PFF analyst Bradley Locker highlighted Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Mansoor Delane and Leonard Williams vs. Trey Smith as key player battles as the Seahawks host the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.
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The Seattle Seahawks host the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football in Week 7, setting up a pair of matchups highlighted by PFF’s Bradley Locker.
Locker pointed first to Jaxon Smith-Njigba against rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane, noting Smith-Njigba’s 92.3 PFF receiving grade that ties for the positional lead and his 3.55 yards per route run, which ranks second among receivers. He added that Smith-Njigba is ranked in the top 10 in yards per route run against both man and zone coverage.
On Delane, Locker cited an 81.4 PFF coverage grade, the fifth-highest among cornerbacks with at least 120 coverage snaps, and said Delane has allowed only a 63.8 passer rating when targeted.
Through six games, Locker’s matchup context included Smith-Njigba’s 49 receptions for 717 yards and seven touchdowns. He also noted that Cooper Kupp is second in receptions with 16 and second in yardage with 179, while no other receiver has more than one touchdown.
Locker’s second featured battle pairs Leonard Williams against Trey Smith. He described Williams as disruptive this season and said Smith will need to be at his best to slow him down.
Locker’s breakdown included how Williams has been used across the line, taking 103 snaps over the right A-B gaps and 100 over the left, which he said should place him in reps against both Smith and left guard Kingsley Suamataia. Locker also cited a 71.2 PFF pass-rush grade when Williams has rushed the passer against right guards.
With the Chiefs’ interior line presence as a backdrop, Locker described the overall matchup as strength against strength, with Creed Humphrey at center and the possibility of additional interior tests involving Byron Murphy II versus Smith or Suamataia.
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