Sam Darnold returns to Seattle's lineup, while Jadarian Price and Cooper Kupp are cleared for a favorable Week 3 fantasy setup
The Seattle Seahawks enter Sunday's road game with encouraging offensive news. Quarterback Sam Darnold is back after missing Seattle's Week 2 victory with a glute injury, restoring the starter for an offense that has opened the season with consecutive wins.
Darnold was limited Wednesday before practicing fully Thursday and Friday. He received no final game designation, and head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that the veteran quarterback is ready to play.
The final report lists safeties Julian Love and Ty Okada as out, while nose tackle Brandon Pili is questionable. Love missed Thursday and Friday with a calf injury, Okada will miss his third consecutive game because of a hamstring problem, and Pili remains in the concussion protocol with an additional neck designation.
FULL #Seahawks vs #Commanders Injury Report
Sam Darnold is back for the Seahawks
Both starting safeties are OUT (Love, Okada)
Pili (NT) is questionableCommanders lose a second starting OL in Sam Cosmi. Jayden Daniels was already ruled out. Frankie Luvi is OUT. pic.twitter.com/bLvtcqyagE
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) September 25, 2026
Sam Darnold returns under center
Darnold's return raises the passing game's fantasy floor, particularly for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He has barely played this season after leaving Week 1 following two attempts, so managers should expect rust.
That makes Darnold a risky QB1 and a more comfortable QB2 in superflex formats. He is on the border of QB1/QB2 rankings in this matchup against Washington.
Smith-Njigba remains the exception. He drew 11 targets last week and is widely ranked as a must-start WR1. Darnold's return should give Seattle's top receiver another reliable path to volume.
Cooper Kupp was limited Wednesday because of a back issue but practiced fully Thursday and carries no game designation. It appears to be workload management after he followed the same schedule in Week 2.
Kupp is available, but his fantasy role remains modest. He is best viewed as a WR5 or low-end flex because Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed have commanded more attention. Kupp should remain benched in most 12-team leagues.
Jadarian Price is cleared
Rookie running back Jadarian Price left last week's game with a chest injury, then progressed from limited practices Wednesday and Thursday to full participation Friday. He has no designation, and Macdonald said he is ready to go.
Price's clearance gives him a chance to reclaim early-down work, but Seattle's backfield remains difficult to project. Emanuel Wilson handled early-down and goal-line opportunities after Price exited last week, while George Holani also practiced fully after appearing on the report with a knee issue.
Zach Charbonnet remains on the physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury, although he could resume practicing next week. Until his return, Price offers the highest upside, but Wilson remains involved enough to lower both players' fantasy floors.
Price is a risky flex rather than an automatic starter. Wilson is touchdown-dependent and better left on the bench, while Holani belongs only in deep formats. Fantasy analysts have generally advised avoiding Seattle's running backs until their roles become clearer.
Defensive absences affect Seahawks D/ST
Seattle's defensive fantasy outlook is complicated by the loss of both starting safeties. AJ Finley and Rodney Thomas II are expected to start in place of Love and Okada, placing additional pressure on the secondary.
Pili's uncertain status could also thin the interior rotation. Even so, Seattle's D/ST remains a strong Week 3 fantasy option and received the top defensive grade from FantasyPros.
The clean offensive report creates straightforward lineup decisions. Start Smith-Njigba, treat Darnold as a QB2, use Kupp only as a deeper flex and approach Price cautiously. Seattle's offense is healthier, but its backfield distribution remains the biggest fantasy question.