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Fantasy Football: Seattle Seahawks' defense is suffocating wide receivers

No other NFL team has given up fewer fantasy football points against the wide receiver position so far this season.
Sep 7, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) stands outside the tunnel during player introductions against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field.
Sep 7, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) stands outside the tunnel during player introductions against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field. | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

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So far the Seattle Seahawks have played two tough and talented teams on their schedule. They couldn't quite close the deal against the San Francisco 49ers, but they were dominant against the Pittsburgh Steelers for most of that matchup and came out with a win. What they're doing best of all is shutting down other teams defensively, especially opposing wide receivers.

According to the latest fantasy football data at ESPN, the Seahawks have allowed fewer points to wide receivers than any other team in the NFL going into Week 3. Needless to say, that's bad news for the visiting New Orleans Saints and their receiver corps.

ESPN on Seahawks vs. WRs

"With two weeks in the books, the Seahawks have allowed the fewest fantasy points to receivers, including the second fewest to the perimeter. Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and the rest of the New Orleans wide receiver room should be downgraded against Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon (if he returns from injury) and Josh Jobe."

Josh Jobe
Dec 1, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) makes a catch as Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) defends during the second half at MetLife Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Jobe has been the surprise star on the back end of Seattle's defense so far, allowing a passer rating of zero through two games. Witherspoon sat out against the Steelers and Woolen has been a shadow of himself thus far.

The Seahawks secondary may be shorthanded again on Sunday against the Saints. While it won't help, it also probably won't make huge difference. The real reason why Seattle is allowing such little production to wide receivers is their ridiculous pressure rate, which is just under 50%.

The Seahawks are also getting all that pressure without having to send extra pass rushers, heading into this week with the second-lowest blitz rate in the league.

While it's going to be really hard to sustain a pressure rate that high for the entire season, we should probably expect more of the same this week. PFF has the 49ers ranked second in pass blocking and the Steelers 18th. The Saints come into Week 3 ranked 16th in PFF's pass-blocking grades.


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Tim Weaver
TIM WEAVER

Tim Weaver has been writing about the NFL since the 2013 season for multiple teams and outlets, including USA Today and The Sporting News. He currently covers the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers for On SI.