Seahawks Receiver Set To Continue on Historic Pace in Week 10

Seahawks Receiver Set To Continue on Historic Pace in Week Ten

Through nine weeks, no player in the NFL has been more impressive than Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The third-year receiver out of Ohio State has taken the league by storm this year, putting up 948 receiving yards through the Seahawks' first eight games. This performance has put him in the conversation for Offensive Player of the Year and has helped propel Seattle to a 6-2 record. Smith-Njigba is currently on pace to break Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record, and thanks to injuries in the Cardinals' defense, he will keep that pace in Week 10.

In 2012, Johnson set the NFL receiving record by hauling in 1,964 yards in 16 games for the Lions. Smith-Njigba’s pace is currently 118.5 yards per game with 9 games left in the season, which translates to 1,066.5 more yards this year. Add this to his current season total, and he smashes Johnson’s record by putting up 2,014.5 yards in a single season. Smith-Njigba gets the benefit of one extra game, but the numbers would nevertheless be impressive.

As Smith-Njigba looks to continue his historic pace in Week 10, he faces a weakened Cardinals defense. On Sunday, Arizona will be without Will Johnson and Max Melton, their top two cornerbacks. Further complicating things for the Cardinals, starting middle linebacker Mack Wilson has also been ruled out. This leaves the Cardinals without their defensive leader, as Wilson wears the green dot. Smith-Njigba put up 79 yards in Week Four against a healthy Cardinals secondary. Without Johnson and Melton, Smith-Njigba will likely dominate.

This undermanned defensive unit faces a significant challenge this week, as it will be up against the Seahawks' passing offense, which ranks fourth in the league at 255.1 yards per game. Outside of Smith-Njigba, they have to deal with AJ Barner and the new addition Rashid Shaheed, as receiving threats as well. As if that wasn’t difficult enough for them, they could potentially have to defend against Cooper Kupp, who is questionable for the game. Smith-Njigba will have every opportunity to keep his receiving yards pace in this game; it is just a matter of whether he capitalizes or not.