2025 Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Preview
2025 Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Preview Year One for Mike Macdonald was a big success as the Seahawks went 10-7. Seattle’s offense improved to 14th, while the defense also ranked 14th after finishing 30th in 2023. Despite the immediate improvements, the Seahawks will look drastically different in Macdonald’s second campaign after trading QB Geno Smith to Las Vegas and signing Sam Darnold to a three-year deal. Macdonald also replaced offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb with Klint Kubiak and traded No. 1 WR DK Metcalf. That’s a lot of changes for a team with a winning record. New signal-caller Sam Darnold is a great case of perseverance. After busting out in New York and making meandering stops in Carolina and San Francisco, Darnold signed with the Vikings as insurance to first-rounder J.J. McCarthy. But McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, resulting in Darnold putting up improbable numbers in Kevin O’Connell’s system. Now. Darnold is poised to lead the rebuilding Seahawks. As good as the numbers were in Minnesota, fantasy managers should approach with caution. Darnold is a risk/reward QB2. The hiring of Kubiak was intended to place more emphasis on the rushing attack. Seattle has a pair of superb runners, and Kubiak’s previous two stints as play-caller resulted in a top-10 designed run rate. That’s good news for Kenneth Walker, an excellent fit in a wide-zone scheme. Walker dealt with injuries last year but had his most productive fantasy output (16.5 ppg) and caught a career-high 46 passes in 11 games. Walker has RB1 upside. Zach Charbonnet is nearly as good, posting three top-10 weeks in six starts. Charbonnet is the top handcuff in the league and will have standalone value, making him an astute mid-draft target. Seattle’s entire passing attack will look different this season. Jaxon Smith-Njigba moves up to the No. 1 role after leading the league with 701 slot snaps. JSN ran the sixth-most routes (617) and boasted the No. 4 EPA (95.0). We’re expecting JSN to remain inside, with newly signed Cooper Kupp moving outside. Kupp isn’t the force he once was, but wants to prove he’s still in his prime. Circle those two matchups against the Rams as potential blowup spots. Health is always a factor, but Kupp has some WR3 appeal. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and fifth-round Colorado State rookie Tory Horton (6-3, 185) will battle for WR3 honors. The Seahawks haven’t incorporated tight ends into their offense for some time. Noah Fant ranked 27th in fantasy points per game, with just three TE1 weeks in 14 games. Fant is also in the final year of his rookie deal. Enter second-round Miami TE Elijah Arroyo (6-5, 254), who has the potential to be a mismatch nightmare in the slot. Fantasy Grade: B- QB Darnold, Sam, SEA [QB1] Bust Perseverance paid off for Sam Darnold in 2024. After signing a one-year deal to mentor J.J. McCarthy, Darnold thrived in Kevin O’Connell’s system. Starting in place of the injured McCarthy, Darnold ranked 5th in passing (4,319) and touchdowns (35), while leading the league in deep-ball completion rate (50.8 percent). However, Darnold now moves to Seattle, where he’ll adjust to Klint Kubiak’s run-first scheme. In two previous stints as offensive coordinator, both of Kubiak’s offenses ranked below average in passing attempts. It’s too early to call Darnold’s breakout an outlier, but there’s plenty of risk with his elevated ADP impacted by recency bias. ADVICE: Don’t overpay for last year’s breakout. RB Walker III, Kenneth, SEA [RB1] Sleeper Walker quietly had his most efficient fantasy season, posting RB12 numbers in PPR points per game. Calf, oblique, and ankle injuries limited Walker to 11 games, but his increased role in the passing game (ranked 4th with a 13.8 percent target share) resulted in Walker ranking 6th in expected fantasy points per game. While Zach Charbonnet will also be involved, this is Waker’s backfield. Charbonnet averaged only four carries in games where Walker played. Seattle’s offense could rely on the pass more with Sam Darnold under center, and Walker’s newly expanded role as a receiver gives him RB1 potential. ADVICE: Excellent middle-round sleeper with top-10 upside. RB Charbonnet, Zach, SEA [RB2] Charbonnet saved many fantasy seasons last year, especially in the playoffs when he scored 51.9 PPR points in Weeks 14-15. However, 57 percent of Charbonnet’s total fantasy points came in the six games that Kenneth Walker was sidelined. In games where Walker played, Chabonnet averaged just 6.9 PPR points. This appears to firmly be Walker’s backfield. That doesn’t mean Chabonnet has no value. He’s one of the top handcuff backs in the league, and Walker has never played more than 15 games in a season. Consider him a high priority if you draft Walker. ADVICE: High-end handcuff, but Charbonnet may not offer a ton of stand-alone value. WR Smith-Njigba, Jaxon, SEA [WR1] Heading into his third NFL season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off a breakout 2024 campaign where he finished top 10 among wide receivers in routes run, catches, yards, and placed 19th in fantasy points per game. Despite Seattle’s shift toward a run-heavy, defensive identity under new coordinator Klint Kubiak, JSN remains the focal point of the passing attack, especially with Sam Darnold at quarterback. Darnold’s tendency to lock onto his primary read and the lack of serious competition (an aging Cooper Kupp and unproven depth) point to a healthy target share. Used mostly in the short and intermediate zones, JSN logged just six touchdowns and ranked 16th in end-zone looks (11). ADVICE: Volume-driven WR2 who should settle into the 2-3 turn in fantasy drafts. WR Kupp, Cooper, SEA [WR2] After being released by the Rams, Cooper Kupp returned to Washington. Kupp played for Eastern Washington from 2013-2016 and will get to play against his former team twice per year. The Rams chose to move on from Kupp to sign an older Davante Adams, but Kupp’s PFF grade has declined for four consecutive years. Additionally, both Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are slot merchants, so it’s unknown how they’ll be
2024 Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Preview
2024 Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Preview Seattle took a step back in 2023 after finishing 11th in total yards (351.5) and 9th in points per game (23.9). They fell to 21st (322.9) in total yards per game and 17th in points
Seattle took a step back in 2023 after finishing 11th in total yards (351.5) and 9th in points per game (23.9). They fell to 21st (322.9) in total yards per game and 17th in points (21.4).
So why the regression? Look no further than Geno Smith’s production. Smith (3,624/20/9) went from the fifth highest-scoring fantasy quarterback in 2022 to dropping to 19th after seeing a decrease of 79 fantasy points from one season to the next. Smith is currently penciled in as the starter entering 2024. However, the Seahawks added insurance in trading for Sam Howell, who was more productive in fantasy, producing 43 more fantasy points than Smith despite turning the ball over 23 times.
DK Metcalf (66/1,114/8) led all Seahawk pass catchers and likely would have finished higher than WR21 if he had caught more than 55% of the targets he had seen. Metcalf retains value heading into 2024, as he was the team’s go-to option in the red zone. Metcalf remains a solid fantasy option with 16 end zone targets (fourth-most among receivers) and a receiving touchdown market share of 38.1% (14th).
Tyler Lockett is also returning for another season after seeing 122 targets last year, resulting in 894 yards and 79 receptions. Lockett’s production on the field led to 202 fantasy points and a WR32 finish, making him an ideal target as your third or fourth receiver.
Expect Jaxon Smith-Njigba (63/628/4) to take a step forward this season after showing signs of a breakout in 2023. Between weeks 7 and 16, the rookie posted a top-40 scoring week in seven of those ten contests, giving him a lovely floor as a flex option. With a current ADP of 105 (WR43), Smith-Njigba is worth a roster spot and if Lockett or Metcalf were to miss time due to injury, then you could have a league-winner on your hands.
At running back, Seattle is expected to use Kenneth Walker (219/905/8) and Zach Charbonnet (108/462/1) as a duo, with Walker again in line for the lion’s share of the touches out of the backfield. Walker should be viewed as an RB2 in fantasy. If either back misses time, the other will certainly have the opportunity to ascend into RB1 status.
Noah Fant (32/414/0) is looking to bounce back from the worst season of his career in yards, receptions, and touchdowns. However, the best may long be behind him at this point.
Quarterbacks
QB GENO SMITH – BYE WEEK FILL-IN
After a career year in 2022, Smith saw a precipitous drop in play last year. The decline of the offensive line played a big part, as Smith was pressured more and had less time to throw. Despite the addition of second-round G Christian Haynes, Seattle’s front-five looks like a bottom-10 unit. Additionally, Seattle will be breaking in a new defensive-minded head coach and an offensive coordinator with no NFL play-calling experience. And there is added competition in the form of Sam Howell. The Seahawks have a solid supporting cast, giving some hope that Smith can rekindle some of the 2022 magic. But with the fourth-lowest win total projection, this is shaping up to be another tough season in Seattle. ADVICE: Low-end QB2.
QB SAM HOWELL – DYNASTY ONLY
ADVICE: Geno Smith faltered last season. If he continues to struggle, Howell could be given a shot to right the ship. A reserve to stash in Superflex…
2023 Seattle Seahawks Outlook
2023 Seattle Seahawks Outlook The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player preview
2023 Seattle Seahawks Outlook
The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player preview of all 32 teams from football legend Shawn Childs.
Also, check out Jody Smith’s NFL offensive line rankings and exclusive 2023 Strength of Schedule analysis.
Up next in our extensive NFL and fantasy football preview series is Shawn’s deep dive into the 2023 Seattle Seahawks Outlook.
— Quarterback —
Geno Smith
Smith had a 13-21 record over his eight years in the NFL after getting drafted in the second round in 2013. He has more interceptions (37) than touchdowns (34). Over his first two seasons, Smith chipped in on the ground (72/366/6 and 59/238/1).
When asked to start in 2021 with Russell Wilson injured, Smith passed 702 yards with five touchdowns and one interception over four games. His completion rate (68.4) was the best of his career while gaining 7.4 yards per pass attempt. He added nine rushes for 42 yards and one score.
Smith handled himself well with the keys to the Seahawks’ offense in 2022. He gained 4,748 combined yards with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 69.8% of his passes. Smith finished fifth in quarterback scoring (361.80) in four-point passing touchdowns leagues. Also, he scored more than 25.00 fantasy points in four games, highlighted by one impact game (369 combined yards with three scores). Smith passed for 300 yards in four matchups (325/2, 320/2, 328/2, and 367/3).
Fantasy Outlook: The Seahawks rewarded him with a three-year deal worth $75 million in March. Seattle has two established top-tier wideouts, an intriguing rookie wide receiver (Jaxon Smith-Njigba), and a viable option at tight end. I’m not a fan of the Seahawks’ offensive line, but Smith has the tools to repeat his success. My starting point is 4,500 combined yards with 30 scores.
Drew Lock
Over three seasons with Denver, Lock went 8-13 with 30 combined touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Teddy Bridgewater beat him out for the starting job in 2021. Also, Lock battled a shoulder issue late in the season.
In his short career, his completion rate (59.3) and yards per pass attempt (6.7) ranked poorly, with some help in the run game (72/285/5). Lock gained over 300 passing yards three times in his 21 career starts.
When at his best in 2017 at Missouri, he passed for 3,964 yards over 13 starts with 44 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
In his first year with Seattle, Lock didn’t take a snap.
Fantasy Outlook: Another season of holding a clipboard looks to be in the cards for Lock in 2023.
Other Options: Holton Ahlers
— Running Backs —
The Seahawks’ running back gained 2,162 combined yards with 11 touchdowns and 68 catches (20.60 FPPG in PPR formats) last year. They finished with similar touches (425) as in 2021 (420). Their opportunity in the passing game ranked poorly in back-to-back years (59/462/0 and 68/485/1).
Kenneth Walker III
After two quiet seasons at Wake Forest (217/1,158/17 with six catches for 47 yards), Walker pushed his game higher after transferring to Michigan State. He gained 1,725 combined yards with 19 touchdowns and 13 catches in 2021. His best success came in three matchups (23/264/4, 29/233/1, and 23/197/5).
Walker did an excellent job mixing up his run cadence in his final season in college. When asked to fire up the middle, he had the vision and speed to create big plays. At the same time, he would delay his forward motion to help his blockers possibly create running lanes. On some runs, Walker has the quickness and burst to get himself out of jail in tight quarters.
His willingness to retreat on a lost play and reverse direction led to some success at Michigan State, but this thought process could kill some drives in the NFL if Walker takes significant losses. He’s had limited chances in the passing game, but his game may improve in this area over time. However, Walker did get a negative grade in his pass protection skill, pointing to an early-down role early in his career.
After a limited role over the first four games (15/58 with six catches for 14 yards) in his rookie year, Walker shined over the following five weeks (96/512/7 with six catches for 34 yards). He lost momentum from Week 10 to Week 14 (39/126/2 – 3.2 yards per rush with 11 catches for 100 yards) while missing one game with an ankle issue. His season ended with three productive outcomes (26/107, 23/133, and 29/113 with four combined catches for 17 yards).
Fantasy Outlook: Walker finished 18th in running back scoring (203.20 FPPG) in PPR formats while playing well in only half of his games. Seattle added running back depth in the offseason, inviting more competition for touches. His blocking was a liability in 2022, pointing to fewer chances on passing downs this year. On a path for 275 touches for 1,300 yards with 10 touchdowns and 20 catches. Walker ranks 15th at running back in the early draft season.
Zach Charbonnet
Over the last two seasons at UCLA, Charbonnet played at a high level, leading to…
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OUT OF THE SEAHAWKS IN 2023?
To finish reading Shawn’s in-depth 2023 team outlook, with in-depth offseason reports, projections, and fantasy outlooks for all players
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