Sean Koerner pegged Zach Charbonnet as the highest-upside running back available in Round 10. Charbonnet needs Kenneth Walker to miss time, but Koerner stressed how massive the payoff can be: in Walker’s four missed games last year, Charbonnet produced RB7 overall numbers in his first two starts and RB2 overall in the next two. Koerner’s annual backup-RB model gives Charbonnet one of the top "league-winner" ratings because Seattle funnels the entire backfield to one runner when healthy and Charbonnet already handles third-down work. If Walker’s physical running style again leads to missed weeks, Koerner projects Charbonnet for a locked-in 18-22 touches and top-5 weekly finishes, well worth a 10th-round best-ball pick.

Jakob Sanderson endorsed Caleb Johnson as a priority RB pick after the eighth round, predicting the rookie settles into a two-thirds share of Seattle’s early-down snaps by Week 4 while Jaylen Warren handles most long-down-and-distance and two-minute work. Sanderson argued that the Aaron Rodgers signing is a quiet boon for Johnson because Rodgers has consistently peppered running backs on early downs—Green Bay ranked top-6 in early-down RB target rate in Rodgers’ final three seasons there. With DK Metcalf as the only established pass-catcher, Sanderson expects Johnson to siphon an extra catch or two per game, pushing him toward 17–19 touches weekly. Given Johnson’s cost relative to volume projections and Seattle’s upgraded offensive line (they invested two Day-2 picks in interior linemen), Sanderson believes he offers league-winning spike-week equity perfect for Best Ball tournaments.

Pat Fitzmaurice pegged Zach Charbonnet as a sneaky buy-low thanks to Seattle’s revamped run game under Clint Kubiak and offensive line guru Rick Denison. Drawing on the Kubiak/Denison track record of churning out anonymous 1,000-yard rushers since the late 1990s, Fitzmaurice expects the Seahawks to be far more efficient on the ground in 2025. Charbonnet is priced like Kenneth Walker’s pure backup, yet the staff’s zone-run history and commitment to a heavier run rate could push Charbonnet into standalone flex value with legitimate league-winning upside if Walker misses time. Dynasty managers can exploit the current discount before camp buzz catches up to the coaching change.

Chris Raybon floated an extreme fade of Seattle, saying the only angle that interests him is an alt-under 5.5 wins or a “worst record in the NFC” flyer at juicy odds. Raybon has the Seahawks favored in just four games and calls the rest of the schedule a sea of coin-flips (11 contests with spreads inside a field goal). He listed every structural issue: Sam Darnold is the placeholder QB behind a patched-together interior line that could start a rookie guard and still lacks a reliable center, a brutal matchup for a passer who crumbles under A-gap pressure. The wide-receiver room is downgraded without DK Metcalf, counting on Jaxon Smith-Njigba to be the alpha while a “probably washed” Cooper Kupp slides into a complementary role. Raybon likes Mike Macdonald’s defense but thinks that unit merely raises the floor from catastrophic to merely bad if the offense stalls. Seattle rode 6-2 luck in one-score games to 10 wins last season; his power numbers peg them at 7.8 this year with far more downside than upside. Because the market sits at 7.5/8 with heavy over juice, he believes hunting the long-shot alt under or worst-record prop captures the tail risk the public is ignoring.

Chris Raybon floated an extreme fade of Seattle, saying the only angle that interests him is an alt-under 5.5 wins or a “worst record in the NFC” flyer at juicy odds. Raybon has the Seahawks favored in just four games and calls the rest of the schedule a sea of coin-flips (11 contests with spreads inside a field goal). He listed every structural issue: Sam Darnold is the placeholder QB behind a patched-together interior line that could start a rookie guard and still lacks a reliable center, a brutal matchup for a passer who crumbles under A-gap pressure. The wide-receiver room is downgraded without DK Metcalf, counting on Jaxon Smith-Njigba to be the alpha while a “probably washed” Cooper Kupp slides into a complementary role. Raybon likes Mike Macdonald’s defense but thinks that unit merely raises the floor from catastrophic to merely bad if the offense stalls. Seattle rode 6-2 luck in one-score games to 10 wins last season; his power numbers peg them at 7.8 this year with far more downside than upside. Because the market sits at 7.5/8 with heavy over juice, he believes hunting the long-shot alt under or worst-record prop captures the tail risk the public is ignoring.

Greg Brainos said Elijah Arroyo is the only Seattle tight end he is drafting. Brainos pointed to Clint Kubiak’s use of Juwan Johnson last year—25% slot rate and a team-high 1.94 yards per route from tight ends—as the template Arroyo could steal. Seahawks coaches have already labeled Arroyo their "vertical threat," and camp footage shows him running seam routes that Noah Fant rarely saw under Shane Waldron. Although Arroyo carries an injury history, Brainos thinks the big-play profile pairs perfectly with Geno Smith’s willingness to push intermediate seams, making Arroyo a live late-round dart in best ball and TE-premium formats.

Greg Brainos said Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of his favorite mid-round picks because Seattle is shifting to heavier 21 and 12 personnel under new OC Clint Kubiak. That will cut three-WR sets roughly in half (he quoted 50% two-WR sets, mirroring what Kubiak did in New Orleans last season), concentrating targets between DK Metcalf and JSN. Brainos added that Geno Smith remains a far better quarterback than Sam Darnold—"you can win a Super Bowl with Geno"—so the passing efficiency should hold. Calling JSN "much, much better than Cooper Kupp when the Rams let him walk," Brainos expects slot+Z usage plus an aDOT bump and thinks his ADP will rise once beat writers confirm the new formation split.

Greg Brainos said Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of his favorite mid-round picks because Seattle is shifting to heavier 21 and 12 personnel under new OC Clint Kubiak. That will cut three-WR sets roughly in half (he quoted 50% two-WR sets, mirroring what Kubiak did in New Orleans last season), concentrating targets between DK Metcalf and JSN. Brainos added that Geno Smith remains a far better quarterback than Sam Darnold—"you can win a Super Bowl with Geno"—so the passing efficiency should hold. Calling JSN "much, much better than Cooper Kupp when the Rams let him walk," Brainos expects slot+Z usage plus an aDOT bump and thinks his ADP will rise once beat writers confirm the new formation split.

Billy Jones said Sam Darnold is mis-priced in the 180s of BBM6 drafts and should be going 10-15 spots earlier. Jones dismissed the popular "bench-risk" narrative by noting Seattle’s front office actually chose Darnold—unlike Denver inheriting Russell Wilson—then handed him the same fully-guaranteed, two-year deal they gave Geno Smith before three straight seasons of uninterrupted starts. The only rookie on the depth chart is Jalen Milroe, whom Jones called "rawer than raw" and not ready to play; if Darnold falters, Drew Lock would get first crack, not Milroe. That contractual commitment plus a lack of real competition makes Darnold a near-lock to open the season as QB1, turning his 17th-round price into free exposure to Ryan Grubb’s uptempo, vertical scheme that ranked top-3 in college pass rate over expected. In a format that rewards low-cost spike weeks, Jones advised scooping Darnold anywhere after pick 170.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound advised passing on Jalen Milroe in Underdog’s Superflex rooms because the rookie is unlikely to see meaningful snaps in 2024. He pointed out that Seattle just handed Sam Darnold a “massive” contract that virtually guarantees the veteran starts unless he gets injured. Milroe is still, in Pat’s words, “super raw” and needs developmental reps the Seahawks will not be able to give him in a playoff-hopeful season. The only realistic path to the field is an injury to Darnold, leaving Milroe as a near-zero in best-ball lineups and making even a last-round flier a poor use of draft capital.

Josh Norris said Kenneth Walker III should be drafted ahead of Joe Mixon and Chuba Hubbard in Best Ball because the Seahawks have quietly built an ideal environment for a true spike-week workhorse season. Norris pointed to new offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak, noting that Kubiak’s Saints units lined up in 21 or 12 personnel on 50 % of snaps and leaned heavily on outside-zone runs—Walker’s bread-and-butter where he averaged 5.9 yards per carry the last two years. Pete Carroll fired pass-happy Ryan Grubb, and both Kubiak and head coach Mike Macdonald have publicly stated they “want to give Walker the ball as much as possible.” Combine that coach-speak with the fact Walker has clearly held off Zach Charbonnet, and Norris believes Walker owns a much higher best-case outcome than Mixon’s volume-based, efficiency-questionable profile in Houston. He labeled Walker a mid-round smash with legitimate league-winning upside.

Davis Mattek highlighted Geno Smith, available around ADP 165, as one of his favorite late-round quarterback values. He noted that Smith sits in the same tier of weekly ceiling as passers being drafted 30–40 spots earlier but costs almost nothing, which frees drafters to hammer premium positions first. By starring Smith during his "draft-backwards" exercise, Mattek can confidently pass on mid-tier quarterbacks knowing a proven 4,000-yard passer with two elite receivers is waiting in the double-digit rounds. This price insulation lets him play a 2-QB build and still capture upside without sacrificing scarce wide-receiver capital.

Andy Lang said the Seahawks are an "easy under" on their 7.5-win total and urged bettors to fade Seattle now rather than wait. Lang argued the front office blew up a 10-win roster and replaced its core with huge question marks: Geno Smith, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are gone, leaving Sam Darnold at quarterback and 31-year-old Cooper Kupp to headline the passing game. Lang does not believe Darnold will replicate the brief "Good Sam" stretch he flashed in Minnesota and pointed to the lack of pre-existing chemistry between Darnold and breakout WR1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He emphasized that Kupp thrives on timing-based routes with Matthew Stafford, timing that will not exist in Seattle. The schedule adds volatility—nine matchups Lang labeled coin-flips plus trips to San Francisco and Pittsburgh out of the gate—making it hard to find eight wins even if Darnold plays well. He also questioned how many games the oft-injured Kupp will suit up for. In short, Lang sees roster downgrades at quarterback and receiver, uncertain coaching direction in Year 2 under Mike Macdonald, and a slate full of 50/50 games as a perfect recipe for six wins or fewer, making the under 7.5 a bet he is willing to lock in today.

Andrew Erickson said Kenneth Walker III is a smash pick at his late-third-round ADP because Seattle is about to lean on him like crazy. Greg Brainos pointed out that new offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak used 21 or 12 personnel on 50% of the Saints’ snaps last season, and Seattle coaches have echoed that run-first mentality all spring—talking up full-back usage, converting rookie tight end Robbie Utes into a lead blocker, and drafting athletic guard Gray Zabel to juice outside-zone and pin-pull concepts. Erickson added that Walker’s receiving concerns are overblown: he has just three drops on 46 career NFL targets and flashed soft hands in high-school camps; Michigan State simply never asked him to catch. If Walker stays healthy, Erickson projects 18-plus touches per game and a top-12 per-game finish, making him a priority best-ball target for spike-week potential.

Davis Mattek cautioned that any Seattle wide receiver outside of Cooper Kupp and DK Metcalf—Tori Horton, Marquez Valdes-Scantling or otherwise—faces an uphill climb. He expects Klint Kubiak to import the Saints’ 12- and 21-personnel emphasis, projecting the Seahawks to run three-WR sets barely 50 % of the time. That squeeze on route volume, combined with Kupp’s target-hog reputation, leaves the WR3 needing an injury or a total Kupp decline to matter. Mattek still tossed Horton onto a correlated draft but warned he is betting on a best-case scenario rather than counting on weekly usability.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound flagged Geno Smith as one of the last true discounts in Underdog’s new SuperFlex lobby. Smith opened the contest with a 96.0 ADP but is already coming off the board at 63 after only two-plus days of drafting. Pat expects the climb to continue because the tournament is barely 12 % full, meaning 9-of-10 final-day teams will have to pay an even steeper price once drafters finish pushing all starting quarterbacks into the top five rounds. He framed the pick as a ‘buy-now or watch him hit the 50s’ situation and prefers locking Smith in as a stable QB2 before the market fully reprices him alongside Brock Purdy and Jared Goff.

Davis Mattek urged drafters to temper expectations for Sam Darnold after seeing the injury-guarantee language in his Seahawks deal. Mattek argued that a contract structured to void if Darnold fails a physical screams ‘escape hatch’ and indicates Seattle is already looking for reasons to pivot. He believes Tyler Shough is the front-runner to start before Thanksgiving and even gave a ‘very small but non-zero’ chance to Spencer Rattler. With that level of uncertainty, Mattek prefers adding Darnold only in three-QB best-ball builds tied to Week-17 correlation rather than banking on him as a reliable QB2.

Conner Allen predicted Jaxon Smith-Njigba could post top-five fantasy WR numbers in 2025 now that Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are gone and an aging Cooper Kupp is miscast outside. Allen expects Seattle to feature JSN in the slot and movable-chess-piece roles, projecting a 27-30 % target share on route participation near 100 %. He noted JSN’s 2.29 yards per route run as a rookie already beat the league average by 42 % and that new OC Ryan Grubb’s uptempo, RPO-heavy scheme produced a 64 % slot-target rate at Washington. With little competition for underneath volume and a defense likely to force shoot-outs, Allen sees a path to 115 receptions and 1,350 yards—numbers that would vault the sophomore into must-draft territory across all season-long and best-ball formats.

Greg Brainos said Kenneth Walker is the clear ceiling play when choosing among mid-round backs like Joe Mixon and Chuba Hubbard. Brainos expects Seattle’s backfield volume to spike because Mike Macdonald fired pass-heavy OC Ryan Grubb and imported Clint Kubiak, whose Saints offenses ran 21- or 12-personnel on 50 % of snaps last year and publicly vowed to "run the ball" and pound the rock in the red zone. That dovetails with Walker’s strengths: outside-zone burst and breakaway speed that produced seven carries of 20-plus yards in 2023. Brainos acknowledged Zach Charbonnet might poach some goal-line work—Macdonald called him a "hammer"—yet emphasized Walker’s 35 receptions last year prove he can stay on the field for passing downs. With a friendlier scheme, more carries, and big-play juice, Walker owns the highest week-winning ceiling in half-PPR best-ball tournaments.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound argued that Sam Darnold is going far too late in Eliminator drafts, saying any QB-needy roster should be willing to grab him as early as pick 155. In his view, Darnold’s combination of an inexpensive price tag and plausible path to early-season starts makes him a premium QB3 who can plug the inevitable bye-week holes on three-quarterback builds. Because veteran pocket passers shoot up roughly 10 spots in Eliminator compared to Best Ball Mania, Pat thinks the market will correct and that scooping Darnold 15-20 picks ahead of current ADP is still profitable. He regretted passing on the veteran at 165 in one of his own drafts and plans to be more aggressive going forward.

Sean Koerner said Clint Kubiak’s arrival in Seattle quietly tilts the offense back toward the backfield and specifically boosts Kenneth Walker. Kubiak’s lone year calling plays for New Orleans fed Alvin Kamara 86 targets—20 on designed screens—and Koerner expects that philosophy to follow him west. He emphasized that Kubiak’s outside-zone run game mirrors what Walker dominated at Michigan State and differs from Shane Waldron’s mixed concepts that sometimes bounced Walker too far outside. With a healthier interior line, Koerner projects Walker’s workload to rise from 15.1 touches per game to 18-19 while preserving his explosive 4.6 yards-after-contact clip. He also tagged Zach Charbonnet as an elite handcuff (“any Walker ding turns Charbonnet into a top-five play”), but the headline takeaway is that Walker’s ceiling jumps a full tier under Kubiak, making him a round-three target in both best ball and season-long leagues.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said the draft build built around Baker Mayfield and Bryce Young desperately needed a third quarterback and called missing Geno Smith a clear mistake. Smith was still on the board at picks 163-171, a pocket Pat views as the perfect spot to scoop a stable veteran who can paper over the floor concerns that come with two low-ceiling starters. He argued that spending that 14th-round pick on Geno would have "changed the whole trajectory of the team," giving the roster weekly survivability without sacrificing high-leverage receiver equity in earlier rounds. In Pat’s eyes, any draft that opens with shaky QB2s should plan to grab Geno in the 160s as an inexpensive insurance policy rather than forcing a Mayfield reach in the 90s.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound jumped on Jaxon Smith-Njigba at pick 33 after noticing the sophomore wide-out has quietly slipped a handful of spots in Underdog drafts over the past week. Pat pointed out that grabbing JSN at the back of Round 3 not only locks in closing-line value but also opens up a rare Week 17 Panthers-Seahawks correlation that almost no one else will have at that price range. Because he previously had zero "Nabers + JSN" pairings in his portfolio, Pat views this discounted selection as a two-fold edge: unique roster construction plus exposure to an explosive Seattle passing attack that finished top-10 in yards per attempt last season. He encouraged drafters to pounce on the slide before summer news cycles push JSN back into the mid-20s.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said Geno Smith is the perfect "naked" quarterback to grab in Underdog’s Eliminator. Because every round after Week 3 is a one-on-one coin-flip, Pat values steady weekly points over elaborate game stacks. Smith is currently slipping behind three rookie QBs despite logging 17 starts and finishing top-15 in fantasy points per game in back-to-back seasons. Seattle has finished top-12 in pass attempts each of those years and just imported OC Ryan Grubb’s up-tempo, vertical scheme while retaining Puka Nacua–level weapons in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Pat argued that simply staying healthy for 17 games gives Smith a bankable 15-20 points most weeks—enough to survive early multi-team cuts and steal a head-to-head matchup without any Seahawks pass-catcher on the roster. At his current ADP he views Smith as pure closing-line value and a core advance-rate pick in this format.

Pete Overzet singled out Geno Smith as one of his favorite quarterbacks in the 90-to-160 ADP window, calling that stretch the ‘sweet spot’ for three-QB builds. Smith is routinely the last passer in that tier to come off the board despite finishing 10th in EPA per drop-back two years ago and retaining DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Overzet believes Seattle’s modest pass-rate projections are already fully priced in, while drafters are overlooking Smith’s sneaky 20-plus rushing-yard floor and cheap stacking partners. Because Best Ball Mania rooms bunch nine quarterbacks in that pocket, grabbing Smith around pick 150 lets you pair him with an earlier upside QB (Stroud, Tua, Kyler) and still tack on a late flyer like Tyler Shough for bye-week coverage. The strategy locks in weekly usability without paying the Round-4 tax attached to the elite names.

Pete Overzet predicted that Kenneth Walker III will not be hanging around the early-sixth round much longer. He thinks projections will eventually pin Walker’s 2024 workload closer to the Kyren Williams / Breece Hall tier than to the RBs currently drafted in the 60s. The reasoning: (1) every piece of Seattle coach-speak since March has emphasized a return to power football—more two-tight-end sets, a dedicated fullback package, and heavier emphasis on the ground game; (2) Walker has dominated backfield touches whenever healthy, averaging 19.7 carries in his fully active games last season while Zach Charbonnet was limited to relief duty; (3) staffers keep praising Walker by name, suggesting there is no quiet committee brewing. Overzet acknowledged drafters are spooked by Sam Darnold’s quarterback play and Walker’s nagging injuries, but believes those concerns are already baked into the price. Once summer rankings lock in a 275-touch projection, he expects Walker’s Best Ball Mania ADP to climb at least a round, so he is grabbing the Seahawks runner today before that window slams shut.

Pete Overzet said his ranks just bumped Kenneth Walker III up half a round because he now projects Seattle to pivot back toward a ground-first identity. He and his projection partner lowered the Seahawks’ expected pass rate after reading between the lines on coaching-staff comments and personnel moves (specifically, beefing up at guard and letting Noah Fant walk). That shift gives Walker a clear path to 275+ touches if he stays healthy. Overzet reminded listeners that Walker owns a 97th-percentile breakaway-run rate over his first two seasons and posted 4.6 yards per carry even during last year’s "down" campaign. With the big-play juice intact and Seattle unlikely to rotate rookies heavily near the goal line, Overzet is comfortable selecting Walker at pick 40—two to three spots ahead of current ADP—and pairing him with cheap Seahawks pieces later for correlation.

Mike Wright urged dynasty managers to trade for Kenneth Walker now while his price is suppressed. Walker is 24.6 years old—only four months older than rookie RJ Harvey—but already has two 1,000-yard seasons and enters a contract year. Wright loved the 2024 usage jump: Walker finally saw real passing-game work, and that alone is a fantasy difference-maker. Among 46 backs with 100+ carries, Walker ranked first in missed-tackle rate, proving the burst is intact even though last season’s yards-per-carry dipped below 4.0 behind a Seattle line Pro Football Focus graded 31st. The Seahawks spent the offseason upgrading that unit and have a new offensive coordinator who, according to local beat reports, "keeps mentioning Walker by name" when talking about building the scheme. Wright believes owners can acquire Walker without surrendering a first-round pick, yet he sees a three-year window of RB1 upside and expects a healthy second contract somewhere given his age and splash-play profile.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound called Geno Smith the perfect "panic quarterback" when early stacks fall apart. He pointed out that Smith routinely slides 10–15 picks past ADP yet carries almost zero benching risk—Seattle did not draft a quarterback and has fully guaranteed his 2024 salary. Pat likes pairing Geno’s late spike weeks with any of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, or Jaxon Smith-Njigba because the trio guarantees at least one solid weekly ceiling game. Geno’s 4.9% big-time throw rate last year quietly matched Jared Goff, and Seattle still plays fast (6th in situational neutral pace). Pat is happily grabbing Smith as QB2 around pick 150 whenever the room leaves him there.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said DK Metcalf’s ADP should "rise a little bit" from the low-50s because a 120-target season is a safe baseline even with quarterback uncertainty in Seattle. He acknowledged the team might still shuffle signal-callers but pointed out that Metcalf has never dipped below 22% target share or 110 targets in any healthy season. Pat expects Shane Waldron (or the incoming OC) to continue featuring deep crossers that suit Metcalf’s skill set, and with potential negative game scripts against a brutal NFC West, Metcalf could push toward 140 looks. Pat snaps him up whenever he falls past pick 50, calling it a "we take those" value.

Mattek called Geno Smith “one of the skeleton keys for fantasy football this year.” If the veteran starts a full 17-game slate, Mattek believes his combination of steady volume, rushing sprinkles, and an underpriced stacking environment with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett can swing Best Ball tournaments. Because Smith slips well past QB20 in current ADP, drafters can pair him with an elite quarterback for spike-week coverage without sacrificing early picks.

Sean Koerner ranked Zach Charbonnet as his RB30—well above the market price near RB36—and called him “one of the best backups in football.” When Kenneth Walker missed two separate two-game stretches last season, Charbonnet posted RB7 and RB2 finishes over those spans, proof of legitimate league-winning potential. Koerner dismissed worries about seventh-round rookie Damien Martinez, noting late-round backs rarely dent year-one workloads, and said chatter around a possible Walker trade only sweetens Charbonnet shares in early best-ball tournaments. Even without a trade, Koerner views Charbonnet as a must-draft lottery ticket thanks to locked-in passing-down usage and a demonstrated every-down ceiling in Shane Waldron’s balanced offense.

Jason Moore said drafters should treat Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a legitimate breakout candidate with weekly WR1 upside. Moore pointed to the very real possibility that both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are dealt away, vacating 45.7% of Seattle’s 2024 targets and every deep shot in the playbook. He reminded listeners that JSN closed last season on a tear—top-20 in yards per route over the final six weeks—after operating almost exclusively from the slot early on. Moore believes the former first-round pick will inherit the alpha role he was drafted for and climb inside the top-10 at the position thanks to a projected 140-plus targets. While he acknowledged the risk of a new coordinator and the Sam Darnold/Jalen Milroe quarterback combo, Moore thinks the sheer volume compensates for any efficiency dip. He recommended scooping Smith-Njigba in the late third or early fourth round of season-long drafts before the market adjusts to the looming target windfall.

Mike Wright flagged Jaxon Smith-Njigba as one of 2025’s biggest ADP traps. Wright reviewed every wide receiver drafted since 2014 and found 19 players who cracked the top-24 for the first time in their second season. The following year, 9 of those 19 failed to hit their expected fantasy points based on ADP, and 8 were ‘big misses’ that finished at least two PPR points per game below the slot. Only two smashed expectations. Smith-Njigba currently carries a WR15 price tag despite legitimate red flags: a brand-new offensive coordinator pledging a run-first approach, an unproven quarterback switch to Sam Darnold, and potential roster movement around DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett that could alter target distribution. Wright added that JSN’s rookie-year scoring surge was touchdown-driven—weeks 1-8 produced one score on eight targets per game versus five touchdowns on nine targets per game from weeks 9-16—another stat he expects to normalize. He advised passing on Smith-Njigba in the top four rounds and targeting steadier veterans in that range.

Davis Mattek argued that Zach Charbonnet remains a priority RB4 despite being the priciest back in his tier. Mattek highlighted 2023 usage splits showing Charbonnet still on the field for 47% of total snaps and an eye-popping 81% of long-down-and-distance situations after Kenneth Walker returned in Week 4, plus full-time starts in Weeks 14-15. With Seattle’s front office ‘open for business,’ Mattek thinks a mid-season Walker trade could catapult Charbonnet into bell-cow status. Even without a trade, he expects a near 50/50 committee under new OC Ryan Grubb, and Sam Darnold’s check-down tendencies should funnel targets Charbonnet’s way. Mattek conservatively projects about 5 half-PPR points in Week 1 but sees a realistic path to 12-14 weekly if the workload tilts his direction, making him an upside swing worth paying current ADP in Best Ball Mania drafts.

Danny Kanell warned fantasy managers to fade Sam Darnold in Seattle, calling 2024 a likely step-back season. He noted Minnesota’s willingness to let Darnold walk despite an MVP-caliber 2023, then highlighted the downgrade in weapons: no Justin Jefferson, a banged-up 31-year-old Cooper Kupp, DK Metcalf battling durability issues, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling plus Jaxon Smith-Njigba as unproven outside targets. Seattle also lacks a reliable run game, and Geno Smith’s efficiency will be hard to replicate. Kanell interpreted the Vikings’ decision to pass on paying Darnold as a red flag and labeled the move a classic ‘buyer beware’ for the Seahawks. Actionable takeaway: avoid Darnold in season-long drafts and consider unders on his passing props.

Sam Monson called Damien Martinez an "insane bargain" in the seventh round and compared his physical profile to first-rounders Omarion Hampton and Quinshon Judkins. Martinez is 220+ pounds yet nimble, has produced in multiple schemes, and consistently breaks tackles. Monson acknowledged the rookie is currently buried behind Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, but argued the Seahawks grabbed him strictly because the value was too good to pass. In dynasty formats, Sam recommends stashing Martinez because injuries or future contract decisions could clear a path, and the runner’s three-down skill set would make him fantasy relevant quickly. He framed it as the textbook example of why waiting on running back in rookie drafts can pay off big if you’re patient.

Sam Monson labeled Tory Horton one of the biggest steals of the draft and a clean schematic fit in Seattle. Horton checked in at 6-3 and 185 pounds, ran a 4.40 forty after returning from a knee injury, and flashed what Monson called "supersized DeVonta Smith" traits—long-speed, detailed route running and sneaky yards-after-catch ability. Monson thinks Horton can immediately slot in as the perimeter vertical threat this offense lacks, complementing inside/out technicians Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. He expects Horton to compete with—and likely overtake—Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo for the outside Z role. Given Geno Smith’s (or Sam Darnold’s) willingness to target deep shots off play-action in a Kubiak scheme, Monson believes Horton is worth a late best-ball flyer and a dynasty bench spot because every-down usage is within reach if his rookie camp goes well.

Michael Leone said Geno Smith is the quarterback he wants when you are hunting for a third passer in the double‐digit rounds, especially on rosters that already roster Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Leone noted that Smith sits several spots higher than Sam Darnold in both ETR’s projections and current ADP, so you are actually gaining closing-line value while still capturing stack correlation. Because JSN was their WR1, anchoring that bet to Seattle’s starter lets you benefit from any Seahawks shootouts rather than praying for JSN to get there on raw volume alone. Leone added that Smith has quietly finished top-10 in completion rate and EPA per drop-back in back-to-back seasons, so you are not sacrificing efficiency to grab the stack. He framed Smith as the perfect late quarterback who both fits your rankings model and unlocks a cheap ceiling game in Best Ball Mania week-17 formats.

Michael Leone called Jaxon Smith-Njigba a classic sophomore eruption candidate who is mis-priced at the 2/3 turn. He expects Seattle to lean on heavier two-receiver personnel under new OC Ryan Grubb, which will spike JSN’s route share without asking the team to abandon its run-first DNA. Leone noted that even in last year’s cramped three-wide rotation, Smith-Njigba still managed a 20% targets-per-route clip and flashed an 11-target, 96-yard overtime game against the Rams. With the coaching staff publicly hinting at more slot-perimeter flexibility and DK Metcalf battling a lingering shoulder issue, Leone projects a jump from 77 to roughly 115 targets and believes the former Buckeye’s elite short-area quickness will translate into top-15 yards-after-catch numbers. He views the mid-third ADP slide – down five to six picks since April – as an overreaction to perceived Seahawks implosion risk and is happily clicking JSN as his first wideout after an RB-RB start.

Steve Palazzolo said Jalen Milroe is the ideal cheap lottery ticket in dynasty Superflex and late-round best-ball drafts. Palazzolo loves that the Seahawks grabbed him in Round 3, giving Seattle a developmental runway while Sam Darnold is on a one-year deal with no future guarantees. He noted Milroe’s Justin Fields–level speed (estimated 4.4 forty) that made him "the entire offense" in the first half vs Georgia, proving you can build a high-floor, QB-centric run game around him immediately. Palazzolo contrasted that with Milroe’s Tennessee tape—highlighting the safety he took by retreating into the end zone—to underscore lingering accuracy and out-of-structure decision concerns. Still, he pointed to the recent Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson trajectories as evidence quarterbacks can improve mechanically after entering the league. Palazzolo was equally impressed by Milroe’s interview performance, where the rookie "listed chapter and verse" every weakness he needs to fix—an attitude Seattle views as critical after Geno Smith’s own growth story. Because Shane Waldron already called designed QB runs on 14 percent of Seahawks snaps last season (second-highest rate in the NFL), Palazzolo sees a seamless schematic match and a realistic chance Milroe starts by 2025. He advised spending a late third-round rookie pick or a basement-priced best-ball share now before any preseason hype tax kicks in.

Sam Monson loved Seattle’s decision to grab Jalen Milroe in Round 3, calling that range perfect for his current profile. Milroe brings what Monson described as "the next rung below Lamar Jackson" rushing ability, giving him the same high fantasy floor that has kept Justin Fields viable. Monson added that the Alabama product owns a live arm and can process defenses, but struggles with consistency, decision-making, and ball placement—issues the Seahawks can work on while Geno Smith holds the job. Coaches and scouts reportedly raved about Milroe’s self-awareness in pre-draft interviews, where he rattled off his weaknesses unprompted, signaling rare emotional maturity. Monson thinks that combination of elite ground game, intact starting-QB ceiling, and character makes Milroe a mandatory third-round rookie-draft swing and a sneaky Best-Ball tournament bullet should he log starts in 2025 or beyond.

Sam Monson said Elijah Arroyo could be an immediate mismatch piece for Seattle because of his top-end speed and polished receiving chops. Monson noted that Arroyo was once talked about as a potential top-10 talent on pure tape before a string of injuries limited his resume. The Seahawks coaching staff even told reporters they view him as good enough to line up as an X-receiver, not just a tight end. That suggests a big-slot usage tree similar to how Kyle Shanahan deploys Deebo Samuel, but with tight-end eligibility for fantasy. Monson warned Arroyo is a below-average blocker, yet he still expects Shane Waldron to keep him off the line and treat him as a vertical seam/slot threat. The combination of rare athletic traits, positional flexibility and a wide-open depth chart behind Noah Fant makes Arroyo a viable late-round Best-Ball dart and dynasty stash if you are hunting for upside at a barren tight-end position.

Jakob Sanderson pushed Milroe all the way down to 121 overall, arguing the market is glossing over a brutal risk profile. He stressed that quarterbacks taken after pick 90 historically become career backups and compared Milroe to Malik Willis rather than Jalen Hurts. Sanderson doubts Seattle will redesign its offense around a late-third-round project, meaning Milroe could sit the entire season even if the Seahawks fall out of contention. In his view the more realistic comp is Sam Howell or Desmond Ridder—cheap dart throws that briefly start but quickly lose value. With no first-round capital, a raw passing resume, and a coaching staff committed to Darnold until further notice, Sanderson thinks Milroe carries a far greater chance of never posting a single startable fantasy week than of morphing into the next Justin Fields. He would rather flip any second-round rookie pick for safer assets than burn it on what he calls a "career-backup lottery ticket."

Davis Mattek placed Jalen Milroe 95th overall in his dynasty ranks—30-40 spots ahead of consensus—because he sees a clear path to Milroe becoming a league-tilting asset. Mattek painted a plausible 2025 scenario in which a 5-7 Seahawks team benches an injured or ineffective Sam Darnold, Milroe rips off a 47-yard touchdown run in relief, and never looks back. Even though the former Alabama star slipped to pick 92, Mattek believes Milroe’s elite rushing profile can overcome the draft-capital discount, citing Justin Fields’ top-12 dynasty stretch as proof that rushing QBs with shaky arms can still become top-30 assets. If Milroe is merely named Week 1 starter in 2026, Mattek expects his startup ADP to rocket into the 50s. He is actively buying Milroe for any price near a mid-second rookie pick and wants to stay "way ahead of market" on a player whose ceiling outcome is a weekly 25-point fantasy cheat code.

Andy Holloway said Kenneth Walker III emerged as one of the biggest fantasy winners of the entire NFC draft haul. Seattle waited until the seventh round to take a running back (Damien Martinez) after rumors swirled that either Walker or Zach Charbonnet might be dealt. Holloway noted that using only a throw-away day-three pick shows the front office remains committed to Walker as its lead back. Pete Carroll’s staff has kept hyping Walker all offseason and, despite receiving trade calls, refused to move Charbonnet—evidence they still want last year’s 1-2 punch intact. With no meaningful competition added and improved offensive-line help from the first-round tackle selection, Holloway projects Walker to keep his early-down and goal-line workload from 2024 (57 % snap share, 268 touches) while adding efficiency in a rejuvenated offense. He is drafting Walker confidently as a high-end RB2 in season-long leagues and an every-week spike-week option in best-ball tournaments.

Rob Coakley suggested sprinkling seventh-round rookie Damien Martinez into late Best Ball builds, especially alongside either Ken Walker III or Zach Charbonnet. Seattle reportedly fielded calls on Walker during the draft, and Coakley noted that Pete Carroll’s replacement regime has no attachment to either incumbent. Martinez was widely mocked as a Day-3 sleeper but slid, giving the Seahawks a potential steal; he averaged 6.1 YPC at Oregon State and posted a 33% dominator rating against loaded boxes. If Walker is ultimately moved—Coakley thinks that scenario is more plausible than a Charbonnet trade—Martinez could become the early-down complement while Charbonnet handles passing work. Even a small rookie role would be a win at his near-undrafted ADP, but the contingent upside of a depth-chart shake-up makes him a cheap way to double-tap Seattle’s ambiguous backfield.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said he is fading Sam Darnold entirely in Best Ball Mania because he is convinced the veteran will not finish the season as Seattle’s starter. Pat pointed to the injury-guarantee clause in Darnold’s deal that would force the Seahawks to pay the entire salary if Darnold gets hurt, noting teams have shown they will eat league fines to keep an at-risk quarterback off the field – he cited last year’s benchings of Daniel Jones and Russell Wilson as precedent. Pat expects Seattle to be sitting at something like 4-11 in December, at which point the staff (likely already on the hot seat) will protect itself by shelving Darnold and giving rookie Jalen Milroe a late-season audition. The bottom line for Pat: any ADP that prices in a full 17-game starter is dead money; let someone else draft the potential Week-1 placeholder and use the pick on a player who can actually help during the playoff weeks.

Eric Luttrell told viewers not to burn a mid-round pick on Tyler Lockett, insisting the 31-year-old will linger in Rounds 17-18 all summer. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba set to claim a bigger slot role and Seattle expected to lean run-heavy under new OC Ryan Grubb, Lockett is unlikely to regain his 22-percent target-share days. Eric’s advice: take the discount later for correlation or skip him entirely—reaching in Round 14 only forfeits upside shots at ascending rookies or last-minute handcuff backs.

Andy Holloway urged dynasty and single-QB rookie drafters to take a third-round swing on Jalen Milroe after Seattle grabbed him in Round 3. Holloway argued Sam Darnold’s one-year deal contains an easy out, the Seahawks have missed the playoffs four straight seasons, and the front office just spent its first-round pick on offensive-line help—an ideal runway for a dual-threat successor. Milroe completed 64 % of his passes at Alabama (better than Anthony Richardson’s 53 %) and posted 898 rushing yards and 12 TDs in his lone year as starter, elite fantasy juice if he sees the field. Holloway believes even six 2025 starts could make Milroe the most impactful QB in this rookie class, making him a high-upside taxi squad stash and a last-round best-ball dart in superflex leagues.

Coakley grabbed DK Metcalf in the 5th round and urged drafters to do the same now, predicting a sharp climb once Pittsburgh inevitably brings in a competent quarterback—he half-jokingly floated Aaron Rodgers as the veteran the Steelers could chase. Because early drafters are over-penalizing Metcalf for Kenny Pickett–level QB play, Coakley expects the market to correct the minute a starter is in place, making Metcalf a clear value in April drafts.