FanDuel NFL DFS Picks for Seahawks vs. Patriots Single-Game Slate: Is JSN Too Expensive For The MVP Slot?

Our first DFS slate of the 2026 fantasy season is here, as we get a Super Bowl 60 rematch on Wednesday (??) night. This season, I'll be covering the single-game slates on FanDuel, starting with my FanDuel NFL DFS Picks for Seahawks vs. Patriots.

As a note for those dipping into the FanDuel single-game streets for the first time, they changed their format to match DK last season—a 1.5x multiplier for the MVP slot, with player salaries also costing 1.5x as much if you want to use them in your MVP slot. With a $60,000 salary to fill out six lineup spots, you're allocated an average of $10,000 per lineup slot, something to be mindful of when selecting your MVP and FLEX positions.

Let's dive into how I'm approaching Wednesday's SEA vs. NE matchup.

Seahawks vs. Patriots FanDuel NFL DFS Single-Game Picks For Wednesday

FanDuel MVP Picks For SEA vs. NE Single-Game Slate

I'm not looking to get cute on FanDuel in the MVP slot on this slate. As a three-max player and not an MME player, there are only two players I am honing in on as my MVP picks tonight, with the latter being my strong preference.

Drake Maye (QB, NE) - $18,600: Maye opens the 2026 season with the same matchup he saw the last time he stepped on a football field in a meaningful game, as he registered 19.5 FD points on 295 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns (with 37 rushing yards) in a Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks in February. This also accounted for three turnovers (2 INTs, 1 FL), showcasing how strong his floor is in fantasy. While this game isn't likely to be a massive shootout, Maye brings a high floor to the game given his dual-threat ability and the addition of a legit alpha WR1 in A.J. Brown. Despite a tough opening draw, he's got another offseason under his belt with Josh McDaniels, upgrades across the offense (Brown, Romeo Doubs) and the highest floor on the slate. You'll have to pay, but in half-PPR where WRs are pushed down a touch, Maye will likely be the most popular MVP on the slate.

Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, NE) - $15,000: If looking to save money (a significant $3,600) in the MVP slot, Stevenson is the guy. The Patriots have virtually zero depth behind him (UDFA Corey Kiner is tonight's RB2) with TreVeyon Henderson sidelined. While he didn't get any action in 2025 with Henderson sidelined, Stevenson posted 16.7, 15.8 and 24.7 half-PPR points in the three regular-season games with a Utilization Score of at least 78 last season. Given the workload on tap, it's hard to imagine a Utilization Score under 80+ tonight. Given the half-PPR scoring and massive price discount, I'm fine overlooking a tough matchup and prioritizing Stevenson as my MVP1 on the slate.

FLEX Picks For SEA vs. NE Single-Game Slate on FanDuel

Before I get into a handful of FLEX players I am prioritizing in my three-max builds, one important note: If I am playing Stevenson in the MVP slot, Maye will be a lock in my FLEX positions, and vice-versa. If you get off the board and fade both of those players in your MVP slot, I strongly suggest locking both into your FLEX positions.

Additionally, Sam Darnold (QB, SEA, $11,600) provides a strong floor as a QB on a single-game slate, and while I make it a priority to get both quarterbacks into my lineups on single-game slates, he would be the QB I am willing to fade if I choose to fade one in any of my three lineups tonight.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, SEA) - $13,000: JSN is the most expensive player on the slate by $600 and outprices both quarterbacks. That said, it's justified, even in a tough one-on-one matchup with freshly paid CB Christian Gonzalez. No WR sniffed the utilization Smith-Njigba saw last season (36% target share, 32% TPRR, 94 UR), and it's not like the Seahawks did anything to add competition around him in the room of pass catchers. With Jake Bobo and Tory Horton sidelined, this is an ultra-thin WR room, and JSN should be peppered early and often. He will make at least 1 of my 3 lineups, and the only reason he wouldn't make more is because of potential salary constraints.

A.J. Brown (WR, NE) - $10,800: In a vacuum, JSN is the better play in this game. That said, tiering down to Brown saves you a valuable $2,200 for a four-point Xfinity Best ceiling projection drop (21.5 for JSN, 17.5 for Brown). We know that Maye has a beautiful deep ball, and we saw Brown return to his alpha ways in terms of his underlying metrics as the 2025 season went on. He's the type of wide receiver that doesn't need 10+ targets to break a slate, and in FanDuel's half-PPR scoring, I want to bet on a few splash plays and a touchdown with a Maye-Brown stack in at least one of my lineups at a significant ownership discount on JSN.

Hunter Henry (TE, NE) - $7,600: Henry finds himself in an awkward mid-tier of the pricing scale, but he's easily the most attractive option in this range. The added target competition may take from his overall volume ceiling, but he should maintain a significant role in the red zone, where he posted a 17% end-zone target share in 2025. As 3.5-point road dogs, the Patriots could be passing more, and I'll take the $600 discount with Henry over their WR2 in Romeo Doubs.

Jason Myers (K, SEA) - $6,400: Kickers tend to be high-floor plays in single-game contests, and Myers comes in as a home favorite with a 24-point team total. He scored at least 10 fantasy points in 13 games last season, providing one of the safest floors on the slate outside of the top overall options.

George Holani (RB, SEA) - $5,000: Holani feels like a bit of a speculative play in the Seattle RB room, but the buzz out of camp is that he'll mix in for the high-value touches on third downs and in goal-line situations. Both of those, especially the latter, are not only difficult to come by at such a suppressed salary, but also insanely valuable on a half-PPR site like FanDuel where touchdowns carry more weight. Holani is my favorite value play on the slate, and if he's able to punch in a goal-line carry (or even TWO!), he might be the skeleton key to a massive day.

Other players I will be mixing into my FLEX positions: Jadarian Price (RB, SEA, $9,200), Andy Borregales (K, NE, $6,200), DeMario Douglas (WR, NE, $3,800)

Underweight/Fade positions (these players are a combination of either too expensive, not projecting well, or don't fit the builds that I like): Romeo Doubs (WR, NE, $8,200), Rashid Shaheed (WR, SEA, $7,200), Seahawks DST ($6,800)