Our guy Jaxon Smith-Njigba is absolutely tearing it up, leading the entire NFL in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns through just three games! So you’d think the defending Offensive Player of the Year would be the clear favorite to snag the award again, right? Nope, because somehow, FanDuel Sportsbook has someone else topping the board for the 2026 NFL OPOY odds. It’s wild, but that’s what’s happening as of September 22.
JSN’s Start Is Out Of This World
The Emerald City knows what JSN brings, and he is showing everyone else what we already saw last year when he took home the OPOY hardware and led our Seahawks to a Super Bowl win. Coincidence? I don’t think so! He’s off to another unbelievable start this season, already hitting 405 receiving yards, 27 receptions, and six receiving touchdowns, all league-leading numbers. Remember that absolute dime against the Cardinals? Yeah, JSN hauled in three receiving touchdowns in that game, a career first, including a career-long 82-yard score. This kid is on another level, becoming only the fifth wide receiver ever to post at least eight catches, 120 receiving yards, and a touchdown in each of his team’s first two games. What a stud!
The OPOY Contenders Are Stacked, But So Is JSN
So who is Vegas giving the nod to over our man? That would be Jahmyr Gibbs, a dual-threat back who has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. He’s had a solid start with 307 rushing yards, 156 receiving yards, four rushing TDs, and two receiving TDs through three weeks. Good numbers, sure, but are they JSN numbers? You tell me. And then there’s our old friend, Kenneth Walker III, tearing it up for Kansas City. K9 rushed for 173 yards and two scores in Week 1 against Denver, then had another monster performance in Week 2, making him the only player in the last 40 seasons with at least 175 scrimmage yards in each of his team’s first two games. He’s got 65 carries and 360 yards now, a heck of a start for his Chiefs tenure.
Don’t forget the vets either. Derrick Henry, at 32, is still a beast. He rumbled for 144 yards and three TDs in Week 1 for the Ravens, then added a score in Week 2, and 89 yards and two more TDs against the Cowboys in Rio. He even won this award back in 2020! Ja’Marr Chase, despite a quiet Week 1, caught two touchdown passes in Week 2, including an incredible toe-tapping grab, and added another TD and 98 yards in Week 3. He leads the league with 56 receiving touchdowns since 2021 and is second all-time in receptions through his first 80 games. Finally, Bijan Robinson kicked off his season with 83 rushing yards, 90 receiving yards, and a touchdown catch in Atlanta’s Week 1 loss, then logged 81 scrimmage yards in a frustrating Week 2 for the Falcons. It’s a loaded field, no doubt.
Look, the league is stacked with offensive talent, and since 2019, wide receivers have owned this award, winning four times to running backs’ three. The last quarterback to take OPOY was Patrick Mahomes all the way back in 2018! But with JSN playing at this insane level, leading the league in the most critical receiving categories, how can you not put your money on the reigning champ? He’s proven he can do it, and he’s already showing he’s even better this season. The 12s know we’ve got something special here, and it’s time for the rest of the league to catch up. Get ready, because JSN is just getting started!
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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