Jaxon Smith-Njigba, our very own Seahawks WR, is averaging a massive 11.1 targets per game this season, a number that quietly tells you how much he’s shouldering for the offense. Honestly, it feels like at times he’s been the *only* functional piece holding things together for the Hawks this year.
Nacua’s Target Share Is Legitimately Wild
But get this, even with JSN’s huge load, there’s another receiver in the NFC making history with his usage: Puka Nacua of the Rams. This fourth-year pro is putting up absolutely insane numbers. He’s only seventh in the NFL in total targets with 74 through just six games, right? Sounds good, but here’s the kicker: he is FIRST by a mile in targets per game, getting thrown at a mind-boggling 12.3 times every single game by Matthew Stafford. Think about that for a second. No one else in the league is getting that kind of volume. For comparison, CeeDee Lamb leads the league in *total* targets with 92, but he’s only averaging 11.5 per game. Puka continues to climb.
This isn’t merely a high number for this season either, fam. We’re talking historic territory. The Pro Football Hall of Fame actually tweeted that Nacua now ranks second all-time with 4,756 receiving yards through his first 50 career games, trailing only Justin Jefferson and passing Hall of Famer Lance Alworth. Next Gen Stats says only *three* players since 2000 have averaged more targets per game than Nacua: Julio Jones (12.7 with the 2015 Falcons), Marvin Harrison (12.8 with the 2002 Colts), and Terrell Owens (a staggering 13.1 for the 2005 Eagles). We’re talking two Hall of Famers and a shoo-in. That’s the company Nacua is keeping.
What It Means For LA, And Our Guy JSN
Now, is all that volume a bad thing? Not necessarily. The Rams’ ground game is actually playing great this season, sitting top 10 in EPA/rush and top five in success rate. But part of Nacua’s bonkers target share is because Stafford isn’t slinging it downfield like he used to. Nacua is a big-play threat, sure, but he’s “not a burner,” and he’s crushing it on the routes and concepts Stafford is clearly feeling comfortable with in 2026.
There are still some questions swirling for LA though. We’ve seen talk about “the calf or the play calling” impacting Nacua’s deep ball looks over the last two weeks. And with the trade deadline just five days away, you gotta wonder if Rams OC Nathan Scheelhaase and the front office are thinking about the WR room around Nacua. This whole thing is a “high-wire act” for them.
Meanwhile, back here in the Emerald City, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 11.1 targets per game isn’t quite at Nacua’s historic level, but it absolutely underscores his importance to our Seahawks offense. It shows he’s stepping up and getting fed, especially when it feels like he’s been the main man.
So, what’s next? For the Rams, Nacua’s monumental workload is something to watch, especially with that trade deadline looming. Can he keep up this historic pace? For us, it’s about watching JSN continue to carry that load. His high target volume is a clear sign he’s becoming *the* go-to guy, and we’ll be watching every snap to see how he builds on it. The season is still early, but these trends are screaming loud and clear.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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