Jaxon Smith-Njigba Week 1 Outlook - Broncos at Seahawks

By Derek Brown (FantasyPros), Wed, Sep 4th 2024, 8:38pm EDT

My disdain for Shane Waldron's usage of Smith-Njigba last year has been well-documented. No big deal. All he did was take a baller, a first-round pick, and turn him into Malachi Corley. He neutered him into a low aDOT screen merchant. Smith-Njigba was seventh in screen targets last season, with 52.3% of his target volume coming via screens. This is not the way. Ryan Grubb will change this. In the small sample, we got with Smith-Njigba as a perimeter wide receiver, he was very good. Among 81 qualifying wide receivers last season, when he was running routes on the perimeter, Smith-Njigba ranked 15th in YPRR and fourth in TPRR. Among 61 qualifying receivers with at least 40 perimeter targets, he also ranked 14th in FD/RR. Smith-Njigba did run 89.5% of his routes in the preseason from the slot, so I do still project him to be the team's slot with more perimeter time this season possible. Smith-Njigba could be leaned on this week if Metcalf draws shadow coverage from Surtain. Last year, Denver ranked 11th in single-high usage (55.8%). Last year against single-high, when Smith-Njigba was aligned outside against single-high, he posted a 28% TPRR and 1.97 YPRR, so there is some proof in the pudding that he can excel against single-high. Smith-Njigba should run circles around Ja'Quan McMillian (61.2% catch rate and 109.4 passer rating) from the slot in Week 1.