The Seattle Seahawks’ search for a number two receiver to take pressure off of Jaxon Smith-Njigba may end up landing on their number two running back. In Week 9’s win over the Cardinals, Jadarian Price became the first person not named JSN to lead the Seahawks in receiving yards.
While Seattle’s actual receivers and tight ends either a) fail to consistently present themselves as desirable targets and/or b) get injured, Price caught four passes for 54 yards against Arizona, which is more than Cooper Kupp has had in a game this season. It’s more than A.J. Barner has had in all but one game. And it’s more than Rashid Shaheed has had in all but one game.
This plot chart showing the game log for each of the Seahawks’ top five receiving options — plus Price — lays out a simple picture of how much more impactful the rookie running back was in his second game back from injury than practically any non-JSN receiver/TE on the team:
And to emphasize how much JSN has had to do, here’s the same plot chart with JSN’s yardage share attached to his graph:
Going into last week, JSN has had at least 45% of the team’s receiving yards in all but one game. He had over 50% in all but three games. Brian Fleury’s usage of Price in the passing game helped diversify Seattle’s passing offense for really the first time all season, which coach All-22 highlighted in a new video this week.
Of course, using a running back as a weapon in the passing game is a language that Fleury already speaks. It’s called McCaffrish.
Christian McCaffrey led the 49ers in targets, catches, and receiving yards in 2025
McCaffrey was injured in 2024
McCaffrey was fourth in targets/second in catches/fourth in yards/tied for first in touchdowns in 2023
This was Fleury’s training center and even if McCaffrey is a unique player who most likely won’t be duplicated with a running back who didn’t start in college, Price is actually quite similar on a chart: They’re both 5’11, they weighed almost the same at the combine, Price’s 40 was .01 slower, Price had a slightly longer broad jump, McCaffrey had a slightly higher vertical.
Price may not become a three-time first team All-Pro, but Fleury could bring some of those wrinkles he learned from McCaffrey with him to Seattle. It is not hard to imagine a scenario in which Price finishes second on the team in receiving yards despite missing four games and being a running back.
If Price has 200 receiving yards over the next four games, he will have 283. Kupp is currently at 238 and Barner is at 210. Shaheed is at 163 and is returning on Sunday after missing two games.
Kupp is averaging just 23 yards per game over the last six, as he’s struggling to produce yards per catch or target. Kupp may not have many more than 283 yards in a month, if at all. Prior to the Broncos game, Shaheed was only averaging 19 yards per game.
Seattle has eight games left. Could Price be regularly integrated into the offense with 4-6 targets per game? At that rate, he might finish over 400 receiving yards, which is shaping up to be second on the team. To be fair, Week 9 was the first time Price’s targets produced significant yardage, so this may be a fluke.
For the Seahawks’ sake — and for Fleury’s — let’s hope that it’s not.
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Here are your average answers thus far.
Seahawks 28, Raiders 10
(precisely: Seahawks 27.7, Raiders 9.6)
45.7% of you expect Seattle to hold Las Vegas to single digits, and that number goes up to 65.9% if I include submissions of exactly 10 points. Over 60% of you chose exactly 6 points, 10 points, or 13 points (these were tied as the most common answer.) Two people submitted 20 points for the Raiders, which is the most anyone expects.
I’m sure this is tied to the Raiders being the Raiders, but also Fernando Mendoza making his first career start. Would expectations have been this low when fans were hoping that Klint Kubiak would stay in Seattle to try and win another Super Bowl before taking a head coaching gig? The Raiders’ lowest scoring output this season is 17, which has happened twice.
The Seahawks have score 28+ points four times this season, but not since Week 5. Perhaps against the Las Vegas defense they can end that streak.
Drew Lock: 224 passing yards
Zach Charbonnet: 90 rushing yards
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 122 receiving yards
I’m not sure if we’ve ever hit our expectations for individual rushing yards and it could be tough this week. Charbonnet has had 90+ rushing yards only three times in his career and he’s sharing the backfield with Price. Six individuals have rushed for 90+ yards against Las Vegas this season, including both Rams running backs, so it’s certainly possible.
The tiebreaker question had 70 total yards (rushing+receiving only) for Price.
Second-most receiving yards: A.J. Barner (33.3%), Price (31.8%)
Barner narrowly edged out Price, with Tory Horton in a distant third. I’m sure none of us need to be reminded who the second and third highest-paid receivers on the team are.
First Seahawks TD: Charbonnet (51.2%), JSN (23.3%)
Interesting lead here for Charbonnet. I get it, but at the same time I have a hard time betting against the potential Offensive Player of the Year. We’ve rarely seen players catch 20 touchdowns but this could be one of those seasons.
Most Sacks: Byron Murphy (51.2%), Nick Emmanwori (15.5%)
It’s basically Murphy or the field? Especially with Leonard Williams out.
Force a TO: Julian Love (25.8%), Ernest Jones (21.7%)
I think an interception is likely. Mendoza was struggling to avoid negative plays in the preseason, when the game is faster than college but not nearly as fast as the regular season. It would just be such a relief to see Devon Witherspoon take advantage of his relatively easier matchups and intercept somebody.
OPOG: JSN, DPOG: Emmanwori, STPOG: Michael Dickson
Sleepers on defense could be Josh Jobe and Ty Okada, because of the likelihood of an interception. Although throwing down the middle in traffic could be opportunities for Seattle’s linebackers.
The added benefit Price brings as a receiving RB is his after the catch potential. Out in space he is a true weapon one on one with a LB or DB. I love his elusiveness. More Price as a receiving option. (And let’s throw in a few more carries as a running back as well)
I am sorry to see so many Seahawks podcasters throwing in the towel on the Hawks already this year. An even larger number of them seem to be feeling the possibility for Fleury to get canned in the bye week. Jeff Simmons and Rob Staton did a podcast a couple of days ago basically saying Fleury’s days are numbered and felt they would not be surprised if the Seahawks missed the playoffs entirely and if they made it, might only win one game.
I don’t think this team is that different than last year’s team personnel wise. Fleury just got RB1 and RB2 back. I feel the Seahawks could run over the rest of the schedule and finish 13 -4. They could take the division by beating the 49ers if the 49ers lose to the Chiefs and Rams as well as the Seahawks. If the NFC north beats up on one another, there’s still a chance 13 - 4 could get the #1 seed as well.
I know I’m a fan and not an expert, but this idea the season is over is not what I’m seeing. On that same Simmons/Staton podcast they threw out possibilities for the Seahawks at pick 17 in the first round. I’m still hoping for pick 32!