Patriots vs Seahawks DFS Picks 2026: Best Week 1 Plays & Fantasy Targets
Patriots vs Seahawks DFS picks for 2026, including the strongest fantasy targets for Wednesday’s NFL season opener, premium plays, backfield value, stacking options and confirmed Week 1 injury statuses.
New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
8:20 PM ET
Lumen Field – Seattle, Washington
NFL Week 1
The 2026 NFL season opens with New England travelling to Seattle for a matchup featuring several high-upside fantasy options on both sides. The single-game DFS slate combines established stars with several roles that have changed since last season.
Seattle enters the season with Brian Fleury as offensive coordinator, quarterback Sam Darnold and star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. George Holani and Jadarian Price are positioned for significant early-season backfield work while Zach Charbonnet begins the year on the physically unable to perform list.
New England returns Drake Maye at quarterback and has A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas and tight end Hunter Henry among its primary receiving options. Rhamondre Stevenson enters the opener with a clearer backfield opportunity after TreVeyon Henderson was ruled out with an ankle injury.
More Week 1 coverage is available in the NFL Week 1 injury watch, Week 1 DFS value picks, Week 1 DFS stacks, Week 1 fantasy start/sit guide and Week 1 waiver wire picks.
Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is out with an ankle injury after missing all three practices. Backup center Ben Brown is also out with a knee injury and did not travel.
Seattle safety Ty Okada is out with a hamstring injury. Safety Nick Emmanwori is questionable with an ankle injury and receiver Tory Horton is questionable with a hamstring injury.
AJ Barner, Emanuel Wilson, Anthony Bradford, Julian Neal and Josh Jones do not carry game-status designations.
Patriots vs Seahawks DFS picks 2026
| Player | Team | Position | DFS view |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle | WR | Premium receiving target with elite volume and ceiling. |
| Drake Maye | New England | QB | Passing and rushing upside makes him a strong lineup anchor. |
| A.J. Brown | New England | WR | High-ceiling WR1 and natural Maye stacking partner. |
| Sam Darnold | Seattle | QB | Strong correlation play with Seattle’s premium receivers. |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | New England | RB | Clearer path to volume with TreVeyon Henderson ruled out. |
| George Holani | Seattle | RB | Lower-cost backfield option in Seattle’s expected committee. |
| Jadarian Price | Seattle | RB | Rookie with touchdown and big-play upside. |
| Hunter Henry | New England | TE | Useful middle-tier target with red-zone potential. |
| AJ Barner | Seattle | TE | Salary-saving tight-end option with touchdown upside. |
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR – Seahawks
Jaxon Smith-Njigba enters 2026 as the centerpiece of Seattle’s passing game and one of the strongest individual fantasy options in the opener.
Smith-Njigba is coming off a huge 2025 campaign in which he established himself among the NFL’s leading receivers. Seattle’s offensive structure may change under Brian Fleury, but Smith-Njigba remains the passing game’s primary weapon.
His combination of target volume, receiving-yard upside and touchdown potential gives him one of the strongest fantasy ceilings in this game.
2. Drake Maye, QB – Patriots
Drake Maye offers something particularly valuable in single-game DFS: multiple ways to score fantasy points.
Maye can produce through the air while also contributing as a runner, giving him a higher floor and ceiling than quarterbacks who depend almost entirely on passing production.
Seattle presents a difficult defensive matchup, but New England has strengthened Maye’s supporting cast. A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas and the Patriots’ running backs provide several routes to passing production.
3. A.J. Brown, WR – Patriots
A.J. Brown gives New England an established No. 1 receiver capable of producing explosive plays and touchdowns.
Brown brings big-play ability, strength after the catch and scoring upside to a Patriots offense with several ways to attack opposing secondaries.
Seattle’s defense makes this a challenging opening matchup. Brown’s value comes from his combination of expected opportunity and game-breaking ceiling.
4. Sam Darnold, QB – Seahawks
Sam Darnold sits at the center of a Seattle offense with several high-upside receiving options.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba headlines the passing game, while Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, AJ Barner and Seattle’s other receivers provide complementary routes to production.
5. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB – Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson becomes one of the most important DFS pieces in the opener with TreVeyon Henderson ruled out.
Stevenson leads New England’s active backfield options, while Corey Kiner moves into greater relevance behind him.
Henderson’s absence removes a major source of competition for carries and receiving opportunities. Stevenson can also contribute as a receiver, giving him routes to production even if the Patriots increase their passing volume.
6. George Holani, RB – Seahawks
George Holani enters the opener as an important part of Seattle’s running back rotation.
Holani and rookie Jadarian Price are positioned to share the early workload while Zach Charbonnet begins the season on the physically unable to perform list.
Emanuel Wilson is also available after receiving no injury designation, adding another option to Seattle’s backfield.
7. Jadarian Price, RB – Seahawks
Jadarian Price is one of the most intriguing unknowns in the season opener.
Price is positioned to be part of the early backfield rotation alongside Holani. His first regular-season appearance will provide the first clear indication of how carries and high-value touches are divided.
8. Hunter Henry, TE – Patriots
Hunter Henry remains an important part of New England’s passing game and gives Maye an established target in the middle of the field.
The Patriots have added more receiving talent around him, which can make target distribution less predictable, but Henry retains value through red-zone opportunities.
9. AJ Barner, TE – Seahawks
AJ Barner enters Week 1 as one of Seattle’s key tight-end options.
Barner dealt with an oblique issue during Week 1 preparations but finished the practice week as a full participant and does not carry a game-status designation.
He does not need huge receiving volume to become useful in a single-game DFS contest. A handful of targets and a red-zone opportunity could be enough to provide value.
TreVeyon Henderson is out: what it means for Patriots DFS
Henderson will not play in the season opener because of his ankle injury. That removes one of New England’s primary running backs from the active offensive plan.
Stevenson has the clearest route to leading the Patriots in backfield touches, while Corey Kiner gains relevance with Henderson unavailable.
Stevenson should not automatically be treated as a guaranteed every-down back, but Henderson’s absence materially improves the clarity of his Week 1 role.
Kiner is more speculative but can enter deeper single-game builds where a lower-cost player with access to additional carries is useful.
Seattle injury situations to monitor
Seattle will be without safety Ty Okada, while Nick Emmanwori is questionable with an ankle injury.
Seattle’s safety situation is relevant to New England’s passing-game outlook, particularly if Emmanwori is also unavailable.
Receiver Tory Horton is questionable with a hamstring injury. His availability can influence Seattle’s secondary receiver rotation.
AJ Barner and Emanuel Wilson carry no game-status designation and are available for the opener.
Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed provide alternative Seattle routes
Seattle’s receiving options extend beyond Smith-Njigba.
Cooper Kupp provides an experienced possession option, while Rashid Shaheed brings the downfield speed capable of producing a large fantasy result on limited volume.
Both can work as secondary pieces in Darnold stacks. Shaheed offers the more volatile profile because much of his upside comes from explosive plays, while Kupp provides a different route through shorter and intermediate targets.
How to build Patriots vs Seahawks DFS lineups
Single-game contests reward correlation more heavily than a normal multi-game DFS slate.
A lineup built around Darnold can be paired with at least one of Smith-Njigba, Kupp, Shaheed or Barner. A Maye lineup can include Brown, Henry, Doubs or another New England pass catcher.
Stevenson can be used more confidently in builds that project New England to establish the run or generate repeated red-zone opportunities.
A lineup built around Seattle controlling the game can include one of Holani or Price, while a lineup projecting New England to play from behind naturally increases the appeal of Maye and his receivers.
It is not necessary for every lineup to contain both quarterbacks, but quarterbacks generally provide some of the most predictable involvement in a single-game contest.
Best Patriots vs Seahawks DFS stack combinations
Sam Darnold + Jaxon Smith-Njigba: The cleanest Seattle passing combination and one of the strongest correlations available in the game.
Drake Maye + A.J. Brown: New England’s highest-ceiling quarterback-receiver combination.
Drake Maye + Hunter Henry: A more salary-conscious Patriots combination with touchdown correlation.
Sam Darnold + Smith-Njigba + AJ Barner: A more aggressive Seattle passing build that spreads receiving production across multiple players.
Rhamondre Stevenson + Seattle pass catcher: A useful opposing-team construction for lineups projecting Stevenson to benefit from increased backfield work while Seattle generates production through the passing game.
Best value plays for Patriots vs Seahawks
Seattle’s running backs provide one of the clearest sources of potential value because Holani and Price are positioned to divide early backfield work.
Hunter Henry and AJ Barner provide additional ways to save salary at tight end while maintaining access to red-zone opportunities.
Corey Kiner also moves into the deeper value conversation for New England because Henderson is unavailable, although Stevenson remains the stronger and more predictable Patriots backfield option.
Salary differences between DFS operators can change which option represents the best value, so each player’s cost should be weighed against the role expected in the game.
More NFL Week 1 DFS coverage
Compare DFS platforms with the best DFS sites guide and check availability with the DFS state availability guide.
More opening-week analysis is available in the NFL Week 1 DFS value picks, Week 1 DFS stacks, Week 1 fantasy start/sit guide and Week 1 waiver wire guide.
Patriots vs Seahawks DFS FAQ
Who are the best Patriots vs Seahawks DFS picks?
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Drake Maye, A.J. Brown, Sam Darnold and Rhamondre Stevenson are among the strongest fantasy targets. George Holani, Jadarian Price, Hunter Henry and AJ Barner offer additional value depending on salary and lineup construction.
Is TreVeyon Henderson playing against the Seahawks?
No. Henderson has been ruled out of the Patriots’ Week 1 game against Seattle because of an ankle injury.
Does TreVeyon Henderson being out increase Rhamondre Stevenson’s value?
Yes. Henderson’s absence gives Stevenson a clearer path to leading New England’s backfield in carries and receiving opportunities. Corey Kiner also gains relevance behind him.
Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba a good DFS pick against New England?
Smith-Njigba is one of the strongest DFS options in the game because he enters the season as Seattle’s primary receiving weapon. His combination of expected volume and big-play ability gives him both floor and ceiling.
Should I use Drake Maye in Patriots vs Seahawks DFS?
Maye is one of the strongest quarterback options because he can produce fantasy points as both a passer and runner. His rushing ability provides another route to production even in a difficult matchup.
Should I use George Holani or Jadarian Price?
Both have fantasy appeal because Holani and Price are positioned to share Seattle’s early backfield workload. Holani offers the more established option, while Price carries upside as a rookie entering his first regular-season game. Salary and contest type can determine which is the better fit.
What is the best Patriots vs Seahawks DFS stack?
Sam Darnold with Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the most straightforward Seattle stack, while Drake Maye with A.J. Brown provides New England’s clearest high-ceiling quarterback-receiver combination.
Bottom line
Patriots-Seahawks provides a strong opening DFS slate because the premium plays are easy to identify while several backfield and secondary receiving roles create value opportunities.
Smith-Njigba and Maye offer two of the best combinations of volume and ceiling. Brown and Darnold are natural stacking pieces, while Stevenson gains substantial appeal with Henderson unavailable.
Seattle’s backfield remains one of the biggest sources of uncertainty. Holani and Price are both positioned for meaningful roles, with Emanuel Wilson also available behind them.
Tory Horton and Nick Emmanwori enter the game with questionable designations. DFS salaries and confirmed active players should be considered before contests lock.
By Edvina Kaminskaite
Owner and Editor, American Casino Sweeps
Edvina oversees American Casino Sweeps’ casino, sports and fantasy coverage, including guides explaining DFS formats, Pick’Em contests, state availability, account requirements and operator rules for US readers.
Sources
- New England Patriots – Week 1 Injury Report: Patriots at Seahawks
- New England Patriots – TreVeyon Henderson ruled out
- New England Patriots – 2026 initial 53-man roster
- Seattle Seahawks – Week 1 Injury Report: Seahawks vs Patriots
- Seattle Seahawks – 2026 depth chart
- Seattle Seahawks – 2026 roster and running back outlook
- NFL – Week 1 injury report
Published September 8, 2026 and updated September 9, 2026. DFS salaries, player availability, injuries and projected roles can change before contests lock. Fantasy analysis is informational and does not guarantee results.
