Fantasy Football Player Notes

Last year, Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepped up and put up what might be a career-best season for him when it's all said and done. I'm not saying that he will definitively fall off, but replicating his 2025 season will be tough no matter how you slice it. Last year, he posted the seventh-most receiving yards ever in a single season (1,793) and 119 receptions as the WR2 in fantasy points per game. He had 44.1% of Seattle's receiving yards, which was easily the highest mark in the NFL among receivers by a staggering 6.2%. The next closest was Puka Nacua with 37.9%. Smith-Njigba didn't have any new faces added to this Seattle passing attack in the offseason to threaten his usage at all, and he still has Sam Darnold under center, but we'll have to see how much losing Klint Kubiak impacts this offense. That loss won't tank his season, but it's a concern that has to be brought up. Last year, Smith-Njigba ranked first in target share (32.6%), second in receiving yards per game (105.5), second in yards per route run (3.74), and first in first-read share (44.6%, per Fantasy Points Data). Smith-Njigba is a top 3-5 fantasy receiver with an extremely high ceiling and elite floor.

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.

As good as Sam Darnold was from a real-life quarterbacking perspective last year, he wasn't great in fantasy, and I don't see that changing this season if their defense remains an elite unit. Last season, Darnold was the QB22 in fantasy points per game as Seattle led the NFL in plays while leading by seven or more points. When Seattle was 27th in passing rate when leading by seven or more points, they were 32nd in passing rate when trailing by a touchdown or more, and they finished 25th in neutral passing rate. In every conceivable situation, this team didn't want to throw the ball, and I don't see that being any different in 2026. Darnold had only seven weekly finishes as a QB1 in fantasy while finishing as the QB24 or lower in weekly scoring eight times. Darnold can continue to be awesome in real-life football and an avoid for fantasy purposes because of their offensive game plan and their strong defense. He's a QB2 that I'll be avoiding.

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.

Last year, after becoming a Seahawk, Rashid Shaheed had only a 61.9% route share, an 8.8% target share with 20.9 receiving yards per game, 1.05 yards per route run, and a 12.3% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). This type of usage isn't conducive to fantasy success. Yes, could it trend upward in 2026 with a full offseason to learn the ropes? Sure, but Seattle was 29th in 11 personnel usage last year (41.3%), and I don't see that changing this season. Unless Shaheed can hop Copper Kupp on the depth chart or Kupp gets injured, it will still be tough for Shaheed to see a 70-80% route share and be productive in a run-centric offense. I'm avoiding Shaheed in drafts in all formats.

Seattle fielded an absolutely nasty defense last year that finished as the DST3 in fantasy points per game. They allowed the second-fewest net yards per pass attempt, had the sixth-highest rate of drives ending in a turnover, and generated the sixth-highest pressure rate (seventh-most sacks). Yes, they lost Coby Bryant, Tariq Woolen, and Boye Mafe this offseason, but I still expect this defense to be an elite unit in 2026.

Last year, A.J. Barner was the TE20 in fantasy points per game while finishing as a TE1 in weekly scoring six times. There is some definite streaming upside with Barner again for 2026. Last year, among 54 qualifying tight ends, he was 27th in target share, 25th in receiving yards per game, 26th in yards per route run, 33rd in first-read share, and 26th in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). His touchdown equity in the Seattle offense is what gives him the streaming appeal. Last year, he was fifth in total touchdowns among tight ends while also ranking 12th in red zone targets. Barner will be called upon by fantasy managers again in 2026 when the matchup is right or bye weeks hit.

Last year, Jason Myers was the K2 in fantasy points per game. He was 20th in field goal % made, but he was first in field goal attempts and fifth in extra point attempts. The Seattle offense could take a small step back this season in efficiency, but that could create more field goal attempts for Myers. He should be considered a top-five option for fantasy.