Head to Head

Updated August 16, 2026 from live stats

Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs Pat FreiermuthWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Jaxon Smith-Njigba over Pat Freiermuth in 2026.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba averaged 17.7 PPG in 2025 to Pat Freiermuth's 6.2, a 11.5 point per game edge. Smith-Njigba's 119-catch receiving role gives him a higher weekly floor in PPR and half-PPR. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is Tier 1 among wide receivers, Pat Freiermuth is Tier 4 among tight ends.

The Bottom Line

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jaxon Smith-Njigba (17.7 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Pat Freiermuth (6.2 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRSeattle Seahawks#2PPG LEADER

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

PPG

17.7

Games

Rec

119

Rec Yds

1,793

Rec TDs

Targets

163

Bye

Week 11

TEPittsburgh Steelers#28

Pat Freiermuth

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Pat Freiermuth

Head to Head

17.7 PPG6.2 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #2 at the position). Pat Freiermuth: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #28 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE in most league formats.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs Pat Freiermuth: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Seattle Seahawks) against Pat Freiermuth (TE, Pittsburgh Steelers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jaxon Smith-Njigba averaged 17.7 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Pat Freiermuth posted 6.2 PPG across 15 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has his bye in Week 11, Pat Freiermuth in Week 9. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Pat Freiermuth is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Pat Freiermuth (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jaxon Smith-Njigba outscored Pat Freiermuth by a projected 196 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaxon Smith-Njigba played 17 games in 2025 compared to Pat Freiermuth's 15. That durability gap means Jaxon Smith-Njigba contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaxon Smith-Njigba scored 10 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Jaxon Smith-Njigba saw 163 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs Pat Freiermuth: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	Pat Freiermuth
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.7	6.2
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	301	93
Receptions	119	41
Rec/Game	7.0	2.7
Receiving Yards	1,793	486
Rec Yds/Game	105.5	32.4
Receiving TDs	10	4
Targets	163	54
Target Share/Game	9.6	3.6
Age	24	27
Experience	2 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 9

Summary

17.7 PPG for Jaxon Smith-Njigba versus 6.2 for Pat Freiermuth in 2025. The baseline favors Jaxon Smith-Njigba, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Pat Freiermuth in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has the edge at 17.7 PPG compared to Pat Freiermuth's 6.2 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Pat Freiermuth average in 2025?▾

Jaxon Smith-Njigba averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 11.5 points per game.

When are Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Pat Freiermuth's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) has a bye in Week 11, and Pat Freiermuth (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.