Start Puka Nacua or Jaxon Smith-Njigba? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Puka Nacua over Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Puka Nacua at 21.3 points and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at 20.1, a gap of 1.2. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 21.3 fantasy points for Puka Nacua, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Puka Nacua at 92.5 receiving yards and 7.5 receptions, with a 54% chance to score a touchdown (12, 13 and 15 market sources).

Player markets imply 20.1 fantasy points for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Jaxon Smith-Njigba at 93.5 receiving yards and 6.5 receptions, with a 50% chance to score a touchdown (15, 10 and 15 market sources).

That puts Puka Nacua 1.2 points ahead of Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the market projections.

Injury status

Puka Nacua is not on the injury report.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, Puka Nacua played 82 percent of LAR snaps, drew 27 percent of the targets, earned 35 percent of the air yards and had 11 percent of the red zone chances.

Puka Nacua, Week 1 against SF: 43 of 61 snaps, 9 targets and 5 catches for 74 yards.

Puka Nacua, Week 4 against PHI: 76 of 84 snaps, 1 carry for 2 yards, 12 targets and 9 catches for 125 yards, 1 touchdown.

Through Week 4, Jaxon Smith-Njigba played 82 percent of SEA snaps, drew 37 percent of the targets, earned 50 percent of the air yards and had 22 percent of the red zone chances.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Week 1 against NE: 45 of 50 snaps, 11 targets and 8 catches for 122 yards, 1 touchdown.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Week 2 against ARI: 47 of 70 snaps, 11 targets and 9 catches for 155 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Week 3 against WAS: 58 of 67 snaps, 14 targets and 10 catches for 128 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Week 4 against LAC: 53 of 60 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 76 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Puka Nacua played 16 games for LAR and scored 375.0 PPR points, 23.4 a game, finishing WR1.

He caught 129 of 166 targets for 1715 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 16 red zone targets and 1049 air yards.

He was on the field for 68 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Puka Nacua, Week 18 of 2025 against ARI: 2 carries for 24 yards, 11 targets and 10 catches for 76 yards, 1 touchdown, 26.0 PPR points.

In 2025, Jaxon Smith-Njigba played 17 games for SEA and scored 359.9 PPR points, 21.2 a game, finishing WR2.

He caught 119 of 163 targets for 1793 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 17 red zone targets and 1265 air yards.

He was on the field for 78 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start Puka Nacua over Amon-Ra St. Brown.
• Start Puka Nacua over CeeDee Lamb.
• Start Puka Nacua over Davante Adams.
• Start Amon-Ra St. Brown over Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
• Start Jaxon Smith-Njigba over CeeDee Lamb.
• Start Jaxon Smith-Njigba over Chris Olave.