Fantasy Football Player Notes

Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke out in 2024 with a WR10 finish in half-PPR, tallying 100 catches, 1,130 yards, and 6 TDs. Even with Seattle emphasizing a run-heavy, defense-first approach under Klint Kubiak, Smith-Njigba still projects as the offensive centerpiece in the passing game - especially with Sam Darnold under center. Darnold's history of hyper-targeting receivers (tunnel vision) and lack of competition behind JSN (aging Cooper Kupp and fringe depth) bodes well for target volume. Smith-Njigba posted six games with double-digit targets (18.4 ppg). He's a low-end WR1 candidate heading into 2025.

It will fly under the radar that Walker was the RB12 in fantasy points per game last season. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by injuries, but if Walker can stay healthy in 2025, he could finally put it all together with a top-five running back season. Walker proved last year that not only is he still one of the best pure rushing talents in the league, but he is also a true three-down back with passing-catching chops. Among 45 qualifying backs, Walker ranked third in first downs per route run, sixth in target per route run rate, and sixth in receiving yards per game (per Fantasy Points Data). Add all of that on top of leading the NFL in missed tackles forced per attempt and ranking tenth in yards after contact per attempt, and Walker could be a league-winner in 2025.

Cooper Kupp's homecoming to Seattle comes with more nostalgia than fantasy upside. The 32-year-old signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Seahawks after being released by the Rams, who opted to pay Davante Adams rather than keep Kupp around. Injuries have derailed his career since 2022 - including an ankle issue that limited him to 12 games in 2024 - and he averaged just 2.5 catches and 36 yards per game over his final seven contests last season. While Kupp helps fill the veteran void in a post-DK Metcalf/Tyler Lockett Seahawks WR room, he's unlikely to thrive in Klint Kubiak's run-heavy offense led by Sam Darnold.

Charbonnet remains one of the elite handcuffs for fantasy football. Whenever he graces the starting lineup, he produces like a top-shelf running back. Last year, in the six starts he made, he averaged 18.3 touches and 100.3 total yards. Charbonnet was a top 24 back in weekly scoring in 83% of those games and an RB1 in 50% of those outings. Among 46 qualifying backs, Charbonnet ranked ninth in missed tackles forced per attempt and 26th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). If Walker misses any time, Charbonnet will be a locked-in RB1/2.

Sam Darnold resurrected his career in Minnesota last season and now heads to the Pacific Northwest to take over as Seattle's starting quarterback. Darnold finished QB9 in fantasy scoring last year, throwing for 4,319 yards, with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He completed a career-high 66.2% of his passes and averaged 7.9 yards per pass attempt. The question is whether Darnold can duplicate his success in what appears to be a lesser offense environment. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is regarded as a top playcaller, and Darnold won't have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to throw to this season. Now, Darnold will be running Klint Kubiak's offense and throwing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Darnold is still being viewed skeptically by fantasy analysts, who have him ranked outside the top 24 at QB in FantasyPros' Expert Consensus Rankings. Darnold seemed to collapse at the end of the season, completing 53% and averaging 5.1 yards per attempt in a Week 18 loss to the Lions and a playoff loss to the Rams.

Second-round rookie Elijah Arroyo will be given every chance to replace perennial underachiever Noah Fant as Seattle's top tight end. One of the more athletic members of this year's talented rookie TE class, Arroyo had 595 receiving yards and seven TD catches in his final college season at the University of Miami-Fla., then stood out in Senior Bowl practices. A major rookie-year impact seems unlikely, but Arroyo is certainly worth monitoring.