Through seven weeks of NFL action, Seattle Seahawks superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has made a compelling case to be looked at as the front runner for this year’s AP Offensive Player of the Year award, but has Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III as an equally-worthy top candidate to get the edge over in the coming weeks.
Both have been instrumental to their respective offenses, producing at levels that warrant serious recognition.
Smith-Njigba is on pace to break Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving yards record of 1,964 if he keeps up his current level of play. Through seven games played this season, JSN has recorded 58 receptions on 78 targets for 867 yards and eight touchdowns, along with 29 rushing yards. He is on track
to finish the year with approximately 2,105.5 REC yards. He has eclipsed 100 receiving yards in six of seven games, including five performances of at least 120 yards.
Walker has been equally impressive, sitting just three rushing yards behind the NFL’s leading rusher Bijan Robinson with 701 yards through only six games played, due to Kansas City’s early bye earlier this season. He also has 116 receiving yards and 817 scrimmage yards, making his production particularly remarkable.
Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Brock Purdy remain strong candidates for the award as well. However, Walker trails Robinson by just three rushing yards and 90 scrimmage yards despite playing one fewer game. Smith-Njigba's consistency and historic trajectory make him equally deserving of the co-leading position, and with another big day in Week 8, he may be deserving of the top spot solely, given Walker’s down performance in Week 7.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks superstar WR may be top candidate for 2026 OPOY award
