Honestly, if you had Jaxon Smith-Njigba winning the receiving title on your 2025 bingo card, you’re either a time traveler or the world's most optimistic Seahawks fan. We just wrapped up the regular season, and the leaderboard looks... different. No Tyreek at the top. No Justin Jefferson holding the crown.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished with the most receiving yards this season, clocking in at a massive 1,793 yards.
It’s one of those "wait, let me check the stats again" moments. He didn't just win; he held off a late-season surge from Puka Nacua and a very consistent (but frustrated) Ja'Marr Chase. The sophomore-to-junior leap is a real thing in the NFL, but JSN took a literal flight. He averaged about 105 yards a game. That’s absurd.
The Final 2025 Receiving Leaderboard
The race stayed tight until Week 18. Usually, by December, someone like CeeDee Lamb has a 200-yard lead and we all just stop paying attention to the math. Not this year.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA): 1,793 yards.
- Puka Nacua (LAR): 1,715 yards.
- George Pickens (PIT): 1,429 yards.
- Ja’Marr Chase (CIN): 1,412 yards.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET): 1,401 yards.
Puka almost had it. If Matthew Stafford hadn't missed a few quarters in late November, we might be talking about a different winner. But JSN was the model of health. He caught 119 balls. He was basically the entire Seattle offense at times, especially when the run game got sluggish in the rain.
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Why Jaxon Smith-Njigba Won the Yardage Title
Success in this league is usually about two things: target share and "yards after catch" (YAC). Smith-Njigba absolutely feasted on both. He wasn't just catching deep bombs—though he had eight catches of 40-plus yards—he was turning five-yard slants into 20-yard gains. He finished with 528 yards after the catch. That’s essentially a third of his production just from making guys miss in the open field.
The scheme change in Seattle clearly worked. They stopped treating him like a "slot-only" guy and let him roam. You'd see him on the boundary, in the slot, even occasionally in the backfield. It made him a nightmare for defensive coordinators to track.
The Puka Nacua Factor
We have to talk about Puka. The guy is a machine. 1,715 yards is usually enough to lead the league in any normal year. He actually had more receptions than JSN (129 to 119), but his "yards per catch" was slightly lower. Nacua is the ultimate possession receiver who also happens to be a deep threat. It’s a weird combo that works because Sean McVay is a wizard.
What Happened to the "Big Three"?
You’re probably wondering where the usual suspects went. Justin Jefferson had a "down" year by his standards, finishing with 1,048 yards. It sounds crazy to call a 1,000-yard season bad, but for JJ, it’s a quiet Tuesday. He dealt with some inconsistent quarterback play and a nagging hamstring that kept him from being that 100-yard-a-game lock we're used to.
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Then there’s Tyreek Hill. The "Cheetah" didn't even crack the top five. Age? Maybe. But mostly it was defenses just refusing to let him over the top. He saw more "two-high safety" looks than anyone in history. He ended up with 959 yards—his first time under 1,000 since 2019.
CeeDee Lamb also had a bit of a weird ride. He finished with 1,077 yards. Good, but not "best in the league" good. The Cowboys' offense felt out of sync for large stretches of October and November.
The Surprises: Pickens and McBride
George Pickens at number three is the stat that should scare the rest of the AFC North. 1,429 yards with the Steelers' revolving door at QB? That’s pure talent. He averaged 15.4 yards per reception, which was among the highest for anyone with over 80 catches.
And let’s give a quick shoutout to Trey McBride. The Cardinals tight end put up 1,239 yards. For a tight end, that’s historic territory. He’s basically a wide receiver with a bigger frame at this point.
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Historical Context: Where 1,793 Ranks
To put JSN's 1,793 yards into perspective, he didn't quite hit the Calvin Johnson record ($1,964$ yards in 2012), but he’s now in the top 10 all-time for a single season. He surpassed Jerry Rice’s 1995 mark ($1,848$) if you don't count the extra game, but in our 17-game era, it’s a top-tier performance.
What This Means for Your 2026 Drafts
If you're already looking at next year, the "receiving yards this season" title has officially shifted the hierarchy.
- JSN is a Tier 1 Lock: You can't ignore the volume. Seattle is built around him.
- Puka is the PPR King: 129 catches is a massive floor for fantasy or just general impact.
- The "Old Guard" is Risky: Tyreek and Davante Adams are still great, but the yardage ceiling is clearly lowering as they hit their 30s.
The 2025 season proved that the "young" WR class—the guys drafted in 2023 and 2024—have officially taken over the league. Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn't just a "promising talent" anymore. He’s the yardage king.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking these stats for betting or just to win an argument at the bar, keep an eye on Yards Per Route Run (YPRR). JSN led the league in this metric for most of the second half of the season. It’s the most predictive stat for who will actually lead in receiving yards.
Next season, look for players with a YPRR over $2.50$ in the first four weeks. Those are your real contenders for the next crown. For now, the trophy stays in the Pacific Northwest.
Check the final official league binders for the full breakdown of targets and air yards to see just how much "meat" was left on the bone for these guys heading into the playoffs.