Jaxon Smith-Njigba — Week 7: 150 Yards, Four Third Downs

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Smashed against the Chiefs: 12 targets, 9 catches, 150 yards, a touchdown and +12.4 expected points added (EPA) on his targets, in Seattle's 20-3 win at home. EPA is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position. He drew 44% of Seattle's targets and 79% of its air yards, and added 2 runs for 13 yards.

He did his work on third down. Four of his catches converted one: 9 yards on third and 5, 10 on third and 9, then the two that built the first half. Up 3-0 with 11:19 left in the second quarter, third and 7 just short of midfield, he caught a short pass over the middle and ran it 33 yards to the Kansas City 20, +3.29 EPA and 11.1 points of win probability, the estimate of each side's chance to win, more than any other Seattle snap. With 1:49 left in the half, third and 9 at the Kansas City 28, Sam Darnold threw deep left; he was ruled out of bounds at the 1, and the review gave him the touchdown, +4.64 EPA and a 10-0 lead after the extra point. On the next drive he caught 21 and 28 more to reach the Kansas City 2. Of the 150 yards, 129 came before halftime.

It was his second-biggest yardage game this season, after 155 against Arizona in Week 2, and his rate beat his season. Through Week 6 he had 49 catches on 66 targets for 717 yards, 7 touchdowns and +46.1 EPA, +0.70 a target; here it was +1.04.

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_Data via nflverse._