NFL 2026 PREVIEW: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 campaign looking to build on a dominant 14-3 regular season that featured the league’s third-highest scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defense. Warren Sharp’s forecast projects 10.5 wins for the club, slotting them second in their division despite a mid-pack Strength of Schedule ranked 20th out of 32 teams, where one represents the easiest slate. This outlook highlights a roster defined by extreme positional contrasts, boasting the second-strongest secondary unit in the NFL while simultaneously carrying the 31st-ranked running back group. With key departures altering the depth chart and additions that include Emanuel Wilson, Dante Fowler Jr., and CB Avery Smith (acquired from the Chargers on August 30), the team must navigate these structural imbalances to meet high expectations. The path forward requires maximizing elite defensive backfield talent to offset significant questions in the ground game.

Research note. Warren Sharp's 2026 Football Preview sets the agenda for each team preview — what to cover and where to dig. Snapshot figures (forecast, SOS, unit ranks, Vegas lines) are credited to Sharp. Tables below are Hacking DFS calculations from nflverse (primary data source), including FTN charting data, plus NFL Next Gen Stats, 2025 play-by-play, snap counts, DraftKings weekly salaries, and NFL+ season averages. Play-level fantasy points are full PPR; weekly floor/ceiling numbers are DraftKings scoring. Please purchase the book for the full chapter, charts, tables and first-class expert commentary.

Team Snapshot

Win forecast, division finish, strength of schedule, and Vegas lines are from Sharp. 2025 record, ATS, totals, and scoring are Hacking DFS.

Coaches & Personnel Impact

Coaching Staff

Key Additions: Emanuel Wilson (RB); Dante Fowler Jr. (EDGE); Avery Smith (CB, via trade from the Chargers, August 30).

Key Departures: Boye Mafe (EDGE) to the Bengals, Kenneth Walker III (RB) to the Chiefs, Coby Bryant (S) to the Bears, Tariq Woolen (CB) to the Eagles, and Dareke Young (WR) to the Raiders.

Unavailable / status: Zach Charbonnet (RB — Reserve/PUP recovering from a torn ACL; unavailable for at least the first four games); Bud Clark (S — IR after a broken ankle; out multiple months); Jake Bobo (WR — IR, season-ending knee injury); Terrion Arnold (CB — Commissioner's Exempt List). Sharp's published Secondary #2 grade predates Seattle's late-August Clark/Arnold/Smith changes.

The most significant personnel shift for Seattle involves a complete overhaul of the backfield, as Kenneth Walker III departed in free agency to join the Chiefs and Zach Charbonnet opens 2026 on Reserve/PUP after a torn ACL. The Seahawks added Emanuel Wilson in free agency and drafted Jadarian Price, but the early-season depth chart centers George Holani and Price splitting the workload, with Wilson third. That committee sits inside a unit Sharp ranks 31st overall. This transition occurs under new Offensive Coordinator Brian Fleury, who is in his first season with the team, while Head Coach Mike Macdonald enters his third year. Macdonald holds a strong Sharp head-coach rank of 4 out of 32, suggesting stability at the top despite the coordinator change. The offense retains high-end talent elsewhere, with the receiving corps ranked 7th and the offensive line ranked 9th — and a starting five of Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford, and Abraham Lucas. Wide receiver Dareke Young also left in free agency for the Raiders, thinning out the depth chart slightly behind the top-tier receivers.

Defensively, the Seahawks face notable losses in their secondary and pass rush, which could test the depth of a group that was previously elite. Cornerback Tariq Woolen departed for the Eagles, safety Coby Bryant left for the Bears, and edge rusher Boye Mafe joined the Bengals. Those exits hit a defense where Sharp ranked the secondary 2nd and the Front 7 5th. Seattle answered with veteran EDGE Dante Fowler Jr. and CB Avery Smith (acquired from the Chargers on August 30), both on the active 53, while Aden Durde remains Defensive Coordinator in his third season. Bettors and fantasy managers should monitor how quickly Wilson integrates into the offense and how the defensive backfield adjusts after losing Bryant plus significant contributors Woolen and Mafe from a highly ranked unit.

2026 Draft Class

Draft class summary

The Seahawks addressed their most glaring roster hole by selecting Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick, a move Sharp characterizes as one of the most egregious need-based reaches in recent memory, driven by injury and personnel losses. With Kenneth Walker III departing in free agency and Zach Charbonnet suffering a torn ACL during the playoff run, Seattle entered the draft without a viable starter at the position, forcing general manager John Schneider to take the last remaining back who could plausibly start immediately. While Price brings home-run speed and kick return experience, his college ball security presents a significant risk compared to his predecessors; he fumbled once every 70 carries over three years, whereas Walker and Charbonnet fumbled only once every 240 and 283 carries respectively. Price must prove he can protect the football and avoid negative plays to maintain favor behind a strong offensive line, as any recurrence of turnover issues could quickly derail his rookie campaign.

Seattle continued to reinforce its defense and depth with seven additional selections, headlined by second-round safety Bud Clark from TCU and third-round cornerback Julian Neal from Arkansas. Clark was drafted into a secondary that ranked second overall in Sharp’s unit ratings, but a broken ankle on his first defensive snap of the preseason at Tennessee landed him on IR and keeps him out multiple months. After cutdowns, only Price, Neal, and fifth-round Iowa guard Beau Stephens made the active 53; Clark is on IR, while Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Deven Eastern, Andre Fuller, and Michael Dansby are on the practice squad. Neal is therefore the nearer-term coverage addition from this class, Stephens is active OL depth behind a locked-in starting five, and the practice-squad draftees are developmental — not immediate rotational contributors.

Sharp Forecasts Seattle Seahawks with 10.5 Wins

Sharp forecasts the Seattle Seahawks for 10.5 wins, a projection that invites scrutiny given the team’s reliance on exceptional health during their 14-3 campaign last season. The Seahawks ranked third in total player health, with key offensive contributors like Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker III, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba starting all 17 regular-season games alongside three of five starting offensive linemen. This durability supported an offense that finished third in scoring at 28.4 points per game, though underlying metrics suggest some vulnerability. Seattle ranked only ninth in offensive success rate and 18th in EPA per play, indicating a heavy dependence on explosive plays rather than sustained efficiency. They ranked fourth in plays of 20-plus yards and fifth in plays of 10-plus yards, while struggling in the red zone with a 21st-ranked touchdown rate of 54.2 percent. Their ability to win despite trailing also skewed perceptions of dominance, as they posted a .700 winning percentage in such games compared to the league average of .378, securing five victories when behind.

The defensive unit served as the true backbone of the previous Super Bowl roster, leading the league in points allowed per drive at 1.48 and points allowed per game at 17.2. They also ranked first in limiting explosive plays and second in yards allowed per play at 5.1, while generating pressure at a sixth-best rate and recording 47 sacks. However, maintaining this elite level will be challenging after losing significant contributors including Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant, and Tariq Woolen. Seattle answered with Dante Fowler Jr. on the edge and Avery Smith in the secondary (acquired from the Chargers on August 30), while Emanuel Wilson arrived via free agency to help the backfield; the running back room remains a concern after Walker’s exit, Charbonnet’s Reserve/PUP start, and Sharp ranking the reshaped 2026 backfield 31st. With a schedule strength ranked 20th out of 32 teams, the Seahawks face a mid-pack slate that does not offer an easy path to replicating their prior success, especially if turnover issues persist after finishing 31st in that category last year.

Schedule Timing & Rest

Sharp’s timing metrics place the Seattle Seahawks at the very top of the league for net rest edge, ranking first overall in this category. The team accumulates a net gain of nine days across the season, which ranks fourth in the NFL when measuring who is most helped by rest disparities. Sharp identifies nine specific weeks where the Seahawks hold a labeled rest edge, including a substantial seven-day advantage in Week 12 during an away game against San Francisco. Other notable positive swings include a four-day edge in Week 2 at Arizona and a three-day benefit in Week 7 at home against Kansas City. This distribution helps the squad navigate a mid-pack schedule difficulty, ranked 20th on Sharp’s scale, by providing extra recovery time during key stretches of the campaign.

The Seahawks also excel in avoiding unfavorable short-week scenarios, ranking fourth in the league for both short-week road games and games off road prime-time slots like Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football. Their preparation rank sits at number one, while their negated bye rank is sixth, suggesting the calendar structure aligns well with their operational needs. Although the general rest rank is 19th, the specific weekly edges show clear advantages, such as the plus-one day in Week 16 against Los Angeles and plus-two days in Week 17 at Carolina. Conversely, the team faces some compressed turns, including negative three-day edges in Week 8 at home against Chicago and Week 13 at home against Dallas, but the overall net positive balance supports the top-tier net rest edge ranking.

Team timing ranks vs NFL (1=best)

Critical & Game-Deciding Stats

Turnovers

Giveaways: Sam Darnold (14 INT, 6 FL), Cooper Kupp (1 INT, 1 FL), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1 FL), George Holani (1 FL), Jalen Milroe (1 FL), Elijah Arroyo (1 FL), Coby Bryant (1 FL), Riq Woolen (1 FL). Takeaway leaders: Ernest Jones (5 INT), Coby Bryant (4 INT), DeMarcus Lawrence (3 FR), Derion Kendrick (2 INT), Ty Okada (1 INT, 1 FR), Drake Thomas (1 INT, 1 FR); also 1 INT each — Nick Emmanwori, Josh Jobe, Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen.

The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2026 campaign carrying significant ball-security concerns after ranking thirty-first in giveaways with twenty-eight total mishaps during their fourteen-win season. Sam Darnold accounted for the bulk of these errors, throwing fourteen interceptions and losing six fumbles, while Cooper Kupp contributed one interception (trick play) and one fumble lost. Beyond Darnold, the other lost fumbles came from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, George Holani, quarterback Jalen Milroe, Elijah Arroyo, Coby Bryant, and Riq Woolen (one each), filling out the team’s league-worst thirteen fumbles lost. This high volume of turnovers, which included fifteen total interceptions thrown, created a negative net turnover margin of three despite the team’s strong overall record.

Defensively, the unit generated substantial positive plays by securing twenty-five takeaways, ranking fifth in the league with eighteen interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. Linebacker Ernest Jones led the team with five interceptions, while Coby Bryant added four picks before departing in free agency. Derion Kendrick contributed two interceptions, and Nick Emmanwori, Josh Jobe, Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Ty Okada, and Drake Thomas each recorded one. DeMarcus Lawrence recovered three fumbles (separate from his six-sack pass-rush production); Okada and Thomas each added one recovery as well. However, the departure of key takeaway artists like Bryant and Woolen means the Seahawks must replace proven playmakers who were central to their top-five takeaway production.

Sacks

Yardage surrendered to sacks: Sam Darnold 186 yards. Formation-play sack shares divide sacks by all plays from that formation, including runs, so they are not conventional dropback sack rates: 19/438 ≈ 4.3% of shotgun plays; 8/532 ≈ 1.5% of under center plays. Coverage-shell rows are raw sack counts (and count ranks), not per-snap efficiency measures.

Sack leaders (defense): Byron Murphy II (7), Leonard Williams (7), Uchenna Nwosu (7), DeMarcus Lawrence (6)

The Seattle Seahawks offensive line demonstrated exceptional pass protection in 2025, allowing only 27 sacks to rank fifth best in the league. Sam Darnold lost 186 yards on those sacks, but the unit maintained stability across different alignments. When breaking down the data by formation, 19 sacks occurred across 438 shotgun plays, while just eight sacks were recorded over 532 plays from under center. These figures represent shares of total formation plays rather than traditional dropback rates, highlighting how rarely the quarterback was brought down regardless of the pre-snap look.

On the defensive side of the ball, the pass rush featured a balanced distribution of production among its top contributors. Byron Murphy II, Leonard Williams, and Uchenna Nwosu each recorded seven sacks, forming a formidable trio at the front of the defense. DeMarcus Lawrence added six sacks to the team total, ensuring that opposing quarterbacks faced consistent threats from multiple angles. This collective effort helped define a defensive identity that relied on shared responsibility rather than dependence on a single dominant pass rusher.

Return Touchdowns

Punt & kickoff TDs scored: 3 (#1) — Tory Horton (punt return), Rashid Shaheed (kickoff return), and Rashid Shaheed (punt return).

Opponent punt & kickoff TDs: 1 (#19) — Chimere Dike (punt return).

Punt returns 29 for 448 yards; kickoff returns 46 for 1287 yards.

The Seattle Seahawks led the league in special teams scoring with three return touchdowns, showcasing elite production from their return unit. Tory Horton contributed a punt return score, while Rashid Shaheed accounted for two scores of his own with one on a kickoff return and another on a punt return. This output came from a high-volume workload that included 29 punt returns for 448 yards and 46 kickoff returns for 1,287 yards, indicating that the team consistently generated opportunities to break big plays in the open field.

On the defensive side of special teams, the Seahawks allowed just one return touchdown to opponents, which ranked nineteenth in the league. Chimere Dike scored the lone blemish against Seattle on a punt return. While the unit did not surrender multiple scores through the air or on the ground via returns, the single allowed touchdown stands as the only mark against them in this specific category for the season.

Penalties

Offense: 54 penalties for 409 yards (#6). Most common: Offensive Holding (17), False Start (16), Delay of Game (6). Most flags in Under Center (19), Shotgun (6). Most flagged players: Grey Zabel (5), Charles Cross (5), AJ Barner (4).

Defense-side nflverse bucket: 46 penalties for 384 yards (#14), including 2 special-teams punt-return holdings — not a pure scheme-defense total. Most common: Defensive Holding (7), Unnecessary Roughness (7), Defensive Pass Interference (6). Most flags on Cover 2 (11), Cover 1 (6), Cover 3 (5). Most flagged players: Josh Jobe (8), Riq Woolen (6), Leonard Williams (5).

League Rank polarity: #1 = fewest penalties (most disciplined); #32 = most flags.

The Seattle Seahawks offense displayed notable discipline during the 2025 campaign, ranking sixth in the league with only 54 penalties for 409 yards. Offensive holding and false starts were the primary infractions, occurring 17 and 16 times respectively, while delay of game flags appeared six times. These infractions totaled 19 flags on under-center plays, compared with six on shotgun plays. Individual accountability fell heavily on specific linemen and tight ends, as Grey Zabel and Charles Cross each drew five penalties, and AJ Barner was flagged four times.

On the other side of the ball, the Defense-side nflverse bucket totaled 46 penalties for 384 yards (#14). That bucket includes two special-teams punt-return holdings, so it is not a pure scheme-defense total. The data highlights that while the secondary is projected as a strength for the upcoming season, the unit must maintain this level of procedural discipline to support a roster that has seen significant departures in the defensive backfield. Keeping penalty yardage manageable will be essential for a team expected to compete near the top of its division.

Early Downs & Red Zone Efficiency

Early Downs: 780 plays, 46.0% success, 0.04 EPA/play (#10).

Red Zone: 169 plays, 41.4% success, 0.01 EPA/play (#17). Most efficient in the red zone: AJ Barner (16 plays, 0.90 EPA/play).

The Seattle Seahawks established a highly effective foundation on early downs during the 2025 campaign, ranking tenth in expected points added per play with a mark of 0.04. Across 780 plays on first and second down, the offense achieved a 46.0 percent success rate, indicating consistent ability to stay ahead of the chains. This efficiency on initial downs helped sustain drives and set up manageable situations later in sequences, serving as a key component of the unit's overall productivity before facing third-down pressure.

Inside the red zone, the team maintained solid but slightly less dominant efficiency, ranking 17th with 0.01 expected points added per play over 169 total plays. The success rate in these compressed areas stood at 41.4 percent, reflecting the inherent difficulty of scoring when field position is limited. Tight end AJ Barner was the most efficient listed option on those snaps, generating 0.90 expected points added per play across 16 red-zone plays.

Pass Rate / Rush Rate

On neutral downs, pass rate over expected (PROE) was -5.2 (#26); they passed 49.9% of those snaps.

On pass plays (not official attempts): Sam Darnold (51.8% success on 502 pass plays).

On rushes (qualifying 2025 PBP rush plays — not official NFL attempt totals): Kenneth Walker III (38.0% success on 221 qualifying PBP rush plays), Zach Charbonnet (41.6% success on 185 qualifying PBP rush plays), Sam Darnold (72.7% success on 22 qualifying PBP rush plays).

The Seattle Seahawks operated with a distinctively run-heavy approach during the 2025 season, ranking second in the league for rush rate at 49.2% while sitting near the bottom for pass frequency at 50.8%. This commitment to the ground game resulted in 491 rushing plays, the fourth-highest total in the NFL, compared to just 506 passing plays which ranked thirtieth. Despite the high volume of runs, the efficiency metrics told a different story for each phase of the offense. The passing attack was highly effective, generating 7.67 yards per play to rank second overall, whereas the rushing unit averaged only 4.31 yards per play, finishing twenty-fourth in that category.

Success rates further highlighted this dichotomy between the air and ground attacks. Pass plays achieved a 51.6% success rate, good for fourth in the league, driven largely by Sam Darnold who found success on 51.8% of his 502 qualifying pass plays. In contrast, rush plays succeeded at just a 40.9% clip, ranking twenty-fifth. The PBP sample gives Charbonnet a 41.6% success rate on 185 qualifying rush plays; the separate NFL+ season success-rate field is 41.3%. Kenneth Walker III posted 38.0% success on 221 qualifying PBP rush plays. On neutral downs specifically, the team passed less often than expected, recording a -5.2 pass rate over expected which placed them twenty-sixth, as they chose to throw on only 49.9% of those snaps.

Explosive Plays

Explosive Playmakers (Offense)

Coverages Beaten

Explosive Plays Allowed (Defense)

Coverages When Explosives Were Allowed

Explosive play = 20+ yards gained on a rush or pass (2025 PBP). Rank 1 = most generated on offense / fewest allowed on defense.

The Seattle Seahawks offense generated 75 explosive plays of 20 or more yards during the 2025 season, a total that ranked fifth in the league. This production yielded 2,279 total explosive yards, split between 57 passing explosives for 1,799 yards and 18 rushing explosives for 480 yards. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the receiving corps with 27 explosive catches that accumulated 903 yards, while Kenneth Walker III accounted for 15 explosive rushes totaling 409 yards before his departure in free agency. Cooper Kupp contributed eight explosive receptions for 244 yards, and Zach Charbonnet added six explosive runs for 159 yards. The remaining big-play contributors included Rashid Shaheed with four explosive rushes for 112 yards, Elijah Arroyo with four explosive catches for 109 yards, AJ Barner with three explosive receptions for 110 yards, and Tory Horton with three explosive catches for 67 yards.

Defensively, the Seahawks allowed only 49 explosive plays, which also ranked fifth in the NFL, surrendering just 1,441 yards on those occasions. Opponents managed 44 explosive passes against Seattle for 1,269 yards, while Seattle limited them to five explosive rushes for 172 yards. This defensive stinginess aligns with the unit’s strength in the secondary, which Sharp ranks as the second-best in the league. Although the team faces a mid-pack schedule difficulty ranked 20th overall, the combination of a top-five explosive play defense and a high-powered offense supports the projection of 10.5 wins for the 2026 season. The departure of key defenders such as Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant, and Tariq Woolen will test whether this unit can maintain its elite suppression of big plays moving forward.

Offensive Personnel Usage

FP/play is full PPR from 2025 PBP, not DraftKings.

RPOs are also counted in shotgun, pistol, or under center.

The Seattle Seahawks leaned heavily on traditional structures in 2025, running more than half of their offensive plays from under center while utilizing shotgun formations for a significant minority of plays. The 11 personnel package, featuring one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers, served as the primary vehicle for the offense with 530 plays, generating 1.41 full PPR fantasy points per play. Key contributors in this spread included Zach Charbonnet, AJ Barner, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed. When the team shifted to 12 personnel with two tight ends, efficiency improved to 1.56 fantasy points per play across 347 plays, often deploying Kenneth Walker III alongside AJ Barner, Eric Saubert, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Cooper Kupp. Heavier sets like 13 personnel saw minimal usage and produced only 0.59 fantasy points per play, indicating a clear preference for lighter, faster configurations over max protection or heavy run looks.

Production differed by formation in 2025, as shotgun alignments yielded 1.50 fantasy points per play compared to 1.38 from under center, despite the latter being used more frequently. Pistol formations and run-pass options appeared sparingly, accounting for just 2.6% and 2.7% of plays respectively, and both resulted in lower efficiency metrics of 0.87 and 0.66 fantasy points per play. The departure of Kenneth Walker III in free agency leaves a void in the 12 and 13 personnel groups where he was frequently listed among the most used players, while Emanuel Wilson, Jadarian Price, and George Holani must cover early-season 11-personnel plays with Charbonnet on Reserve/PUP. The offense will likely continue to prioritize these high-volume packages while integrating that committee — and, later, Charbonnet’s return — into the rotation.

Pre-snap Motion & Play Action

Motion rate rank #13; play-action rank #20 (32-team, 2025 PBP + FTN charting).

FPavg is full PPR per play.

The Seattle Seahawks utilized pre-snap motion on 570 of their plays during the 2025 season, a frequency that ranked 13th among all thirty-two franchises. Plays with pre-snap motion averaged 1.58 full PPR fantasy points per play compared with 1.22 without motion. The success rate on motion plays sat at 43.3%.

Play action appeared on only 13.1% of plays to rank 20th in the league (131 instances). Those plays posted a 55.0% success rate and 2.95 fantasy points per play, versus 1.19 points per play when the offense did not fake the handoff.

Passing Game: 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook

Sam Darnold enters the 2026 season as the established starter after posting career highs in completion percentage at 67.7% and yards per pass attempt at 8.5 during the previous campaign. He recorded 25 touchdown passes against 14 interceptions, the latter being his highest total since his rookie year. Sharp ranks the quarterback position group at #18 for the upcoming season, reflecting a unit that relies on Darnold’s efficiency rather than elite volume metrics. Darnold averaged 16.1 DraftKings points across the 17 tracked weeks, with a 9.1 DK floor and 23.7 DK ceiling, suggesting consistent but not explosive weekly outputs. The quarterback’s EPA per dropback sat at +0.07, while his completion percentage over expectation was +4.1%, indicating he generally met or exceeded baseline passing expectations.

The offensive line is rated #9 by Sharp, providing a solid foundation for the passing attack. Seattle locked in a 2026 starting five of Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford, and Abraham Lucas throughout camp, with fifth-round Iowa guard Beau Stephens active as depth. On play-action throws last season, Darnold averaged 11.4 yards per attempt (second in the league) and 16.8 yards per completion. With Brian Fleury taking over as offensive coordinator after Klint Kubiak’s departure, the system retains some philosophical continuity given Fleury’s prior time with Darnold in San Francisco, though Fleury will be calling plays for the first time as an NFL play-caller.

Darnold operated under center for a career-high 53.9% of his snaps last season. Separately, he used play action often enough to post those elevated yards-per-attempt and yards-per-completion figures on fakes. The transition to Fleury’s leadership will test whether the quarterback can sustain those efficiency markers without Kubiak’s direct oversight. While the quarterback room is viewed as middle-of-the-pack by Sharp, the returning starting five should afford Darnold adequate time to exploit downfield opportunities. The focus for 2026 will be on maintaining the high yards-per-attempt figures while managing interception totals, ensuring the passing game remains a reliable component of the offense alongside the team’s other strengths.

QB fantasy metrics. DKavg, floor, ceiling, Slate Win, Avg $, and FP/$ from weekly DraftKings logs. EPA/DB and CPOE from NFL+ regular-season averages. Slate Win = weeks in the top N at that DK position on the salary slate (QB 5 / RB·WR 12 / TE 6). DK GP is the fantasy-tracked sample.

Receiving Game: 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook

Sharp ranks the Seahawks’ receiving corps seventh heading into 2026, a unit headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s dominant usage profile from the previous season. Smith-Njigba led all pass-catchers with 163 targets and a 33.8% NFL+ TGT%, translating to an average of 22.9 DraftKings fantasy points per game across 17 contests. His involvement was not limited to standard downs, as he also led the team in red-zone targets with 17 looks, accounting for 26.2% of those opportunities. Cooper Kupp provided a veteran presence with 70 targets and a 17.1% NFL+ TGT% over 16 games, while rookie Tory Horton showed efficiency in a smaller sample, posting a 15.6 air yards per target average and 2.69 fantasy points per target despite only 22 total targets. The wide receiver room saw the departure of Dareke Young, but the core volume remains concentrated on Smith-Njigba and Kupp.

The tight end group featured significant contributions from AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo, though their roles differed markedly in terms of production and air yardage. Barner secured 68 targets with a 19.8% NFL+ TGT% and generated positive reception expected points added (+21.8), making him a productive option in the passing game. He also tied Cooper Kupp for the second-most red-zone targets with 13. In contrast, Arroyo caught 26 passes but struggled with negative reception expected points added (-17.0) and a lower air yards per target average of 9.2. Depth tight end Eric Saubert finished with 7 NFL+ targets (4 receptions for 31 yards) and matched Barner/Horton-tier involvement in the red zone with four club red-zone targets.

Looking toward 2026, the Seahawks added running back Emanuel Wilson via free agency, but the receiving hierarchy appears stable with its returning holdovers. The offense will operate under new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who takes over play-calling duties after serving as the tight ends coach during Sam Darnold’s 2023 stint with the San Francisco 49ers. With Smith-Njigba established as the clear primary option and Kupp still commanding a double-digit NFL+ TGT%, the Seahawks possess a highly ranked receiving unit that Sharp ranks seventh in his positional outlooks. Sixth-round pick Emmanuel Henderson Jr. is on the practice squad (not the active 53), so any WR depth he adds is developmental rather than immediate Week 1 target share.

TGT% / Rec EPA / AYavg are NFL+ season averages. TGT% is each player's share of targets over his NFL+ qualifying sample, not necessarily his share of every team target for the full season. For players traded midseason whose NFL+ sample includes games with another club (multi-team PBP targets), those three columns are left blank so prior-team production is not mixed into this club's row. DraftKings columns use this club's fantasy weeks only. Red-zone and early-down tables provide separate club-specific target splits.

Overall Targets

Overall Targets uses NFL+ season targets for players who spent the year with one club. Traded players who changed teams midseason are left blank here so the NFL+ season total (which can blend both clubs) is not mistaken for this club's volume. Red-zone and early-down tables provide separate club-specific target splits.

Red Zone Targets

Early Down Targets

Rushing Game: 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook

The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 season with a backfield that Sharp ranks as the thirty-first strongest unit in the league, despite an offensive line projected at number nine. Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet served as the primary ball carriers in 2025, with Walker logging 221 attempts and Charbonnet handling 184 carries. While Walker produced a negative rushing EPA of -26.1, Charbonnet posted a slightly better efficiency profile with a -10.3 EPA and a higher success rate of 41.3 percent compared to Walker’s 38.0 percent. PBP and NFL+ success rates use different denominators. Seattle's 2025 rushing EPA was negative for both primary backs.

In the red zone, Zach Charbonnet handled the larger 2025 red-zone workload, with 52 rushing attempts and 11 total touchdowns on 55 opportunities. Kenneth Walker III saw less work inside the 20, with 34 rushes and four total touchdowns across 37 opportunities. George Holani contributed five red-zone rushes and one touchdown. Charbonnet led Walker in both red-zone volume and scoring inside the 20.

Looking ahead to 2026, the roster undergoes significant change with the departure of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet opening the year on Reserve/PUP after his torn ACL (unavailable for at least the first four games). Seattle’s current depth chart lists George Holani first, Jadarian Price second, and free-agent add Emanuel Wilson third, and the club has indicated Price and Holani figure to split the early workload. Charbonnet becomes a potential later-season contributor once activated from PUP. The combination of a top-ten offensive line and that reshuffled committee aims to improve a backfield Sharp ranks 31st for 2026.

Red Zone Rushing Scope

RZ TD = combined rushing and receiving touchdowns inside the 20.

Team Scoring

PPG from 2025 regular-season finals. FP/G is full PPR per game from PBP (not DraftKings). Rank 1 = most scored / fewest allowed.

The Seattle Seahawks established themselves as an elite scoring unit in 2025, averaging 28.4 points per game to rank third in the league. This real-world production translated into a solid but less dominant fantasy output, as the team generated 82.0 full PPR fantasy points per game, which placed them 14th in that specific metric. The distinction between these two measurements shows that Seattle's elite real-world scoring rank did not translate into an equally high aggregate skill-player fantasy rank.

Defensively, the unit was equally impressive by allowing only 17.2 points per game, securing the number one rank for fewest points allowed. In terms of fantasy defense against opposing skill players, they surrendered 71.6 full PPR fantasy points per game, ranking sixth best in limiting opponent production. That 2025 production now carries into a 2026 schedule Sharp ranks 20th on its scale, suggesting a mid-pack difficulty level for maintaining such high standards in both real and fantasy scoring prevention.

Scoring By Quarter

Avg Pts are NFL points per game in that quarter. FPavg is full PPR per game from PBP, not DraftKings. Rank 1 = most scored / fewest allowed.

The Seattle Seahawks established themselves as early-game specialists in 2025, ranking fourth in the NFL for average points scored in the first quarter with 6.2 points per contest. This offensive efficiency translated to the fantasy realm as well, where the unit generated 18.7 full PPR fantasy points per game in the opening period, good for the 14th-best mark league-wide. The second quarter saw a slight dip in real scoring rank to seventh with 8.0 points per game, yet the fantasy output remained steady at 22.4 points per game, ranking 15th. Defensively, the team was nearly impenetrable in the first half, allowing just 3.0 points in the first quarter and 4.3 points in the second quarter, which ranked second and first respectively among all franchises. Opponents struggled to generate fantasy production against this early defense as well, surrendering only 15.2 and 17.5 fantasy points per game in the first two quarters, ranking third and fifth in those categories.

Momentum shifted after halftime, though the offense remained potent in real scoring terms during the third quarter with 7.1 points per game, which ranked second in the league. Fantasy production peaked in this third period too, with 22.0 points per game ranking fifth overall. However, the fourth quarter presented significant challenges, as real scoring dropped to 6.6 points per game, falling to 15th in the rankings. The fantasy decline was even more pronounced in the final period, where the offense managed just 18.9 fantasy points per game, ranking 29th in the NFL. Defensive performance also regressed in the closing stages, with opponents scoring 6.2 points per game in the fourth quarter, ranking 13th in points allowed, while yielding 22.7 fantasy points per game, which placed the defense 16th in fantasy points allowed during that final frame.

Defensive Outlook

Sharp's defensive Rank: Front 7 #5, Secondary #2.

Defensive Studs

Note: Combined tackles are 2025 regular-season nflverse totals (solo + assists). Traded players may include production from a prior club unless a single-club club-stint total is available.

Ernest Jones led the club with 126 tackles; Leonard Williams 7.0 sacks, Byron Murphy II 7.0 sacks, Uchenna Nwosu 7.0 sacks.

Defensive counting stats: Ernest Jones: 4 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 5 INT, 7 PD; Drake Thomas: 10 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT, 8 PD; Nick Emmanwori: 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, 11 PD; Devon Witherspoon: 2 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 7 PD; Coby Bryant: 4 TFL, 4 INT, 7 PD; Ty Okada: 3 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 6 PD.

Sharp projects the Seattle Seahawks’ defense to remain elite, ranking the Front 7 fifth and the Secondary second overall despite significant personnel turnover. The unit lost key contributors in free agency, including edge rusher Boye Mafe, safety Coby Bryant, and cornerback Tariq Woolen. The active newcomers that matter now are veteran EDGE Dante Fowler Jr., CB Avery Smith (acquired from the Chargers on August 30), and third-round CB Julian Neal — all on the 53. Bud Clark is on IR after a broken ankle; Andre Fuller, Michael Dansby, and Deven Eastern are on the practice squad and are not immediate rotational depth. Those active adds aim to offset departing contributors and maintain the high level of play that defined the group’s previous success.

Individual production highlights the depth of talent returning from the 2025 roster. Linebacker Ernest Jones led the club with 126 combined tackles, five interceptions, and seven passes defended, though he recorded only half a sack. Drake Thomas provided substantial pressure from the second level with 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, while safety Nick Emmanwori contributed nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 11 passes defended. On the defensive line, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, and Uchenna Nwosu each registered 7.0 sacks, forming a potent pass-rushing trio. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon added versatility with two tackles for loss and an interception, helping to anchor a secondary that remains a cornerstone of the team’s defensive identity.

Fantasy Points Allowed by Coverage

Rank 1 = fewest PPR fantasy points allowed per snap in that coverage.

Special Teams: 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook

Jason Myers: 41/48 FG, 48/48 PAT.

Michael Dickson led with 52 punts (20 inside the 20).

Kickoff returner George Holani: 16 returns for 387 yards.

Punt returner Rashid Shaheed: 23 returns for 339 yards.

Special teams tackler Brady Russell: 12 combined tackles on punts and kickoffs.

Jason Myers delivered reliable scoring accuracy in 2025, converting 41 of 48 field goal attempts while maintaining a perfect record on extra points with 48 successful kicks. His range proved effective from distance, as he connected on nine tries from 50 yards or longer, highlighted by a season-long make from 57 yards out. Michael Dickson anchored the punting unit by handling all 52 of the team’s punts without allowing a single block. Dickson consistently pinned opponents deep, placing 20 of his kicks inside the opposing 20-yard line to aid field position battles.

In the return game, George Holani served as the primary kickoff specialist, accumulating 387 yards across 16 returns. Rashid Shaheed handled punt returns, producing 339 yards on 23 returns. Brady Russell led the coverage units with 12 combined tackles on special teams plays. Looking ahead to 2026, Seattle’s current depth chart lists Rashid Shaheed as PR1 and Tory Horton as KR1, with each backing up the other.

Penalty Analysis

Sharp's penalty analysis highlights remarkable discipline improvements from 2024 into 2025, including the league’s largest year-over-year decline in home penalty frequency with a drop of 2.84 flags per game. On Sharp’s framing, the offense moved from the second-most penalized unit in 2024 to a top-ten clean group in 2025 (Hacking DFS: 54 flags, #6 fewest). That cleanup also extended, in Sharp’s situational cuts, to pre-snap infractions — from ninth toward the least-penalized clubs in average penalties — and to ranking among the least penalized offenses on third down. Sharp further notes a net positive penalty-yardage advantage over opponents in every quarter of the 2025 season.

Despite those broad gains, Sharp still flags timing issues: six delay of game penalties tied for the tenth-most in the league. Sharp also places Seattle in the top 10 in net positive penalty yards per game. As Seattle pursues a repeat title, maintaining that disciplined approach will matter in high-stakes divisional games against the 49ers and Rams.

Types of Penalties

Offense: 54 penalties for 409 yards (#6). Most common: Offensive Holding (17), False Start (16), Delay of Game (6). Most flags in Under Center (19), Shotgun (6). Most flagged players: Grey Zabel (5), Charles Cross (5), AJ Barner (4).

Defense-side nflverse bucket: 46 penalties for 384 yards (#14), including 2 special-teams punt-return holdings — not a pure scheme-defense total. Most common: Defensive Holding (7), Unnecessary Roughness (7), Defensive Pass Interference (6). Most flags on Cover 2 (11), Cover 1 (6), Cover 3 (5). Most flagged players: Josh Jobe (8), Riq Woolen (6), Leonard Williams (5).

League Rank polarity: #1 = fewest penalties (most disciplined); #32 = most flags.

The Seattle Seahawks offense drew 54 penalties for 409 yards, ranking sixth in the league for frequency. Offensive Holding was the most frequent infraction with 17 flags, followed closely by 16 False Starts and six Delay of Game calls. Nineteen offensive flags occurred on under-center plays, compared with six on shotgun plays. Among individual players, Grey Zabel and Charles Cross each absorbed five penalties, while AJ Barner was flagged four times.

On the other side of the ball, the Defense-side nflverse bucket totaled 46 penalties for 384 yards (#14), including two special-teams punt-return holdings. Defensive Holding and Unnecessary Roughness tied for the most common flags in that bucket with seven each, while Defensive Pass Interference was called six times. Coverage schemes saw the most flags on Cover 2 plays with 11, followed by six on Cover 1 and five on Cover 3.

Top Fantasy Player Targets

Sharp fantasy ranks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR3, Jadarian Price RB23.

The QB, WR, TE, and RB tables above already cover 2025 DraftKings averages, floors, ceilings, slate wins, and salaries from Hacking DFS. This section is the roster call — who to target, who to fade, and who inherits work from free agency and the draft.

Fantasy Points & Expected Fantasy Points

FPavg and xFPavg are full PPR per game from 2025 PBP (not DraftKings).

GP is games with at least one scored skill play in the 2025 PBP fantasy sample — not necessarily official games played.

xFPavg uses expected receiving/rushing/passing fantasy points.

Top scorers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (21.2 FPavg), Sam Darnold (13.7 FPavg), Kenneth Walker III (11.3 FPavg), Zach Charbonnet (11.2 FPavg), AJ Barner (8.7 FPavg).

Rushes vs Defensive Front 7

Front 7 = rushes against 7 or more defenders in the box (2025 PBP).

Total FP and FPavg are full PPR (not DraftKings).

Fantasy Points vs Coverage

Coverage % is share of offensive plays facing a charted coverage.

Total FP and FPavg are full PPR from 2025 PBP (FPavg is per play).

Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the clear focal point of the passing attack across most major coverage shells, leading the team in total fantasy points against six of the eight listed schemes. He accumulated 111 full-PPR points against Cover 3, which accounted for the largest share of offensive production on the team’s most frequently faced look. His production remained high against single-high and two-high structures as well, posting 74 points against Cover 1 and 59 points against Cover 4. Cooper Kupp provided secondary support primarily against Cover 3 and Cover 0, contributing 45 and 10 points respectively, while Tory Horton added 29 points against Cover 1.

Tight end AJ Barner emerged as a productive secondary contributor, particularly against zone-heavy alignments. He recorded 32 points against Cover 2, 17 points against Cover 4, and 10 points against Cover 6. Barner also led the team in scoring against 2 Man coverage with 15 points, edging out Smith-Njigba in that specific matchup. The offense generated its highest per-play average against Cover 1 at 2.66 points, followed by Cover 0 at 2.55 points, though the Cover 0 sample was limited to just 18 plays.

Against Cover 9, Kenneth Walker III led Seattle with eight fantasy points. Walker’s 2026 free-agency departure, with Charbonnet on Reserve/PUP and Holani/Price/Wilson carrying the early committee, changes the future backfield. The offense faced Cover 3 on 31.5% of charted plays, making it the most common defensive look, while Cover 1 and Cover 2 accounted for 16.3% and 19.2% of charted plays respectively.

Skill adds: Emanuel Wilson (RB).

Skill losses: Kenneth Walker III (RB) to the Chiefs and Dareke Young (WR) to the Raiders.

Skill draft picks on 53: Jadarian Price (RB, Rd 1, Notre Dame). Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (WR, Rd 6, Kansas) is on the practice squad.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba stands out as the primary fantasy target after leading the team with 21.2 full PPR fantasy points per game in 2025, significantly outperforming his expected output of 18.8. Sam Darnold posted 13.7 fantasy points per game against a 16.0 xFPavg. Tight end AJ Barner averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (7.9 xFPavg), well behind the top wide receiver’s raw volume.

The backfield undergoes a major reconstruction following the departure of Kenneth Walker III, who left in free agency for the Chiefs after averaging 11.3 fantasy points per game. Zach Charbonnet posted 11.2 fantasy points per game across 16 games in 2025, nearly matching Walker’s production, but he is on Reserve/PUP recovering from a torn ACL and must miss at least the first four games. Holani, Price and Wilson form Seattle's active early-season backfield — with Holani and first-rounder Jadarian Price splitting early volume and free-agent add Emanuel Wilson third — while Charbonnet becomes a potential later-season contributor once activated from PUP.

Wide receiver depth shifts with the loss of Dareke Young (Raiders) and Jake Bobo on IR with a season-ending knee injury, while sixth-rounder Emmanuel Henderson Jr. sits on the practice squad rather than the active 53. That leaves Cooper Kupp as the clear returning WR2 behind Smith-Njigba, with additional route work available to Kupp, Shaheed, and Horton. Tory Horton showed promise across eight official games in 2025, with seven represented in the HackingDFS fantasy-tracked sample at 8.4 fantasy points per game, but that still makes him a more volatile option than Kupp. With the running back unit ranked as the weakest position group by Sharp and significant early-season churn at skill, targeting Smith-Njigba offers the most stable floor, while Holani/Price/Wilson remain the volatile early backfield until that split settles.

Inside Scoop

Sharp’s overall grade for Seattle Seahawks is an A++. The forecast model projects 10.5 wins, positioning the team second in the division despite a schedule ranked 20th in difficulty on Sharp’s scale. This outlook highlights a roster defined by extreme unit disparities, with the Secondary rated as the second-strongest group in the league while the Running Backs sit at number 31 — a unit that opens 2026 with Holani/Price/Wilson active and Charbonnet on Reserve/PUP. The organization enters this cycle with the ambition of securing back-to-back championships and potentially building a dynasty, a goal that relies heavily on navigating four critical divisional matchups against the 49ers and Rams.

The previous campaign saw the club finish with a 14-3 record alongside the Sharp-noted cleanup in penalty discipline during their Super Bowl LX season. However, the offseason brings substantial turnover, with key contributors Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant, Tariq Woolen, and Dareke Young departing via free agency. Seattle answered with Emanuel Wilson, Dante Fowler Jr., and CB Avery Smith (from the Chargers on August 30), plus Julian Neal on the 53 from the draft class; Bud Clark is already on IR. While the secondary remains an elite strength on paper, the depletion of the running game and defensive depth suggests the team may face challenges in matching the dominance of their prior season.

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Warren Sharp's 2026 Football Preview served as a research guide for this team preview. Hacking DFS tables, player-level analysis and fantasy metrics are independently calculated from the data sources noted above. Please support Sharp's work by purchasing the full preview for his complete team analysis. Verify against the latest market before betting.