For the last five years, the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver corps has been the combination of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and little else in the way of a backup band. That scenario changed (somewhat) when the team used the 20th pick in the 2023 draft on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who flashed big-play ability but was clearly the third wheel. With a new coaching staff and a different philosophy after an eternity with Pete Carroll, there is going to be more competition for targets this year than there has been for a long time in Seattle as everyone tries to lock down his spot in the offense.
DK Metcalf
A mismatch nightmare, Metcalf has been about as consistent as a fantasy receiver as anyone in the league – not a one-hit wonder and not a guy who bottoms out. He has missed only one game in five seasons and has never finished with fewer than 900 receiving yards. A typical year is 74 receptions for 1,066 yards and nine touchdowns.
He is a deep threat and a red zone target who can dominate single coverage. He will likely never be a 100-catch receiver, but Metcalf is about as bankable to give any fantasy team what they need to be an every-week starter. He isn’t the star on the top of the tree, but he’s close.
Tyler Lockett
With Lockett, everyone seems to wait for the other shoe to drop and he won’t be able to maintain the type of production he has previously achieved. Heading into 2023, Lockett had posted four straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons with more than 80 receptions in three of them and never fewer than eight touchdowns. His numbers tailed off last season with the arrival of Smith-Njigba, but they were still solid – 79 catches for 894 yards and five touchdowns.
Lockett is likely locked in for the next two years because the cap hit to cut him is more than he’s being paid, but his role should continue a downward slide as more competition comes in to challenge the old dog.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
An explosive receiver at Ohio State, he was a consistent part of the offense as a rookie, but the clear No. 3 in the passing game more weeks than not. JSN caught 63 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns but didn’t have a game with more than 63 receiving yards and had only four outings with more than four receptions.
However, he has been the talk of the offseason program and, with new coaches free of loyal preconceptions about Lockett, Smith-Njigba is the future … and the present. He could be one of the big sleeper picks to emerge this season, especially the farther he drops in the draft.
Laviska Shenault Jr.
Shenault had a respectable start to his career in Jacksonville, catching 121 passes for 1,219 yards and five touchdowns in his first two seasons. But a falling out with the coaching staff led to him being traded to Carolina, where he caught just 37 passes for 332 yards and one touchdown in 21 games over two seasons. He won’t be asked to do a lot in the Seahawks offense, but he is looking to reclaim his career. If any of the top three guys goes down to injury, Shenault will be the first in line to fill that void.
Jake Bobo
He was active for all 17 games as an undrafted rookie and contributed 19 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns. He would appear to be the fifth option in the offense. At 6-foot-4, he could have a sub-package designed to make him the first read in red zone situations, where his is sure to garner one-on-one coverage from a nickel corner or safety. A lot will need to happen for him to get meaningful reps.
Fantasy football outlook
When it comes into receiver projections, quarterback has to be factored in. Geno Smith is never mentioned among the league’s elite quarterbacks – or the pretty good. Sam Howell was acquired to push and possibly even replace Smith, should the latter struggle.
There is no denying that Metcalf has freakish talent that is a rare combination of skills. He’s going to produce a lot of fantasy points, but WR1 players are expected to get 100 receptions. 80-85 is the high mark for Metcalf, making him a priority No. 2 on fantasy rosters.
Lockett and Smith-Njigba are classified closely together in most ADP rankings – in the mid- to late-WR4 range or early WR5 range. Smith-Njigba has a higher upside, so he should be a sleeper pick as a WR4 before somebody else pulls the trigger. Anyone who ends up with Lockett will be happy to get him as a WR5. Any higher than that the reaction may not be the same.
Shenault and Bobo have no fantasy value and will need multiple injuries to be relevant.
