Jaxon Smith-Njigba is making a serious run at history, already leading the NFL in receiving yards with a monstrous 1,036 and receiving touchdowns with 9 through the halfway point of the season. Our guy, JSN, is also second in receptions with 71, and the experts are already eyeing him for Offensive Player of the Year. This isn’t just a good season, folks, this is him on a quest to become the *first wide receiver ever* to win OPOY twice. Let that sink in.
JSN’s Case and the Midseason Standouts
It’s Week 10 in the NFL, and while the Giants and Commanders are kicking off tonight, all eyes in the Emerald City should be on what JSN is doing. He snagged 6 votes for OPOY from CBS Sports’ staff, making him the clear frontrunner. But he’s got competition: Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions is leading the NFL in scrimmage yards with 1,132, and Kenneth Walker III, now with the Chiefs, is fourth in that same category. Yeah, the race is tight, but JSN’s numbers speak volumes. It’s exhilarating to watch him dominate defenses week after week, making T-Mobile Park , wait, wrong stadium, Lumen Field , feel like a receiver playground.
Over in the MVP race, it’s all about the QBs, with Bengals’ Joe Burrow as the absolute clear choice. He pulled in 11 votes after a marvelous first half, dropping at least four total touchdowns in each of his last four games. Burrow is literally leading the NFL in completion percentage (74%), passing touchdowns (23), and passer rating (114.8). Trevor Lawrence picked up a couple of votes, and Brock Purdy and Jordan Love each got one.
Defense and Rookie Revelations
On the defensive side, Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr. is making a huge statement. He’s leading the NFL with 9.5 sacks and is second in tackles for loss with 12. After being a runner-up last year, he’s in prime position to take home his first Defensive Player of the Year award. Fred Warner of the 49ers is right on his heels, tied for the league lead with five forced fumbles and sitting tied for eighth in total tackles with 77. The Bears’ Jeffery Simmons and Bengals’ Dexter Lawrence also got some love.
When it comes to the rookies making an immediate impact, Browns WR Denzel Boston is leading the pack for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s got 7 votes, leading all rookies in receiving yards with 507 and receiving touchdowns with 3. His teammate, KC Concepcion, is tied for the rookie lead in receiving touchdowns, also with 3. Broncos RB Jonah Coleman, Titans WR Carnell Tate, and Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza round out the top rookie contenders.
The league has been full of surprises already, too. The Rams started as Super Bowl favorites but are now clinging to the playoff hunt with a ton of injuries. The Giants are leading their division even after using three different starting quarterbacks. And get this, the Chargers, who won 11 games in back-to-back seasons, are the league’s only winless team. Wild stuff, right?
What’s Next for JSN and the Hawks
This midseason report card is a massive shoutout to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He’s showing the league exactly what the 12s already knew: he’s a certified stud. As we push through the second half of the season, every snap he plays will be a chance for him to solidify his place in history and keep those OPOY votes coming. Keep an eye on those receiving yard totals, folks, 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 CBS Sports.
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