New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye faces a challenging matchup against the Seattle Seahawks defense during a Wednesday night game, according to game previews. The contest marks the first meaningful game Maye has ever played with new top-two WRs A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, with fantasy experts noting they must collide with a Seattle unit that brings back nine of 11 starters from a previous campaign where they gave up the league’s ninth-fewest quarterback fantasy points alongside a minimum 6.0 pass-attempt yard average and 47 sacks, which landed them seventh overall.
Quarterback Outlook and Defensive Challenges
According to team data, the Seattle defense yielded the NFL’s ninth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks last season while racking up 47 sacks, which ranked seventh in the league. Due to this imposing matchup, analysts suggest exploring streamer QBs like Baker Mayfield (@ CIN) and Tyler Shough (@ DET) over Maye this week.
Backfield Usage and Efficiency Expectations
In the New England backfield, reports gathered from team beat writers indicate that Rhamondre Stevenson successfully fended off TreVeyon Henderson to secure the primary running back responsibilities all through the preseason. Projections place Stevenson at 15 touches and Henderson at seven touches against Seattle. Mike Macdonald’s intricate blitz packages could cause TreVeyon’s difficulties in pass protection to result in a reduction of playing time for Henderson. Furthermore, efficiency may be hard to come by; the 2025 Seattle defense limited opponents to 3.7 yards per carry—the lowest mark in the league—while also surrendering the fewest fantasy points to running backs across the entire NFC.
Did you know? Having surrendered the NFL’s ninth-fewest fantasy points to signal-callers and a league-best 6.0 yards per pass attempt, alongside totaling 47 sacks (good for seventh in the league), Seattle’s defensive unit brings back nine out of 11 starters from last year.
Pass Catchers: Brown, Doubs, and Henry
A.J. Brown showed some signs of decline in Philly last season but drew rave reviews at Patriots training camp. Analysts point out that Maye represents by far the most talented quarterback Brown has ever played alongside in the NFL, though he encounters a stern test against a formidable opponent; last year’s Seahawks surrendered the league’s second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, anchored by Devon Witherspoon, who captured the No. 1 cornerback grade from PFF among 114 players meeting the minimum qualifications. With Brown at X, Romeo Doubs profiles as New England’s Z receiver with DeMario Douglas manning the slot, though since Patriots OC Josh McDaniels favors wideout committees, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams figure to sporadically rotate in.
At tight end, Hunter Henry will open the season as an every-down tight end after appearing on 77% of New England’s 2025 offensive snaps and landing a two-year, $16 million extension in August. While third-round rookie Eli Raridon generated August plaudits, Macdonald’s defense funnels targets to the middle of the field, where Henry runs his routes, positioning him as a fringe TE1/2 option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who starts at running back for New England?
Based on the shared observations of New England beat reporters, Rhamondre Stevenson maintained a firm grip on the starting running back job by holding off TreVeyon Henderson throughout the entirety of training camp.
How did Seattle’s defense perform against the pass last season?
After giving up the NFL’s ninth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and a league-minimum 6.0 yards per pass attempt last season while compiling 47 sacks (good for seventh in the league), Seattle brings back nine out of 11 starters.
What is the projected game total for Wednesday night?
I’m taking the under on this game’s 44.5-point total.
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