Mike Wright pumped the brakes on the JSN hype, slotting him at WR16 and likening his profile to Diontae Johnson rather than Ja’Marr Chase. Wright’s main worry is that new head coach Mike Macdonald and OC Ryan Grubb want to lean on a run‑first approach, siphoning high‑value targets. He is also skeptical that Sam Darnold’s strong Vikings cameo will translate behind a Seattle offensive line that collapsed on Geno Smith last year—pointing out that Darnold historically melts down and "sees ghosts" when pressured. If the pocket disintegrates, Wright expects stalled drives and a muted touchdown ceiling. He projected a more conservative 90‑catch, 1,050‑yard, 6‑TD stat line and advised drafters to treat Smith‑Njigba as a mid‑range WR2 rather than reaching for a top‑10 price in redraft or best ball.

Jason Moore ranked Jaxon Smith‑Njigba as his WR10 and said the third‑year slot technician is about to detonate. Moore expects a rock‑solid 150‑plus targets now that DK Metcalf has been traded and Tyler Lockett released, noting JSN already finished 2024 as the overall WR10 while posting the sixth‑most first‑down receptions in football. Over the season’s final eight games he averaged 9.2 targets and 19.1 PPR points, evidence the light has already flipped on. Moore believes new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will stick with the quick‑hitting concepts that made Smith‑Njigba Geno Smith’s safety valve, and he expects Sam Darnold’s tendency to zero‑in on his first read to keep that funnel alive. With only an aging Cooper Kupp and an inconsistent ground game behind him, Moore projected 100+ catches, 1,300 yards and 8–10 touchdowns, calling JSN a priority second‑round pick in season‑long drafts and a core best‑ball building block.