The Seattle Seahawks have quickly become one of the best teams in the NFL during the 2025 campaign, sporting an impressive 8-3 record heading into Week 13’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
One of the primary reasons for the team’s success this season has been the addition of veteran quarterback Sam Darnold under center and the incredible performance of star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is having the best season of his young NFL career.
Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba the Best WR in the NFL?
GettyJaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks.
In just 11 games played during the 2025 NFL season so far, Smith-Njigba has put up some monster numbers, as he currently leads the league in receiving yards at 1,313, which has already surpassed his career best of 1,130 from last season. He has also caught a career-high seven touchdowns and is averaging a league-best 119.4 receiving yards per game.
With Smith-Njigba well on his way to earning All-Pro honors for the first time in his career, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com claims that the 23-year-old wideout is now the best player in the league at his position.
Move over, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson: There is a new WR1 in the NFL, and his name is Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
By any metric, the third-year pro has snatched the crown away from his predecessors, easily leading the league with 1,313 receiving yards through 11 games. Averaging a staggering 119.4 receiving yards per game — no one else is in the triple digits — JSN has posted at least 75 receiving yards in every game this year, becoming just the third wideout to hit that mark in 11 consecutive games at any point in a season (Cooper Kupp, 2021; Marvin Harrison Sr., 2002). Currently on pace for 2,029 receiving yards, Smith-Njigba could blow past Calvin Johnson’s single-season record (1,964 in 2012) and become the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver.
Although this may seem like a bold take initially, the numbers seem to back up Brooks’ stance on Smith-Njigba, especially considering the Ohio State product has six more games on the schedule to add to his already impressive numbers.
Sam Darnold ‘Excited’ to Face Vikings
GettySam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks.
On Sunday, Darnold will face the Vikings for the first time since he chose to sign with the Seahawks in NFL free agency during the offseason.
After bouncing around the league during his career, going from being a starter to a backup and back to a starter again, Darnold finally found a place where he could flourish in the NFL in Minnesota. He led the team to a 14-3 record last season and earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career.
The USC product has been able to replicate his success in Seattle, and he’s anxious to take on the Vikings in Week 13, as he said in a press conference earlier this week.
“I’m excited for this one,” Darnold said about facing Minnesota.
Darnold has nothing but respect for the Vikings organization and those he worked with while playing for Minnesota during the 2024 campaign.
“I’m very grateful for the time that I spent there, all the people that I created relationships with, all the people in that locker room, all the coaches there, the people in that building,” Darnold said. “But I am very excited to be here and to continue doing what we’re doing this year.”
The Seahawks are heavy favorites entering this matchup with the Vikings, as they are currently favored by -11.5 to secure their ninth win of the season.
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