Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, is absolutely tearing it up, leading the league in receiving touchdowns and pacing all receivers in yards through just five weeks of the 2026 season. After taking home the OPOY award in 2025 and helping the Seahawks secure a Super Bowl victory, our guy JSN isn’t just resting on his laurels, he is somehow even better.
JSN Is Rewriting The History Books Again
Dude, you really gotta see what JSN is doing. This year, he’s just picking up where he left off, and then some. Through five games, our Seahawk superstar is first in the entire league with 583 receiving yards. Think about that for a second. And the touchdowns? He’s got seven receiving scores, which leads the whole league. He’s also snagged 37 receptions, which is fourth-best across the board. Remember Week 2 against the Cardinals? He went off for three receiving touchdowns, a first in his career, including an insane 82-yard bomb. Smith-Njigba also made history by becoming only the fifth wide receiver EVER to record at least eight catches, 120 receiving yards, and a touchdown in each of his team’s first two games. What a legend. It just feels different when one of our own is out there making NFL history, right?
The Race For OPOY Is Stacked With Beasts
While JSN is doing his thing for the Emerald City, the rest of the league has some serious talent battling for that OPOY title too. Jahmyr Gibbs is the new favorite right now, and for good reason. He’s a total dual-threat running back, with 504 rushing yards, 243 receiving yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and two receiving touchdowns through five weeks. He’s also been a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons. Then you got Bijan Robinson, another dynamic dual-threat back. He’s got a league-best 580 rushing yards on 102 carries, plus four ground touchdowns. His Week 3 performance against Green Bay was wild, with 194 rushing yards, 29 carries, and two scores.
And hey, remember K9? Kenneth Walker III, who’s now with the Chiefs, is having a crazy good start too. In Kansas City’s Week 1 win over Denver, he rushed 23 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and followed it up with another monster performance in Week 2. Walker became the only player in the last 40 seasons to hit at least 175 scrimmage yards in each of his team’s first two games. After five weeks, K9 has piled up 87 carries and 537 yards. Even the ageless wonder Derrick Henry is still dominating at 32 years old. He’s got a league-best 113 carries, 476 rushing yards, and seven touchdowns through five weeks. This guy had 144 yards and three TDs in Week 1, and 89 yards and two scores in that thrilling win over the Cowboys in Rio. It is a running back’s world out there, with four wide receivers and three running backs winning OPOY since 2019. The last time a quarterback won OPOY was Patrick Mahomes way back in 2018.
So, as we look ahead past Week 5, the big question is whether JSN can keep up this unbelievable pace and snag back-to-back OPOY awards. With the way he’s playing, setting new career highs and leading the league in crucial categories, it is absolutely within reach. Our Seahawks are rolling, and JSN is a massive part of that. Keep your eyes glued to the next game, because every snap is a chance for him to add to his legend. Let’s go, Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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