Game Info
Kickoff: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 8:20 PM ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Network: NBC
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Drake Maye: START (QB1)
Twice the Bridesmaid of the 2025 NFL season, Drake Maye is out to prove he’s more regular season Maye and less of that guy we saw in the postseason. However, starting 2026 with a Super Bowl Rematch is #notgreatbob. New England is in Seattle with one of the lowest implied game and team totals of the week against a Seahawks defense that was tops in the league last season and ate the Pats o-line for lunch in said Super Bowl. The addition of A.J. Brown keeps Maye startable in all formats, but you may have a better matchup-based option in 1QB leagues.
Running Back
Rhamondre Stevenson: START (RB2)
TreVeyon Henderson: OUT
Corey Kiner: SIT
One of the worst fantasy matchups for running backs in 2025, Seattle held Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson to a combined 42 rushing yards in Super Bowl LX. Stevenson is the guy in the Pats backfield as long as Henderson is out and will be a volume-based RB2 more often than not, even in a difficult matchup like this. Corey Kiner is an interesting name to keep an eye on, but shouldn’t be rostered anywhere just yet.
Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown: START (WR1)
Romeo Doubs: SIT
DeMario Douglas: SIT
I’ve kept it no secret that A.J. Brown is one of my favorite receivers this season, including one of my four wide receiver Flag Plants. But he very well could start the season off with a stinker. The Seahawks’ dominant defense was a bottom-five matchup for receivers last season, holding opposing passing offenses to a league-low 6.8 average depth of target. Brown has the talent to break one for a long touchdown, but volume alone should keep Brown in the top 12.
Tight End
Hunter Henry: SIT
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages! QB List proudly presents to you the first usage of tHe gLoB glossary term for the 2026 season!
The Glob
(/ðə ɡlɑːb/)
Etymology: Derived from the Middle English globboxing (to swallow greedily) and the Anglo-Saxon glop (a slurry or muddled mass).
Definition:
1. A modest, albeit dependable, allotment of offensive labor bestowed upon a peripheral gridiron gladiator (most commonly a tight end of secondary rank or an obscure third-string pass-catcher).
2. A meager feast of athletic fortune, typically comprising a small handful of intended passes, three or four completions, and a sum of yards not exceeding two score (40).
3. A low-tier tight end averaging around four targets, two catches, and 30-ish yards per game, whom a desperate manager starts strictly in the hope that they luck into a touchdown.
16th-Century Usage: “Hark! The starting tight end hath broken his ankle-bone. Fetch forth young Master Higbee from the bench, for the hour is upon us… nay, ’tis Globberin’ Time.”
Defense/Special Teams
New England Patriots: SIT
The first game to kick off the season AT SEATTLE, celebrating the Super Bowl victory the Seahawks had over the Pats a few months ago? No thanks.
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Sam Darnold: SIT, QB2 (Startable in Superflex)
I would really rather not start Sam Darnold in any league if possible, but if you have him as your 2nd quarterback in Superflex leagues, he’s an ok start. The Patriots only allowed multiple touchdown passes seven times in the 2025 regular season, and Darnold could only find the end zone once in the Super Bowl. Darnold’s a desperation SF play, nothing more.
Running Back
Jadarian Price: FLEX (RB3)
George Holani: SIT
Emanuel Wilson: SIT
Until we see how the touches are divided between Jadarian Price, George Holani, and Emanuel Wilson (new nickname idea: EW), starting any Seahawks back is a huge gamble. New England was one of the toughest matchups for opposing running backs last season, leading me to sit all these fellas right on the fantasy bench for Week 1.
Wide Receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: START (WR1)
Rashid Shaheed: SIT
Cooper Kupp: SIT
You start Jaxon Smith-Njigba each and every week that he’s on the field, but he too could start the 2026 season slow. JSN went toe-to-toe with Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez in Super Bowl XL and was held to four catches for 27 yards. I wouldn’t be shocked to see JSN get his lick back and go off, but his floor is a little lower than we’re used to. Start him anyway. I’m not interested in starting Rashid Shaheed or Cooper Kupp, however.
Tight End
AJ Barner: SIT
I like AJ Barner as a deep sleeper at tight end this season, but in an expected low-scoring game, I’m not ready to start him as a streamer just yet.
Defense/Special Teams
Seattle Seahawks: START
Their nickname is “The Dark Side”. Do you really need anything more than that?