Scott Engel is in his 14th season as the official fantasy writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. Scott is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. He is a four-time FSWA award winner and 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy analysis on RotoBaller.com, The Athletic, and SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio.

When looking back at Seahawks franchise history, it is apparent that the team has featured many standout wide receivers who helped fantasy players win league championships. In our recently updated rundown of the Greatest Fantasy Football Seahawks Players of All Time, we included some of the biggest names in team annals.

DK Metcalf's 2020 season was the best ever by a Seahawks receiver. Joey Galloway logged two top five all-time Seahawks WRs seasons in the 1990s. Tyler Lockett's 53.0 PPR game in 2020 was one of the greatest fantasy WR outings of any player dating back to 2010. And of course, the magnificent Steve Largent was a fantasy football superstar in the pre-internet days of the game.

Now, Jaxon Smith-Njigba can start etching his name in Seahawks fantasy football lore this season, as he is primed to be featured as a top pass-catcher for Sam Darnold in 2025. Smith-Njigba is a hot topic of 2025 fantasy football draft discussion this preseason, with many fantasy analysts anticipating an authentic breakout campaign.

We provide our WR fantasy football preview preview ahead of a big draft weekend and tell you where to target Smith-Njigba among other top 15 players at the position.

Fantasy Football WR Draft Guide: The Elites

Following a marvelous season where he scored 403 PPR fantasy points, second among all players, Ja'Marr Chase is the consensus No. 1 pick in fantasy football in 2025. He scored over 85 points more than the No. 2 player at his position last year.

While such an amazing fantasy campaign will be hard to match, Chase has such a high statistical floor that he can still finish as a top 3 player at the position even if his numbers fall off a bit. He's a major standout WR in one of the league's most prolific passing games, and that profile is not going to change much at all this year.

CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson are the next two highest-ranked WRs for 2025. Both players should be off boards in the first half of the first round in many drafts. I would not be surprised to see Lamb finish as the overall WR1 in fantasy football this season. The Dallas passing game might be the busiest outside of Cincinnati.

J.J. McCarthy is taking over as the starting quarterback for Minnesota, yet Jefferson has maintained his excellent levels of production throughout his career so far while working with multiple QBs. The Vikings' front office obviously has enough confidence in McCarthy that Jefferson should have a high statistical floor again, too. If Minnesota's decision-makers have apparent trust in their new starting QB, it's good enough for me to label Jefferson as a solid pick in the first half of the first round again.

Amon-Ra St. Brown finished as a top 3 fantasy WR in each of the last two seasons. His Average Draft Position of eighth overall per FantasyPros.com marks him as a very favorable pick in the second half of the first round in 2025. Giants second-year man Malik Nabers is also a surefire first rounder. If he stays healthy and New York gets steady QB play, he might challenge Lamb and Chase to be the highest-scoring fantasy football WR of the 2025 season.

Brian Thomas Jr. delivered a breakout campaign in 2024, finishing as a top 4 fantasy WR, and he is another preferred draft target in the second half of the first round. Nico Collins has an ADP of 13th overall, although he often is drafted before the end of the first round. I am expecting a bounce-back campaign from C.J. Stroud, and the WR crew around Collins is improved, which could help him in terms of drawing a bit less of overall defensive attention.

In each of his first two NFL seasons, Puka Nacua finished as a top 4 fantasy WR. The availability of Matthew Stafford will allow him to post a top 5 showing again if the Rams' QB can play most of the season. The Eagles might pass more often this year, so A.J. Brown joins Nacua as one of the better early WR picks in the second round.

Fantasy Football WR Draft Guide: A Superb Second Wave

In 2024, Drake London caught 100 passes for 1,271 yards and nine TDs. Strong production is expected with a full season of working with Michael Penix Jr. in 2025. He's a widely targeted and inviting second round pick. Terry McLaurin registered a career-high 13 TD receptions and should be drafted as a high-level fantasy WR2 as he heads into a second season with rising standout QB Jayden Daniels.

Ladd McConkey finished as a back-end fantasy WR1 last season and has the promise to operate as a top 10 fantasy WR this year. Tyreek Hill has a third-round ADP (31 overall), yet a rebound year could lead him to revisiting top 5 fantasy WR territory again. He is a very tempting upside play at his current ADP.

Fantasy Football WR Draft Guide: Enter JSN

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the highest drafted Seahawks player in fantasy football this season. His current ADP of 33 positions him as a potential value play if he can deliver fantasy WR1 production in his first year as a regular starter in the NFL. JSN backers among fantasy analysts see him performing as a fantasy WR1 this season because of projected volume and opportunity.

Smith-Njigba is ideally targeted as a higher-end fantasy WR2 with the upside to finish inside the top 10 at the position. Yes, savvy fantasy leaguers know that the 2025 Seahawks offense will feature the running game more, but a successful ground attack will set up optimum offensive balance, and JSN can flourish in such a scenario.

The Seahawks have done an excellent job of progressively moving Smith-Njigba from a third WR as a rookie to a prime spot in the offense in year three. He honed his skills while working with veterans such as Tyler Lockett, and after he finished just outside the top 10 at WR last year, the fantasy arrow is certainly pointing up for this season.

JSN is capable of challenging defenses at every level, and will display great versatility as both a possession and downfield target. That impressive blend of abilities and skills should translate into dependable and sometimes outstanding fantasy production in 2025.

"He has every skill set you need to be a top-end receiver in this league. Speed, route running, catch radius, yards after catch. He has everything." Julian Love said earlier in the summer, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic.

In one of my most competitive and important leagues this past Saturday, I drafted Smith-Njigba with the second pick in the third round. Combining him with McLaurin gives my team two top-notch fantasy WR2s who could easily perform at fantasy WR1 levels. Those who land JSN as their WR2 might consider him a luxury option in that projected lineup slot.

Fantasy Football WR Draft Guide: More Top 25 Targets

Tee Higgins and Mike Evans are safer WR2 plays, and Garrett Wilson should see a heavy amount of volume. He is a quality pick for respectable production as the 18th WR off the board based on the current ADP reports.

In his second season, Marvin Harrison Jr. has the potential to outperform his ADP of 44th overall. Consider him as a top 20 upside play. Courtland Sutton could deliver one of the best seasons of his career as QB Bo Nix continues to ascend in his second season.

If rookie QB Cam Ward develops quickly, Calvin Ridley can be a very good value outside the top 20 WRs. Jaylen Waddle may be on the verge of a true breakthrough campaign. Exciting NFL newcomer Travis Hunter might help you win some fantasy games in his better weeks.

Fantasy Football WR Draft Guide: More Starter Types

Rome Odunze can be drafted as a fantasy WR3, yet he could produce as a fantasy WR2 in his second year. George Pickens has renewed appeal as part of the Dallas passing game. Ricky Pearsall might emerge as the most productive fantasy WR on the 49ers. Another rookie, Tetairoa McMillan, has the promise to develop into a fantasy WR2 very quickly.

Fantasy Football WR Draft Guide: Value Targets And Sleepers

Matthew Golden may take over as the new No. 1 WR for Green Bay, and he is a great pick outside the top 40 at WR. Keon Coleman could become a consistent TD target for Josh Allen in Buffalo. Draft him as a fantasy WR4 who at least has WR3 potential. DeMario Douglas might actually lead New England in receptions, and he is a terrific target outside of the top 50 WRs.

Dont'e Thornton Jr. of Las Vegas stirred fantasy sleeper buzz after flashing big-play ability in his first NFL preseason. Roman Wilson will have an opportunity to claim the No. 2 WR job in Pittsburgh. Rookie Elic Ayomanor might push his way into a featured receiving role with Tennessee, If the passing game improves in Carolina, Jalen Coker could pay off as a late-round fantasy draft pick.

Fantasy Football WR Draft Guide: Two new Seahawks to consider

In the second half of his final season with the Rams, Cooper Kupp showed he could still produce as a regular fantasy starter for a significant stretch. From Week 8 forward, he scored 15-plus PPR fantasy points in six of seven games. Kupp is a recommended pick as a fantasy WR4 in 2025, just outside the top 40 at the position. He's a good selection for depth and can function as a quality streaming option.

Tory Horton was a preseason star for the Seahawks offense. He caught a 10-yard TD pass in the exhibition opener and displayed downfield ability while also demonstrating the willingness to make tough catches. Horton can be drafted as a final round flier in seasonal leagues, and is a must-add as a free agent in any dynasty league formats.

Fantasy Football Rankings: The Top 40 Wide Receivers

1. Ja'Marr Chase
2. CeeDee Lamb
3. Justin Jefferson
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown
5. Malik Nabers
6. Brian Thomas Jr.
7. Nico Collins
8. Puka Nacua
9. A.J. Brown
10. Drake London
11. Terry McLaurin
12. Ladd McConkey
13. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
14. Tyreek Hill
15. Tee Higgins
16. Garrett Wilson
17. Mike Evans
18. Marvin Harrison Jr.
19. Courtland Sutton
20. D.J. Moore
21. DK Metcalf
22. Calvin Ridley
23. Davante Adams
24. Jaylen Waddle
25. Travis Hunter
26. DeVonta Smith
27. Chris Olave
28. Rome Odunze
29. Xavier Worthy
30. Zay Flowers
31. George Pickens
32. Ricky Pearsall
33. Tetairoa McMillan '
34. Jameson Williams
35. Emeka Egbuka
36. Jakobi Meyers
37. Jerry Jeudy
38. Stefon Diggs
39. Matthew Golden
40. Keon Coleman

For more fantasy football rankings from Scott Engel at all positions, visit RotoBaller.com.