Somehow, Jaxon Smith-Njigba may be even more dominant this season than he was in 2025.

The Seahawks receiver has stamped himself as the NFL’s best offensive weapon, coming off an outstanding 2025 season in which he was named Offensive Player of the Year while helping lead Seattle to a Super Bowl title. But through the first seven games of 2026, Smith-Njigba could be on pace for history.

Last year, he finished No. 8 on the all-time leaderboard for single-season receiving yards with 1,793. This year, he’s not only on pace to shatter that mark for a new career-high — he could contend for Calvin Johnson’s record.

Here’s a look at where Smith-Njigba’s pace stands against Johnson’s historic 2012 season. 

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba stats 2026

• Catches: 58
• Receiving Yards: 867
• Yards Per Catch: 14.9
• Yards Per Game: 123.9
• TDs: 8

If you thought Smith-Njigba was dominant in 2025, he’s reached all-time levels in 2026.

Through seven games, he is on pace to shatter his career-highs in catches, yards and touchdowns, all set last season. He’s already just two touchdowns shy of his entire 2025 total over 17 games. And he’s been the full engine of Seattle’s offense — the run game ranks around the middle of the NFL with 113.7 yards per game, yet Smith-Njigba is accountable for 50.2% of the 1,726 receiving yards from all Seahawks receivers.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 50.2% of the receiving yards for the Seahawks. The only players since at least 1948 to have at least half his team’s receiving yards for a season: Ken Burrough 50.6% for 1975 Oilers Harlon Hill 51.4% for the 1956 Bears

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) October 30, 2026

Whether it’s been down the field, in short-range or in the red zone, Smith-Njigba has handled about as much as one receiver can in the NFL despite consistently drawing the full attention of defenses.

And at his current pace of 123.9 yards per game, he’d make NFL history without even needing a 17th game.

WR with 800+ scrimmage yds and 8+ TD through the first 7 games of a season in the Super Bowl era: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2026) Cooper Kupp (2021) Jerry Rice (1986)

— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) October 26, 2026

How many yards does Jaxon Smith-Njigba need to pass Calvin Johnson?

It’s still fairly early in the record chance, but entering Week 8, Smith-Njigba is 1,097 yards away from tying, and 1,098 yards away from breaking, Johnson’s 2012 record of 1,964 receiving yards.

In 2012, Johnson averaged 122.8 yards per game over 16 games. That means Smith-Njigba is currently out-pacing him — and if he maintains that pace, he wouldn’t even need a 17th game to break the record. Smith-Njigba would reach 1,982 yards by the Seahawks’ 16th game. After a 17th game, he would be on pace to clear 2,100 yards, shattering the single-season record.

JSN WHAT A CATCH FOR A TOUCHDOWN KCvsSEA on NBC/Peacock Stream on @NFLPlus https://t.co/bN6IT22fM4

— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2026

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Calvin Johnson receiving record

Johnson totaled 1,964 receiving yards in the 2012 season for the Lions, which broke Jerry Rice’s previous 1995 record of 1,848 yards in a season. In that 2012 season, Johnson became the first NFL wide receiver to average 120 yards per game in a season.

The closest any player has come to breaking Johnson’s record since then is Smith-Njigba’s current teammate, Cooper Kupp, who came within 20 yards during his dominant 2021 season. Kupp had 1,947 yards for the Rams that season, helping the team win the Super Bowl and claiming Super Bowl MVP honors. 

Smith-Njigba finished No. 8 on the all-time list in 2025, but looks poised to finish higher in 2026.

Here’s a look at the top-10 single-season receiving leaders:

Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Calvin Johnson stats

Smith-Njigba still has a ways to go — staying healthy will be just as key as maintaining his pace. With the Seahawks relying on him more than ever, though, it appears he’ll at least have a chance to make history in the second half of the season, especially with some wiggle room of a 17th game, compared to Johnson’s 2012 season.

Smith-Njigba has the pace to easily break the record. Whether he can do so or not, he’s the front runner to win another OPOY trophy in 2026 and go back-to-back, something only Earl Campbell and Marshall Faulk have done in NFL history. 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues his ridiculous 2026 season with another huge performance against the unbeaten Chiefs. 9 REC, 150 REC YDS, 2 CAR, 13 RUYDS, 1 TD vs Chiefs Can the reigning Offensive Player of the Year go back to back? https://t.co/FreW19rwa3

— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) October 26, 2026

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