Preview: Seahawks vs. Commanders on Sunday Night Football

This Sunday Night Football matchup features the 5-2 Seattle Seahawks facing off against the 3-5 Washington Commanders. Both teams are in interesting spots—Seattle has recently lost three games in a row, including a tough one against the Chiefs last Monday night. It’s a shorter break than usual for them, so they’ll need to recharge quickly after their bye week. Washington, on the other hand, will see Jaden Daniels return after resting a week due to a hamstring injury. Unfortunately for them, WR Terry McLaurin will miss the game again. The Seahawks are entering as the favorites, holding a three-point edge on the road.

Seattle has performed strongly against the run this season, allowing just 3.2 yards per carry, which is the best in the league. They also excel at defending the pass, limiting quarterbacks from throwing more than two touchdowns or even attempting a single touchdown pass. All in all, it’s tough to feel optimistic about any fantasy matchups involving Seattle players right now.

On the flip side, Washington’s defense has been rather generous, giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and the 13th-most to running backs. They also rank last in yards allowed per completion and have allowed the fifth-most receiving yards on longer passes—over 20 yards downfield. Their struggles are clear: they’re worse against the pass than the run, but they’re not great against either.

DFS Top Picks for Sunday Night

Jackson Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks (FLEX $13,400, CPT $20,100)

With the Seahawks dividing their efforts between two running backs and Sam Darnold not adding much in terms of fantasy points via rushing, it’s hard to look past Smith-Njigba. He’s been leading the league with a staggering 38.3% target rate, making him the standout player from Seattle’s roster. This matchup looks promising, and even if Cooper Kupp is questionable, it’s tough to find a reason not to include him.

Jaden Daniels, QB, Commanders (FLEX $12,800, CPT $19,200)

Back from a hamstring issue, Daniels has participated fully in practice and was not on the final injury report. While there are some concerns about his rushing ability due to his previous injury, he’s expected to run during a game where he may need to pull off some impressive plays to secure a win.

Jeremy McNichols, RB, Commanders (FLEX $4,400, CPT $6,600)

Against the Seahawks, big plays for wide receivers may be hard to come by, but receptions for junior running backs could be more plentiful. The Seahawks have allowed a league-high 47 receptions to running backs, alongside considerable yardage. Washington’s strategy of relying on the pass may play into McNichols’ favor, and even though he might not be the most exciting pick, he could be useful in this matchup.

Luke McCaffrey, WR, Commanders (FLEX $7,500, CPT $5,000)

With McLaurin out again, McCaffrey might get an uptick in his workload. When McLaurin returned last week, McCaffrey still managed to play the second-most snaps, which is promising. He has a knack for making big plays even on limited targets, and this week might be the chance for him to exceed expectations.

Torrie Horton, WR, Seahawks (FLEX $3,000, CPT $4,500)

Looking ahead, Horton could see a boost in opportunities after the bye, especially if Kupp ends up sitting out. He got off to a solid start this season but had missed the previous two games leading up to the bye. It would be great to see the Seahawks reassess his role to maximize his potential when it really counts.

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Seahawks (FLEX $4,500, CPT $5,100)

Washington has struggled against tight ends, allowing the seventh-most yards and the fifth-most touchdowns in the league. AJ Varner is currently the starting tight end for the Seahawks, but Arroyo, riding a wave of potential, should be given more playing time and could thrive if Kupp is absent. In the game against a tough Texans defense before the bye, Arroyo managed to make an impact with five targets, catching four for 42 yards. If he receives that anticipated boost in usage, his upside looks really promising.