Fantasy Football Player Notes

Jaxon Smith-Njigba fully arrived in 2025, finishing as the WR2 overall after leading the NFL in target share and nearly carrying the entire Seahawks passing attack. The 24-year-old posted elite efficiency metrics alongside massive volume, turning 163 targets into nearly 1,800 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Seattle rewarded JSN with a massive extension after his monster campaign, cementing him as the franchise's centerpiece offensively. Although the loss of OC Klint Kubiak and added target competition from Rashid Shaheed could slightly reduce his outrageous usage, Smith-Njigba still projects as one of fantasy football's elite WR1 options entering 2026.

Jadarian Price was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Seahawks to be their new Kenneth Walker (and maybe more). Walker led the backfield last year for Seattle, but they limited his usage in the red zone and in the passing game. Price remains an unknown in the passing game after only 13 targets over the last two collegiate seasons at Notre Dame, but he could easily surpass Walker's red zone usage in 2205. It's unknown when we'll see Zach Charbonnet back to 100%, and outside of him, Price is competing with Emanuel Wilson and George Holani for work. Price is a wonderful rushing talent ranking 25th and fifth in yards after contact per attempt, 31st and 3rd in breakaway rate, and 15th and 39th in elusive rating over the last two seasons in college (per PFF). Price is an intriguing RB2 with a ton of upside in 2026.

Zach Charbonnet enters 2026 with an unknown timetable for when he'll be available for Seattle or when he'll be 100% after he tore his ACL in last year's playoffs. With Jadarian Price, Emanuel Wilson, and George Holani on the depth chart, I doubt that Seattle rushes him back into duty and tasks him with a hefty workload before he's ready. This unknown/moving timeline has me shying away from Charbonnet for 2026. Last year, he was the RB27 in fantasy points per game, while ranking seventh in missed tackle rate and yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Take those numbers with a grain of salt for this season, with Charbonnet's health likely not 100% for most of the season. Charbonnet could be a decent flex play this season at some point.

It took Sam Darnold seven seasons to finally get his footing as an NFL starter, but he's now put together two splendid seasons, culminating in a Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks. Darnold began his career with three nightmarish seasons as a Jet, fared little better in two seasons as a Panther, and spent one season as a backup with the 49ers before finally breaking through with the Vikings in 2024. He signed with the Seahawks in 2025 and guided the team to a 14-3 regular-season record and a 3-0 run through the playoffs. Over the last two regular seasons, Darnold has completed 66.9% of his throws and averaged 8.2 yards per pass attempt, with 60 TD passes, 26 interceptions, and a passer rating of 100.9. He's finished QB9 and QB13 in fantasy scoring the last two years. Darnold averaged only 28.1 pass attempts per game last season, as the Seahawks ran the ball at the third-highest rate in the league. Darnold must adjust to a new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, now that former Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak has taken the Raiders' head-coaching job. But it's possible Seattle throws at a higher rate this year, which could potentially boost Darnold's passing numbers.

Rashid Shaheed's 2025 season was derailed after a midyear trade from New Orleans to Seattle, but his early-season showed he is capable of thriving as a fantasy-relevant No. 2 receiver. Before the trade, Shaheed ranked top-15 in WR targets and consistently produced alongside Chris Olave in the Saints offense. Seattle never fully incorporated him after the move, though the Seahawks clearly believe in his upside after handing him a three-year deal this offseason. Shaheed should enter 2026 as Seattle's clear WR2 behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, although target competition and the team's run-heavy tendencies could make him more boom-or-bust week to week.

Seattle took home the crown of the highest-scoring DST in 2025 by allowing the fewest PPG in the NFL (17.2). They will host the Patriots in the season opener, followed by a road game versus the Cardinals. They have been a top-5 fantasy unit in back-to-back seasons under Mike Macdonald. Expect more of the same in 2026.

A.J. Barner got significantly more involved in the Seattle offense in his second NFL season after a quiet rookie year. Barner's snap share increased from 45% in 2024 to 72% in 2025. He had 52 catches for 519 yards and six touchdowns last season after putting up 30-245-4 as a rookie. Barner also had 10 rushing attempts for 14 yards and a touchdown last year, and he had four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Barner had a 14.9% target share last season for a Seattle offense that had the fourth-fewest pass attempts in the league. The Seahawks didn't add any pass catchers of note in the offseason, so if they either throw more frequently in 2026 or Barner carves out a bigger target share, Barner could take another step forward. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had an absurd 35.8% target share for the Seahawks last year, so it's entirely possible that Barner's target share could rise while JSN's comes down. Consider Barner a midrange to low-end TE2 for 2026 fantasy drafts.

Jason Myers finished as the top-scoring fantasy kicker last season with 202.0 points, although he finished second in fantasy points per game (11.9) behind Houston's Ka'imi Fairbairn. FG volume is part of the appeal with Myers, who has led the NFL in field goal attempts in two of the last three seasons. Myers converted 41-of-48 FG tries last season. His career FG percentage is 85.6%, and while he hasn't been one of the most accurate kickers in the league, Myers is an attractive fantasy kicker because of his situation. The world-champion Seahawks have an outstanding defense and an efficient, ball-control offense. It's a formula that should produce ample field goal and extra point attempts. Consider Myers a top-five fantasy kicker for 2026.