Fantasy managers can be happy about Seahawks QB Sam Darnold's return Sunday from the glute injury that knocked him out in the first quarter of Week 1. Darnold went 31-of-45 passing in the loss at Washington for 379 yards and 4 TDs. That set personal highs in completions, attempts, and yards since his 2025 arrival in Seattle, and it's the third time Darnold has tossed 4 TDs for the Seahawks. But he also threw a pair of bad INTs. The first came in the third quarter, when Darnold threw too low over the middle and bounced his pass off the helmet of Washington DL Tim Settle and into the arms of LB Sonny Styles. Then Darnold hit fill-in LB Kain Medrano late in the fourth quarter with a short-range INT that became a 50-yard pick-6. (Darnold even reportedly said afterward that he saw Medrano before attempting the throw.) That put Washington up by 9 and led to basically a garbage-time ensuing Seahawks drive. Darnold padded his stats with 68 yards there, including a 7-yard TD to Cooper Kupp.
What They're Saying
Darnold on the Medrano INT: "Bad decision. The end did a good job of not letting me escape to the outside, and had to make a quick decision. ... Should've dirted it at his feet."
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The mistakes don't matter much for Darnold's outlook. Seattle's not going to bench a healthy Darnold for Drew Lock. Frankly, more turnovers like Sunday might even help his fantasy value by pushing more Seattle passing volume.
All three of the Seahawks' turnovers Sunday led to Washington TDs, which played a large role in staking the Commanders to leads.
Another aspect favoring Darnold's fantasy upside is a struggling run game.
Seattle handed off just 17 times for 39 yards (2.3 yards per rush) in the loss to Washington, with none of its three RBs exceeding 3.3 yards per carry.
Through three games, Seahawks RBs are averaging just 3.7 per rush (12th-lowest in the league). Seattle's also one of just four teams with no RB touchdowns.
Darnold looks like a fringe starting candidate for a Week 4 home date with the Chargers. We'll see how he fares there before looking ahead to matchups with the 49ers, Broncos and Chiefs the ensuing three weeks.
Seattle does host generous defenses from Chicago and Arizona in weeks 8 and 9, in case you're planning ahead for QB byes.
