Turf Show Times
This week’s game between the Rams and Seahawks will not only feature two of the leading candidates for MVP at quarterback, but also two of the leading candidates to win Offensive Player of the Year as a wide receiver. Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba has gained 1,041 yards in nine games, 210 more yards than second place Ja’Marr Chase, and Puka Nacua is third with 775 yards despite playing in one fewer contest because of an injury.
By most accounts, Puka and JSN are the two best receivers in the NFL in 2025. Nacua’s +60.8 EPA (estimated points added, per Next Gen Stats) leads all players. Smith-Njigba has a better chance to win OPOY over Jonathan Taylor than Puka largely because of playing in an additional game.
The biggest question may not be “Who is the better receiver?” but “Which team has the better chance of covering an elite receiver in Week 11?”
Puka has lined up in a wide alignment on 123 of his 221 routes, followed by 74 routes from the slot and 23 routes from a tight alignment. For the most part, we can expect Puka to play outside and that means he may not face Devon Witherspoon or Seahawks rookie Nick Emmanwori as often as he could face Tariq Woolen and Josh Jobe.
Woolen has had an inconsistent career, to say the least, and last season he got “burned very badly” (to quote Will Ferrell in Austin Powers) when he faced the Rams for the first time:
Despite an interception, Woolen also gave up two touchdowns, including the game-winner in OT.
Woolen has played better as of late, but hasn’t faced the likes of Matthew Stafford, Puka, and Davante Adams.
Jobe is not as well known as Woolen but the former Alabama standout has had a better season. After missing Week 10’s 44-22 win over the Cardinals with injury, Jobe could return to the field this week. Jobe has held opposing QBs to a passer rating of 60.2 on 44 targets in his direction.
Jobe is a bit of an unknown, but to a degree so is Woolen. Some days Woolen can play like an All-Pro, others he is the one player opposing OCs and QBs will target because of his soft tackling and inconsistent coverage skills. As an elite athlete (like better than 99% of NFL players), Woolen is a threat to take anything to the house. But many QBs target him in the pass game and many OCs target him in the run game because of his inconsistency and lack of focus.
The nice thing about having two receivers like Nacua and Adams is that Stafford can choose when he wants to go after Woolen and when he doesn’t and he’ll always have a “WR1” to pick from.
But don’t sleep on Emmanwori.
The rookie second round pick out of South Carolina may be an even better athlete than Woolen and some are comparing him to Ravens safety/do-everything back Kyle...
