Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba slides in latest OPOY ladder

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a premier offensive player in the NFL, has dropped to No. 2 on the AP Offensive Player of the Year award ladder after his underwhelming performance in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has now taken the top spot, with Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba following him at No. 2.

Smith-Njigba leads the NFL in receiving yards with 1,036 and nine touchdowns, but his Week 9 performance of 51 receiving yards hindered his momentum from the exceptional pace he was on. Despite still being on track for an elite season, he faces the challenge of surpassing the record-breaking pace required to break Calvin Johnson's single-season receiving yards record of 1,964.

The Seahawks star still has a chance to regain his footing with the next week's game and potentially overtake Gibbs in the race. Gibbs' explosive playmaking ability and consistent production make him a deserving contender for the award, as he currently leads the league in scrimmage yards with 1,132 and scrimmage touchdowns with 11.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow occupies the No. 3 position, on pace to throw for over 5,000 yards, with a 74% completion rate and 23 passing touchdowns. Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III takes the No. 4 spot, while Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love rounds out the top five at No. 5.