Week 1 of the NFL preseason is just around the corner, and the early 2026 fantasy football ADP is already setting the stage: **Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the first players coming off the board, period.** Our very own Seahawks receiver is being scooped up alongside guys like Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, and Jonathan Taylor. We are talking about immediate impact players, folks, and JSN is right there in the mix, showing just how high his stock is.
The Numbers Are In: JSN’s Elite Company
It is mostly running backs and receivers dominating those first two rounds of fantasy drafts, and JSN is representing the Emerald City in a big way. Players are clearly valuing Josh Allen in a tier of his own at quarterback, with him going off the board around pick No. 21. For tight ends, Brock Bowers and Trey McBride are deadlocked as the first ones taken, around pick No. 27. But it is Smith-Njigba’s early ADP that has us buzzing, signaling that fantasy experts and the fans who draft know what he can do. This isn’t just hype, it is the market speaking.
The Model That Nailed Daniel Jones Is Back For 2026
So, how are these early rankings formed? A proven computer model at SportsLine simulated the upcoming NFL season an incredible 10,000 times. This isn’t some shot in the dark; this model has a track record of being scary accurate. Last year, it predicted that Colts quarterback Daniel Jones would fully realize his potential in his first year in Indy. He was the QB10 before a season-ending injury in Week 14, ultimately finishing as QB17, right where the model had him, a top-15 fantasy quarterback entering 2025. Anyone who took a shot on him was absolutely rewarded. This same model nailed Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous 2021 season, called Rachaad White’s breakout in 2023, and even identified Isiah Pacheco as a bust in 2025. When this model talks, we listen.
The model also has its eye on sleepers, like Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce, who finished second in the league last year with 21.3 yards per reception. He finished as a top-25 fantasy WR with 47 catches, 1003 yards, and 6 touchdowns, earning a massive four-year, $114 million contract extension. He is rehabbing an ankle injury in camp, which has his ADP dipping to around No. 66 overall, especially with Michael Pittman gone. But seeing this same model endorse Jaxon Smith-Njigba so early? That just screams confidence for his upcoming season. Get ready, 12s, because if the simulations are right, our guy is set to be a fantasy football goldmine, and a huge part of the Seahawks’ offense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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