The offseason is over, the batteries are recharged, and it's time to get cranking on those 2026 championships. Welcome back for year 32 of the Eyes of the Guru. Continuing with tradition, we'll be kicking off this year's series with the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
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Before we delve into this endeavor, let me remind everyone that Footballguys, along with much of the industry, has adopted the True Position format. Simply put, True Position improves the IDP game for everyone involved by solving the positional designation dilemma once and for all. The simple adjustment is that all edge defenders will be considered defensive ends. This will include 4-3 defensive ends, 3-4 outside linebackers, and anyone else in the new hybrid schemes of today's NFL who makes a living by chasing quarterbacks off the edge. Likewise, the defensive tackle position will include all interior defensive linemen in 4-3 schemes and all down linemen in 3-4 alignments. As a result of this approach, we have eliminated the constant arguments and flip-flopping of positions among these players.
Keep in mind that, based on scoring systems, rankings will vary (sometimes greatly) from league to league. For reference, when mentioning players' rankings, the model will use the standard Footballguys scoring system. This is the basic stuff:
- Tackles = 1.5
- Assists = .75
- Sacks = 4
- Forced fumbles = 3
- Fumble recoveries = 3
- Interceptions = 4
- Passes defended = 1.5
- Touchdowns = 6
To ensure that we are speaking the same language, the term "total tackles" refers to combined tackles and assists, while a reference to "takeaways" includes interceptions, fumble recoveries, and forced fumbles. The term "splash plays" or "big plays" will include turnovers and sacks.
From time to time, the rookie corner rule will be referenced. For those who are new to IDP or the EOTG, the rookie corner rule is the basic fact that in the NFL, starting a rookie on the corner is like throwing chum to the sharks. Offensive coordinators will target young and inexperienced players as a weakness; thus, these guys have an accelerated number of opportunities. Often, these players are the cream of the crop at the position (which is why they are starting so soon), and their numbers will begin to drop steadily after their rookie seasons.
Now that the setup is complete, let's get back in the saddle and get this thing rolling!
An Overview of the Seattle Seahawks Defense
We have all heard the cliché that offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. This has never been more true than with last year's Seahawks. This unit was elite. With 18 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries, their 25 takeaways ranked sixth, and their 47 sacks were seventh. Seattle allowed a league-best 3.7 yards per carry on the ground, and their 6 yards per pass attempt led the league as well. All of that contributed to the most important number of 16.9, which is the average points per game this unit allowed, also a league best.
Everyone wants a piece of a winner, so champions usually struggle to keep the band together. Free agency took a toll on this group as well, though it could have been much worse. Edge defender Boye Mafe signed with Cincinnati, safety Coby Bryant left for Chicago, and corner Riq Woolen will be suiting up for Philadelphia.
Mafe had the worst year of his career in 2025. The free agent addition of Dante Fowler Jr to fill that spot in the rotation might be a bit of an upgrade. It will not be as easy to fill the void in the secondary, particularly the loss of Woolen. That said, there was good depth at those positions a year ago, and the team used four draft picks on the back end of the defense, including second- and third-rounders. This should be a very good unit again in 2026.
Seattle Seahawks Defensive Linemen
When a defense tallies 47 sacks, there is usually at least one highly productive fantasy target among their edge group. That is not the case here. This was a true team effort with 16 players contributing to the total while no one put up more than seven.
DeMarcus Lawrence was the best fantasy option of the group. His final rank inside the top 20, however, is a bit misleading. At 24-29-6, his numbers were respectable. It is the six turnovers and a pair of scores that boost his overall points. The only other time he contributed six turnovers was in 2017, and Lawrence has not exceeded six sacks in a season since 2018. He turned 34 in April and is nearing the end of a solid career. For IDP purposes, Lawrence is worth a shot as depth in twelve-team leagues starting two.
One big issue that holds down the fantasy value of all Seattle edge defenders is opportunity. Lawrence led the group with 626 snaps in 2025. Uchenna Nwosu, who is the starter opposite Lawrence, finished the season tied for the team lead with seven sacks on 593 plays. Mafe and Derick Hall each had two sacks on 562 and 420 plays, respectively.
Uchenna has some potential. He was 42-24-9 with five turnovers in 2022 before an injury in 2023 derailed his value. He produced 35 total tackles last season. Unless he finds a path to 750+ snaps, he has no path to fantasy value.
While the edge guys have little to offer IDP managers, the interior positions give us plenty. With 62 total tackles and 7 sacks, Leonard Williams was sixth in stops, tied for fifth in sacks last year, and made the top ten among tackles for the fifth time in the last six seasons. He is 32 years old but shows no signs of slowing down yet.
Williams is joined at the outside tackle position in Seattle's base 3-4 by Byron Murphy II. At age 23, Murphy is a much younger clone of Williams. Interestingly, Murphy's numbers were exactly the same at 62 total stops and 7 sacks, though more of his tackle numbers were of the assist variety.
Both of these players are highly mobile big men with a knack for disrupting with penetration up the middle. Just as important to IDP managers as their talent, these guys don't come off the field much. Williams logged 812 snaps last season and Murphy 796. The age factor adds a little more value to Murphy from the dynasty format perspective, but either of these players will make a solid DT1 for our lineups this year.
Jarran Reed rounds out the starting lineup at the nose tackle position. He has the physical skills and potential to be productive for us. The problem is that Seattle pulls the nose tackle in nickel situations to get an extra defensive back on the field. If either Williams or Murphy misses time, however, Reed could slide out to tackle and fill in nicely. \ \ \ \ \
- Edge DeMarcus Lawrence – Depth in 12-team leagues starting two
- Edge Uchenna Nwosu – Worth keeping an eye on
- Edge Dante Fowler Jr – No grand expectations
- Edge Derick Hall – Has some potential but is short on opportunity
- DT Leonard Williams – Solid DT1
- DT Byron Murphy II – Solid DT1 with top-five potential
- NT Jarran Reed – Injury sleeper
- DT Rylie Mills – No impact expected
- DT Mike Morris – No impact expected
- NT Deven Eastern – Developmental rookie