Sam Darnold threw for a massive 379 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions on 45 attempts in Week 3, finishing as fantasy football’s QB2. Our Seahawks, ranked 3rd in the NFL and 10th in offense, still came up short, falling 33-31 to the Commanders even with that kind of output. This loss stings, especially after seeing Darnold put up those kinds of numbers.
The Darnold Paradox: Big Numbers, Tough Loss
Darnold’s Week 3 performance was a flash, with plenty of upside for the season ahead. Over his two games played, he ranks 2nd in Adjusted Completion Percentage at 80% and 2nd in EPA per Dropback. That’s serious efficiency for our guy! But here’s the kicker: we still lost to the Commanders, a team whose defense is rated as the NFL’s worst by at least one expert, and they’ve allowed the 2nd-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks at 28.0 per game. So, while Darnold got his, you’ve gotta wonder why our 3rd-ranked team couldn’t close it out. We know what Sam can do individually. Now, we need to see that translate into Ws for the Emerald City!
Waiver Wire Shakers: Who Else Is Cooking?
Beyond our own QB, the waiver wire is heating up, and a few names are popping for fantasy. Take Marcus Mariota, for instance: Week 3 saw him throw for 3 touchdowns and zero interceptions against our very stalwart Seahawks defense, and he did it in rainy and windy conditions! That’s impressive, no matter how you slice it. He’s a veteran, averaging 15.7 fantasy points per game as a starter, and often ranks in the QB15-20 range. He offers a safe floor if you’re in a tight spot.
Then there’s Geno Smith. Not our guy anymore, but he’s QB16 through three games for the Jets. He ranks 2nd in Adjusted Completion Percentage and 11th in PFF Passing Grade, plus he’s 10th in Passing Yards. The Jets have seen a pleasant resurgence from him. And don’t sleep on Daniel Jones. He’s only QB29 through three weeks, but he’s faced three top-10 defenses. In Week 4, he gets the Commanders, that same “NFL’s worst defense” that gave up 2nd-most fantasy points. The Colts’ offense might be average, but Jones could still have a sneaky good week.
This early in the season, seeing Darnold flash elite numbers while the team still comes up short is a tough pill to swallow. We’ve seen the individual brilliance, but the collective W is what matters. The early trends are setting in, and we need to see Mike Macdonald and Brian Fleury get this team clicking on all cylinders. We’ve got the talent, let’s go out and prove it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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