New QB, no problem for Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
Yahoo Sports fantasy analyst Matt Harmon is joined by Football Guy's Alfredo Brown to discuss the Seahawks wide receiver's outlook this season with Geno Smith gone and Sam Darnold now taking over the starting quarterback job in Seattle. Hear the full conversation on the 'Yahoo Fantasy Forecast' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
View more
Video Transcript
If you just look at who Sam Darnold was last year from a production standpoint, was 7th in adjusted yards per attempt, he's 16th in EPA per dropback.
Advertisement
Not perfect, but definitely above the line, but that was in Minnesota's ecosystem.
How much faith do we have that Arnold in in what's going on in Seattle right now, is going to be good enough to get Jackson Smith and Jig but to keep him out of the quarterback wilderness.
I think once the genie is out of the bottle, you as an offensive coordinator and as a coach, you are doing your players a disservice if you don't take what worked for that player and make it work again for you.
Like if you go out of your way to sign Sam Darnold, you have to have a plan in there.
And I mean, Sam Darnold, he had, he was part of the 49ers and and that Shanahan style offense for just I mean, it was a little bit, he had a cup of coffee there, but uh he, he gets a lot of the same concepts.
Advertisement
And for Jackson Smith and Jigba, I really do think for as much as we hear that they're gonna be a groundpound run the ball team, I'm sure they will, that's fine, but no DK Metcalf, no Tyler Lockett, you get sort of the elder statesman Cooper Cup who hasn't really been the same, he doesn't really stay healthy.
Jackson Smith and the jig but might actually be the straw that stirs the drink for the Seahawks and probably should be as their best offensive player.
Uh, we finally saw the usage that mirrored what he did at Ohio State, where he was getting targeted a little bit deeper downfield.
It was like, he stopped being this weird screen guy.
Advertisement
They were doing in his rookie season.
And, uh, it's just, it was, it was so frustrating to see that the first year, but now he, I think we have a guy who is not only going to be a big play guy in this offense, but he's also probably just going to keep being the volume guy.
So for him, Uh, it's, it's a little loaded to say that he might be, uh, wilderness proof here, but I think Jackson Smith and Jigba ends up just staying a really good fantasy football and a good NFL wide receiver as well.
He's gonna get moved around a lot in pre-snap motion.
They're gonna be using play action to open things up in the Kubia.
Advertisement
Offense, which is, honestly, that's gonna get some big plays out of JSN deep and that's what worked so well for Sam Darnold last year.
So, yeah, I'm, he also didn't score a lot of touchdowns last year, by the way, only 6 touchdowns for JSN.
So, if there's some variants, that number goes up, it can make up for maybe any lack of volume that we get, but I think we're still gonna get volume and we're gonna get explosive plays from him.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Every Seahawks player at voluntary OTAs. They think this bonding is going to be huge
Even when they were going at their very best — back-to-back Super Bowl best — the Seahawks had guys who routinely blew off voluntary OTAs. Michael Bennett missed them; he stayed home with his wife and kids in Hawaii. Bruce Irvin skipped. Marshawn Lynch? He wasn't there. Because he couldn't get fined(!) The NFL players who miss voluntary OTAs may have contract issues and want to send a not-so-subtle message to their team. Or they just want to spend more time at home with family. Or on vacation. Anywhere but in practices they aren't required to be at in June, three-plus months before the season begins. Some of the most accomplished show up in the offseason only when they absolutely have to, such as the lone mandatory minicamp Seattle has over three days the middle of next week. But these 2025 Seahawks are different. Kicker Jason Myers (34) and nose tackle Johnathan Hankins (33) are the oldest players on this team. They have played in the NFL a combined 22 seasons. They are here. Myers was kicking away, as usual, Thursday, while Hankins was on the field in his helmet and 97 jersey going through drills. DeMarcus Lawrence, also 33 years old, is entering 12th NFL season. His first 11 years were with with the Dallas Cowboys. He spent Wednesday in one of his first practices with Seattle doing pass-rush drills on the side field. He was working with fellow edge rushers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall, who are seven and nine years Lawrence's junior. A few yards away, Jarran Reed was working on his footwork and hands charging into fellow defensive linemen. Reed is 32. The Seahawks drafted him three U.S. presidents ago, in 2016. Leonard Williams, the Seahawks' $64.5 million, Pro Bowl defensive end? Yep, he's been here, too. The 30-year-old veteran heartily jogged onto the field to begin yet another OTA practice of his 11-year career this week. The last two weeks, the 2025 Seahawks have had every player on their roster, 100% of 90 guys, veterans, rookies, starters and reserves, at these voluntary workouts. That's for one of the only times in recent memory around here. It speaks to what Mike Macdonald has built in 16 months with one season leading the remade Seahawks. It's a sign the league's youngest head coach at age 37 is getting the buy-in from veteran players every young leader must have to succeed. One of the most importantly — and most recently paid — players on the team thinks the perfect attendance including from new starting quarterback Sam Darnold plus former Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Cooper Kupp on the remodeling offense is a sign of what's to come for Seattle in 2025. And beyond. 'I think for this team, I think we're bought into the goal and the mission,' middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV said after practice Thursday. 'And the goal is to put another banner up in here. And I think everyone believes in that.' Jones is the defensive signal-caller and thudding tackler who transformed Macdonald's defense after Seattle traded with Tennessee for him in the middle of last season. The Seahawks just gave him a $33 million contract in March. He doesn't need to be here for these OTAs, either. But he is. 'We're going to show up to work,' Jones said, 'and do we have to do to make sure we get it done.' The News Tribune asked Jones if the players talked internally about making sure they showed up for these voluntary weeks. 'It wasn't something that we just sat there and say, 'Hey, make sure you're here,'' Jones said. 'But if we want to be who we say we're going to be, if we want to do what we want to do, and as when the best teams I've been around (including as a Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams), OTAs were really good. 'So I think that's just a direct reflection of what the work you get in here and what carries you into the season.' Seattle's defense has all 11 starters from last season returning off a 10-win team. That defense is the strength of this team, by defensive-guru Macdonald's design. Reed's a central part of it. He's the veteran tackle in the middle of the defensive line. His daughter Jacey was born the spring the Seahawks drafted him in the second round out of Alabama. She just turned nine. The defensive tackle could have been home with her. But he's here with all the other Seahawks, voluntarily. He said the players know this is the time to bond, with each other and their coaches. He says the players are truly 'jelling' with the coaches. 'Just to build a chemistry,' Reed said this week, 'and for one, just to be around the teammates. 'I like being here. It was actually fun. When you're away and you're watching film (by yourself remotely), you're just missing a lot and missing the camaraderie, that togetherness, building that connection with your teammates. That's the time that we use for right now.' Jones thinks having all of the returning defensive starters practicing together when they don't have to in May and June is going to pay massive dividends in December, January into, yes, perhaps February. That's when the Super Bowl is. 'I think it's going to be special,' Jones said of his Seahawks defense. 'I'm excited. I don't want to give too much because we've got to go put the work in. But, if the vision lives up to what I think, yeah, it's going to be something crazy.' After seeing them in these OTAs, what does Jones think about his defensive teammates already, a month and half before training camp begins? 'Hoopers,' he said. 'I like us, man. I like us versus anything and anybody. 'That's how I'll leave it.'
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
EMERGENCY POD: Aaron Rodgers signs with Steelers
Breaking news: Aaron Rodgers plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports hop on an emergency edition on Inside Coverage to break down all the implications of the veteran QB's signing. What does this mean for his legacy? And will Mike Tomlin land on the hot seat if things go off the rails? We're doing our best to answer all of this and more on a very special episode! Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers plans to sign one-year deal with Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Belmont Stakes 2025 odds, picks: Best bet, favorites, expert predictions, post positions
The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes is Saturday with a 7:04 p.m. ET post time at Saratoga Springs, New York. Both Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (2-1 on morning line) and Preakness winner Journalism (8-5 morning line favorite) are in the eight-horse field. The race will be taking place at Saratoga Springs instead of the usual Belmont Park race track in Elmont, New York, due to track repairs. Yahoo Sports spoke with Jared DeRossett, retail sports analyst for TwinSpires, to preview the favorites and long shots in the race, as well as get a few bets he likes. The favorites DeRossett: "The much anticipated rematch of Journalism and Sovereignty is certainly showing itself with odds of 8-5 and 2-1, respectively, with a slight nod to Journalism early on. Journalism shouldn't have to sit as far back as he did in the Derby, and hopefully doesn't have to overcome as much of a troubled trip as he did in the Preakness. Sovereignty should be a bit more well-rested, and ready to fire for the showdown. These two will be duking it out for odds-on favorite leading up to the race, likely hovering around their morning line [odds]." Other horses to watch DeRossett: "A couple horses I'll be keeping an eye on for the exotics are No. 3 Rodriguez and No. 5 Crudo. Crudo is taking a huge jump [up] in class, but won going away in the NGS Sir Barton at Pimlico on Preakness Day. Rodriguez and [Crudo] should be battling for the lead early on and could work out a trip similar to Gosger in the Preakness. Advertisement "Baeza [out of the No. 6 post], interestingly enough, has taken the early money, moving him to favorite at 2-1. It's Thursday and it's early, so I absolutely don't expect that to hold, but interesting to note as advance wager pools opened at TwinSpires. He ran a strong third at the Derby and could take a step forward in his second race on the East Coast." Best bet "I'll likely be playing some exotics with Journalism and Sovereignty keyed in spots, depends on how the odds shake out, though. I'll have some closer to race day."
