The Seattle Seahawks took running back Jadarian Price in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. Everyone knows this. What some might not have expected to read, though, is that one ESPN NFL insider believes Price should be a priority for fantasy leagues, too.
Jordan Reid of ESPN was tasked with predicting one rookie besides Price's Notre Dame teammate, Jeremyiah Love, who will win fantasy leagues in 2026. Reid said Price was the guy, while Matt Miller answered Carnell Tate of the Tennessee Titans.
To be sure, a productive running back should be taken before a wide receiver because the back, assuming he gets enough touches, will get points in more aspects of the game. The question about Price is how many catches he will get because he wasn't targeted very much in college.
ESPN believes fantasy football owners should draft new Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price
Reid wrote, "With Kenneth Walker III gone, Price steps into a huge void left in the Seahawks' offense. Price will not only be a threat running the ball, but he has shown that he's a versatile option as a pass catcher and return specialist, too."
That last part is key, too, but also questionable how much Seattle will use Price in that way. For one, risking the player on kick returns to injury would thwart his potential production as a running back. He is needed more at RB because the depth behind him is more iffy than what Rashid Shaheed has at wide receiver.
Shaheed is a proven elite at both returning kicks and punts, and the Seahawks will likely keep continuing having him do so. Where would Seattle have been without Shaheed's return ability in the second half of last season after the team acquired him from the New Orleans Saints?
Price might have the same kind of potential, but it might be too much of a gamble to have him play on special teams when he is so valuable to new offensive coordinator Brian Fluery's offense. Walker signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and Zach Charbonnet, maybe the resumed starter with Walker gone, tore his ACL in the playoffs and might not be ready until a bit into next season.
Plus, for fantasy football owners, Jordan Reid's suggestion that Jadarian Price fills a "huge void" for the Seattle Seahawks should get the rookie a lot of looks at running back. He probably can be more productive as a receiver than he had a chance to be in college, and his explosive runs will get fantasy owners wins.
The hope is that the same happens in real life, too, of course. Should Price be RB1 in Week 1, let's hope he has pass protection mastered and breaks off a few runs of 50 yards-plus. That would be even better than what happens in fantasy football.
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