, and a lot more YAC per catch).

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has one less catch than him so far, which should change this week. If No. 11 finally gets a higher volume, will that give him more national credit and attention? Seattle fans know all too well what it feels like to have a nationally underreported star that is suitably loved and revered locally, in the upper left.

Prediction 2: JSN will pull down two touchdowns to defend home turf

Scoring catches are hard to predict, and Smith-Njigba has only scored three times thus far this season. He will improve that here, with his superior route-running acumen and YAC ability. Arizona may have an impressive young secondary... but it is not prepared to contain the burgeoning star that is JSN in the elements. To see him take over this game would be our latest signal that there is a youth movement taking place in the great PNW.

In relation to former Seahawks luminaries, two TDs would give him nine career scores. That would see him pass Paul Richardson and tie D.J. Hackett for all-time scores in Seattle. At the 10-tuddy tier (in the process of a trademark) sit Mack Strong and Joe Jurevicius for all you 'old heads' to reminisce. I myself am an old head and love the thought of Smith-Njigba growing into an all-time player. Geno Smith sure does seem to look for him on crucial downs nowadays.

Prediction 3: Jaxon Smith-Njigba will get in the face of Cards slot corner, Garrett Williams

Although he's sometimes soft-spoken, JSN has also brandished his fiery side on numerous occasions on the field (getting physical last year with an SF CB, Ambry Thomas comes to mind). Slot defensive back, Garrett Williams is playing really well this year for the Cardinals, becoming one of the bright spots for head coach Jonathan Gannon's defense.

That means the competition there should be fierce, and Jaxon should be highly motivated to prove himself. This matchup should be absolute cinema, in a must-have game for the Seattle Seahawks.

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