Seattle’s 2025 cap narrative centers on rookie contracts as the backbone. Rookie deals take up 18.4% of the cap in 2025, with 41 of 53 Seahawks players on rookie deals, and cap space higher than most teams. Yet dead money from exits like Metcalf, Geno Smith, Dre'Mont Jones, and Tyler Lockett casts a cloud over 2024 departures, while the core rookies Cross, Abe Lucas, Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba lay groundwork for a cost-controlled future that could pay dividends in fantasy upside as the roster matures.

Protector of the Year debuts in 2025, naming the NFL’s top blockers. Penei Sewell leads at +600, Lane Johnson at +650, and Trent Williams at +800, with a clear tilt toward tackles as the marquee protectors. The Lions’ line is highlighted for its recent dominance, Sewell cited as the standout among the early favorites. Creed Humphrey stands out as the lone interior lineman among the top odds, underscoring a likely edge-role bias. For fantasy, elite protection often buys time for quarterbacks and opens running lanes, quietly powering scoring beyond obvious skill-position stars.

Odds shift as proponents expect tackles to hog the spotlight, though interior linemen like Humphrey could spike if a team prioritizes center play. The piece also flags FanDuel promos and reminders about responsible gambling. In fantasy terms, the strongest offensive lines tend to stabilize offenses, boosting QB longevity and efficiency, which can translate into steadier receivers and more reliable RB production.

Seattle’s preseason showcase suggested a fortified run game for 2025, as the Seahawks rolled 268 rushing yards on a rainy Week 2 night, with 120 yards coming across two drives and 77 before contact. The starting five of Josh Jones, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford and Abraham Lucas paved the way even without Charles Cross and Olu Oluwatimi, while yielding only one pressure in that stretch.

Five Seattle players logged 30+ rushing yards, signaling a deep and productive ground attack, paired with a clean 17-of-21 passing for 209 yards and two Jake Bobo scores. Bradford stood out, delivering six positive grades on 13 run blocks and remaining unscathed in 6 pass-blocking snaps, putting him on pace for elite overall grading pending final review.

The Chiefs rested several starters but still fielded a seasoned defense, and rookie Josh Simmons kept clean in pass protection. PFF’s postgame review and the early data snapshot point to Seattle’s offensive line and run scheme carrying momentum into the regular season, with Bobo expanding the aerial threat and Bradford anchoring the interior protection.

Kansas City rests a cluster of veterans in Week 2 of the preseason against Seattle, clearing a path for depth players and late-round prospects to audition behind Hollywood Brown, Briningstool, Deon Bush, Janarius Robinson, Ethan Driskell, and Kareem Hunt. Seattle mirrors the strategy, listing Olu Oluwatimi, Josh Ross, Charles Cross, Kenny McIntosh, Johnathan Hankins, Uchenna Nwosu, and Tyrice Knight as not expected to play. In such games, the fantasy angles shift toward the players fighting for backups, special-teams roles, and breakout opportunities in a game-script that emphasizes depth over stars.

With Brown and Hunt sidelined, Chiefs reps at wideout and backfield become more unpredictable, elevating backup receivers and rotational backs into potential late-round fantasy dice rolls. Seattle’s inactive list creates a similar vacuum along the offensive line and linebacking corps, where a few veterans could be eased in or pushed to star in a run-heavy, evaluative environment. Those watching for fantasy return value should focus on the depth chart movers who flash in extended opportunities, as preseason reps often foreshadow emerging roles come the regular season.

Keep in mind preseason inactives are subject to change and aren’t formalized the same way as regular-season lists. Rosters and playing time can shift an hour before kickoff, underscoring the value of quickly updating projections as the game unfolds.

Bradford’s run as Seattle’s right guard is being scrutinized as the franchise moves toward the 2025 season. Nine losses clocked over the past two campaigns are traced to Bradford’s performances, with blame assigned squarely to his play in key moments. The piece frames the question: if Bradford remains the presumed starter, how bleak could the outlook be for a team hoping to compete in a tough NFC West?

The analysis highlights a pattern of high-pressure games and late-game misplays, connecting Bradford’s pass protection issues to the Seahawks’ inability to close out drives and protect leads. It also notes the front office’s recent draft emphasis on interior line talent, juxtaposing Bradford’s continued role with the addition of multiple guards. The takeaway for fantasy managers: Bradford’s trajectory will heavily influence Seattle’s offensive efficiency and, by extension, the value of surrounding skill players in 2025.