George Holani — Week 3: Five Catches on Five Targets
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
Holani caught all 5 of his targets for 48 yards, including a 13-yarder from Darnold and a 14-yarder thrown by Jaxon Smith-Njigba on consecutive snaps of the drive that tied the game at 24, and carried 3 times for 10 yards, one of them no gain from the Washington 1 in the second quarter, in a 33–31 loss to the Commanders.
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24 to 17, Commanders, 13 26 left in the fourth quarter, first and 10 at the Washington 30. The pass came from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, short right to George Holani, 14 yards to the 16. +0.9 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and four points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it. On the snap before it Sam Darnold had thrown to Holani for 13 yards to the 30. Two snaps after it Smith-Njigba caught the touchdown that, with the extra point, tied the game. Holani touched the ball four times on that 80-yard drive, for 41 yards: a nine-yard catch on its first snap, a five-yard run to open the fourth quarter, and the two catches.
The line: three carries, 10 yards, no first downs, −0.3 expected points on the carries; five targets, five catches, 48 yards, two first downs, +2.3 on the targets. The carries: no gain from the Washington one on first and goal in the second quarter, the snap before Smith-Njigba's one-yard touchdown; five yards later in the second; and the five to open the fourth. The first two catches were six yards each, on third and eight in the first quarter, short of the sticks, and on second and 15 in the second. The five were thrown a net 10 yards behind the line, and he gained 58 after the catch.
Five targets tied him with Cooper Kupp for third on Seattle, behind Smith-Njigba's 14 and AJ Barner's nine. On the ground, Seattle's 17 designed runs went nine to Emanuel Wilson, five to Jadarian Price and three to Holani.
Back in June the preview put Holani on the watchlist: 22 carries as a deep reserve last year, but reported to be leading the early repetitions in a room that had lost Kenneth Walker to free agency and Zach Charbonnet to a January knee injury. Charbonnet has to miss at least the first four games, per Pro Football Rumors. Week 1 was eight carries for 29 yards. Week 2 was four carries, all on the last drive of a decided game. Sunday was three carries and five catches, the most he has been thrown to this season. Three games: 15 carries for 52 yards and six catches for 50, with the role moving from carries toward catches. Three games settle little. Seattle is home to the Chargers on Sunday the fourth.
_Data via nflverse._
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