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Sam Darnold Receives "Really, Really Good News"
Updating an ongoing story, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) received "really, really good" news on the right-hip injury that forced him from Wednesday's season-opening win over the New England Patriots, head coach Mike Macdonald said on Thursday after Darnold had an MRI exam. ESPN's Adam Schefter and the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport both reported that Darnold is expected to miss the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but there is a chance he will be ready to return for Week 3 against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 27. "The hip is intact, and it's good," Macdonald said. "It's more of a muscle thing. So that's good news." After the 29-year-old left following the first drive of the game, backup Drew Lock entered and led the Seahawks to a come-from-behind win. Lock should be expected to make his first start of 2026 in Week 2 against the Cardinals, where he will be a low-end QB2 streamer in superflex leagues. Because Darnold dodged a bullet and could only miss one game, fantasy managers should hold him if they have him rostered.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Sam Darnold to be Ready by Week 3?
Updating a previous report, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) is expected to miss the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but he should be back sooner rather than later and could be out just a few weeks, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. With 17 days until the Seahawks' Week 3 game against the Washington Commanders, it is possible that Darnold could be ready by then. The 29-year-old only attempted two passes before injuring his hip in Wednesday night's 13-10 victory over the visiting New England Patriots and was forced to leave. Although Darnold will not play next weekend, the Seahawks dodged a bullet with Darnold avoiding a long-term injury. Backup Drew Lock did enough to lead Seattle to a come-from-behind win to kick off the season, going 16-for-22 passing with 187 yards and one touchdown. Lock will be a short-term streaming option in Week 2 in Arizona in superflex leagues with Darnold missing at least one game. Fantasy managers who have Darnold rostered in two-QB leagues should hang tight and hold him while he recovers.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Sam Darnold To Miss Time, But Seahawks "Dodge a Bullet"
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) had an MRI exam on his injured hip on Thursday morning that team doctors are still reviewing to determine how much time he will miss, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Darnold is expected to miss some time, but for now the Seahawks believe that they "dodged a bullet," according to a source. Fantasy managers should not expect the 29-year-old to be ready to play by Week 2 in Arizona against the division-rival Cardinals, but it appears that he has avoided a long-term injury. We will continue to keep a close eye on Darnold's practice status for next week, but for now, it looks like backup Drew Lock will be making the start next weekend for Seattle in the desert. Overall, it will be a downgrade for Seattle's offense, but top wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba did just fine in Thursday's win over the New England Patriots after Darnold left, tallying over 100 receiving yards and his first touchdown of the year. Darnold went just 1-for-2 passing for 13 yards and was sacked once early in the Week 1 opener before leaving with his hip injury.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Drew Lock Delivers With Big Second Half in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock stepped in for Sam Darnold (hip) in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. Lock completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also added 13 yards on the ground. Lock was thrust into a difficult situation on Wednesday with Darnold going down on the fifth play from scrimmage. The Seahawks' offense struggled to move the ball for most of the first half. However, Lock found his chemistry with his wide receivers in the second half, leading Seattle to 13 unanswered points and the eventual victory. Lock was efficient in this outing and recorded a QBR of 78.6. We have seen Lock succeed in relief of Seattle's starting quarterbacks in the past as well. As such, he should be able to continue supporting fantasy success for Seattle's skill players. Notably, Lock still supported a high-end WR1 outing for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If Lock has to play additional games, fantasy managers can rest assured that he should be able to keep the offense afloat.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Seahawks Rule Out Fracture for Sam Darnold
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) did not suffer a bone fracture during Wednesday's Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Darnold exited at the end of the Seahawks' opening drive, and he was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game. The Seahawks transported the veteran quarterback to Harborview Medical Center, since they didn't have the capability to run a CT scan in their own stadium. Darnold is still undergoing additional testing to confirm his diagnosis, but the fact that he avoided a fracture is good news. Furthermore, Pelissero pointed out that head coach Mike Macdonald "sounded upbeat about the initial prognosis" after the game. It sounds like Darnold avoided a season-ending injury, but we'd be surprised to see him play in Week 2. Drew Lock will step in as the Seahawks' starter for the duration of Darnold's absence.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Sam Darnold is Ruled Out with Hip Injury
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) has been ruled out for the rest of Wednesday's Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots. Darnold suffered a hip injury while taking a sack during the opening drive of the game. The 29-year-old will officially miss the rest of this game while he undergoes further testing on his hip. Drew Lock has taken over under center for the rest of this game and possibly longer. Fantasy managers will need to wait until the testing is completed, but they might need to look for another quarterback if Darnold misses an extended period of time. Without Darnold, Lock would likely start in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Sam Darnold Exits Season Opener, Questionable to Return
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) exited Wednesday's game early due to a hip injury. Darnold suffered this injury on the team's opening drive after landing awkwardly. He is set to undergo X-rays and is questionable to return. On the first possession, Darnold went 1-for-2 with a 13-yard pass to his top wideout, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. While he remains out, Drew Lock will take over QB1 duties.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Sam Darnold Not in Streaming Conversation for Week 1
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is not in the streaming conversation when Seattle hosts the New England Patriots in Week 1. The Patriots boast a quality defense, and this feels like a game in which Seattle will rely more heavily on the running game. The Patriots were near the top of the pack against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy in 2025 as well. While they were not exactly facing the most quality opponents, this was still a defense that took care of business when it needed to. Darnold was the QB13 in 2025 due to his scorching first half of the season. However, the Seahawks' offensive strategy shifted down the stretch once Darnold began to struggle with turnovers. Darnold turned it around for the playoffs, but there are plenty of other quarterback options in Week 1 who have a narrower range of outcomes. Leave Darnold on waivers for this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sam Darnold Best Left on Waivers in Standard Leagues
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is a tougher sell as a Week 1 pickup than the name value suggests. He threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, so the passing production itself isn't the concern. The problem for fantasy is what happens when the touchdowns don't come. Darnold added only 95 rushing yards and no scores on the ground in 2025, and he opens against New England, the team that held him to 202 yards and one touchdown in Super Bowl LX. Seattle still has Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed, so there is enough around him to get by if you're stuck. RotoBaller has Darnold at QB24 for Week 1 and rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues, with the current waiver recommendation limited to 14-team formats. In a standard one-QB league, that's not enough to make him a priority. Leave him on the wire unless your options are already getting thin.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sam Darnold Should Benefit From Second Season in Seahawks Offense
2025 Super Bowl-winning quarterback Sam Darnold enters his second season with the Seattle Seahawks with a chance to emerge as a high-end QB2, alongside star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the emergence of Rashid Shaheed, with a full offseason under his belt to build chemistry with Darnold. Shaheed was brought over to the Seahawks in Week 9 of the 2025 season. Darnold finished the 2025 season as the QB13, throwing for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. This was followed by a season with the Vikings in 2024, where he finished as the QB9. Although he lost his offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, who was brought on to be the head coach for the Raiders, RotoBaller currently ranks Darnold as the QB23 and the 140th player taken off the board. Fantasy managers in superflex formats could look to target Darnold as their QB2, as he has finished in the top 15 at the position in back-to-back seasons.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen Milroe Delivers Solid Outing on Friday
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe had the opportunity to play a full game in Week 3 of the preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs. He delivered 223 passing yards and a touchdown, along with 20 rushing yards on seven carries. This performance came after a fair amount of average play from Milroe throughout the preseason. As a developmental prospect, it is great to see that Milroe is making progress. It does not mean much for fantasy at the moment. At best, Milroe will be the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart. It remains to be seen if Milroe will receive any playing time in rushing packages this season, a concept the Seahawks abandoned in 2025. Either way, he will not have any fantasy value for the foreseeable future.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Milroe to Play a Full Game in Preseason Finale
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that quarterback Jalen Milroe will play a full game in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Corbin K. Smith of Emerald Spectrum. The Seahawks will get a good look at the second-year signal-caller to close out preseason action after the 23-year-old former third-rounder from Alabama has gone 11-for-19 for 88 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in the first two preseason contests. In his first NFL campaign last year, Milroe only appeared in three games and did not attempt a pass, carrying the ball three times for four yards with a lost fumble. He is firmly entrenched as Seattle's QB3 to begin the 2026 season behind Sam Darnold and Drew Lock, so Milroe has zero redraft fantasy appeal. Milroe does not lack athleticism, but he must develop as a passer if he is to become anything more than a backup in the NFL long term.
Source: Emerald Spectrum - Corbin K. Smith
Source: Emerald Spectrum - Corbin K. Smith
Sam Darnold Should Benefit From a Strong Supporting Cast
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has a talented group of weapons around him at wide receiver, running back, and tight end. Although Jake Bobo (knee) went down with a season-ending ACL tear, this is still a very talented wide receiver room headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed. All three have different skill sets that should give Darnold plenty of options in the passing game. At tight end, AJ Barner is coming off a big 2025 campaign, while Elijah Arroyo has a second-round draft stock. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have an impressive backfield featuring Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet (knee). Rounding out the offense is a very dependable offensive line. The Seahawks didn't make many additions in the trenches, but mostly because it was already a strong unit. Grey Zabel and Charles Cross are terrific blindside protectors for Darnold, who only took 27 sacks last year (as opposed to 48 in 2024 with Minnesota). Despite having limited mobility, the veteran signal caller has ranked as a top-13 quarterback in fantasy football for each of the last two seasons. He enters the 2026 season as the QB23 in RotoBaller's latest draft rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drew Lock Efficient in Preseason Week 1
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock drew the start in Saturday's preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. He went 9/13 for 40 yards and an opening drive touchdown pass. Lock looked comfortable in an offense run by new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. While Lock is clearly the backup to Sam Darnold, the opening drive provided a nice look at what Fleury may bring to the table. He is a first-time play caller, and the biggest variable for the Seahawks' offensive success considering the departure of Klint Kubiak. If Lock can be this efficient and effective in an opening game script under Fleury, hopefully that will also translate to Darnold and the rest of the offense.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Milroe Rushes and Passes for 36 Yards in Week 1 of Preseason
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe completed five of his eight pass attempts for 36 passing yards during Saturday's preseason loss against the Dallas Cowboys. He didn't have a touchdown or interception, but he did take three sacks. On a more positive note, he showcased impressive mobility with 36 rushing yards on five rushing attempts. We saw the Seahawks pull Sam Darnold to the sideline to give Milroe some designed runs last year, and given how well he moved in Week 1 of the preseason, we could see more of the same in 2026. With that being said, Darnold is the quarterback of the immediate future for Seattle, so as long as he's healthy, Milroe's role is limited to the occasional change-of-pace play here and there. As a result, he's avoidable in all redraft leagues, and he has dropped to QB43 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
