SEATTLE ADDS SPEED WEAPON
Rashid Shaheed traded from Saints to Seahawks - Nov 5, 2025
Rashid Shaheed to Seahawks
Fantasy WR Depth Chart Shakeup Analysis
Seahawks acquire speedster Rashid Shaheed from Saints at trade deadline. How does this impact fantasy values for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and breakout rookie Tory Horton? Complete target share analysis and Week 10 start/sit recommendations.
Trade Breakdown
The Deal
Seahawks Receive: WR Rashid Shaheed
Saints Receive: 2026 4th-round pick, 2026 6th-round pick
📊 Shaheed 2025 Stats (Saints)
- • 32 receptions on 51 targets (8 games)
- • 589 receiving yards (18.4 yards per catch)
- • 6 touchdowns
- • 11.8 PPR points per game
- • Elite deep-ball specialist (20+ yard catches leader)
Why Seahawks Made This Trade
Seahawks view themselves as playoff contenders and needed a deep-ball threat. Shaheed's 18.4 yards per catch fits perfectly with Geno Smith's improved deep-ball accuracy. Seattle offense ranked 12th in passing but lacked explosive plays.
Rashid Shaheed: WR3/Flex with Big-Play Upside
Fantasy Outlook
Shaheed joins a much better offense with competent QB play. Geno Smith is a significant upgrade over Derek Carr for supporting vertical threats. Reunited with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (they were together in New Orleans in 2024).
✓ Positives
- • Better QB (Geno > Carr)
- • Familiar OC (Kubiak reunion)
- • Fewer defenders in box
- • Elite big-play ability
✗ Concerns
- • Crowded WR room
- • Learning new system mid-season
- • May be WR3 only
- • TD dependent for fantasy value
📈 Week 10+ Projection
Target Share: 12-15% (4-5 targets per game)
Fantasy Ranking: WR35-45 (WR3/Flex)
Ceiling Games: 100+ yards, TD = WR2 week
Floor Games: 2-3 catches, 40 yards = WR5
🎯 Start/Sit Recommendation
FLEX PLAY: Start in Week 10 bye-week emergencies or favorable matchups. Boom-or-bust profile makes him risky as weekly starter. Best used in DFS tournaments for upside.
Tory Horton: Value Tanks, Path Blocked
The Bad News
Horton was trending up as Seattle's breakout rookie WR before this trade. He posted 80+ yards in back-to-back games and was earning 60%+ route participation. Shaheed's arrival likely caps his ceiling significantly.
📉 Impact on Horton
- • Drops from WR3 to WR4 on depth chart
- • Route participation likely under 50%
- • Target share drops from 15% to 8-10%
- • No clear path to consistent fantasy value
Depth Chart Impact
Before Trade: 1. JSN → 2. Kupp → 3. Horton
After Trade: 1. JSN → 2. Shaheed → 3. Kupp → 4. Horton
Horton falls to WR4 in Seattle's pecking order, making him un-startable in fantasy.
🚫 Drop Candidate
VERDICT: Safe to drop in 10-team and 12-team leagues. Only hold in deep 14+ team leagues if you have bench space. Horton's breakout dreams are over for 2025.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: WR2 Status Safe
The Good News
JSN is the engine of Seattle's passing offense. His role as the primary slot receiver and Geno Smith's most trusted target is secure. Shaheed operates outside, so minimal overlap in routes.
✓ Why JSN is Safe
- • Different role (slot vs outside)
- • Geno's most trusted target (28% target share)
- • Route participation stays 90%+
- • PPR volume machine (8+ targets per game)
📊 JSN Rest-of-Season Outlook
Target Share: 26-28% (maintains current level)
Fantasy Ranking: WR12-18 (solid WR2)
Weekly Floor: 7 catches, 80 yards = 15 PPR points
TD Upside: 4-6 TDs rest of season (5-catch pace)
🔒 Lock-and-Load WR2
VERDICT: Start with confidence every week. JSN is a set-and-forget WR2 with WR1 upside in PPR formats. Shaheed's arrival doesn't change this.
Cooper Kupp: Slight Downgrade to WR3/Flex
The Reality Check
Kupp was already trending toward WR3 territory before this trade. He's 32 years old, dealing with lingering injuries, and losing snaps. Shaheed's arrival likely takes 2-3 targets per game away from Kupp.
⚠️ Kupp Concerns
- • Target share drops from 22% to 18-20%
- • Age 32, injury history catching up
- • Route participation declining (75% → 70%)
- • Now the WR3 in Seattle's offense
📉 Kupp Rest-of-Season Projection
Target Share: 18-20% (down from 22%)
Fantasy Ranking: WR30-40 (low-end WR3/Flex)
Weekly Projection: 5 catches, 55 yards, 0.3 TDs
Risk Level: High (injury history, age, declining role)
⚠️ Flex Play Only
VERDICT: Downgrade from WR2 to WR3/Flex. Start only in favorable matchups or bye-week emergencies. Consider trading if you can get WR2 value before his decline becomes obvious to league mates.
Seattle WR Target Share Projections (Week 10+)
| Player | Before Trade | After Trade | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 28% | 26-28% | → Stable |
| Cooper Kupp | 22% | 18-20% | ↓ -2 to -4% |
| Tory Horton | 15% | 8-10% | ↓ -5 to -7% |
| Rashid Shaheed | — | 12-15% | ↑ NEW |
📝 Analysis Notes
Shaheed's 12-15% target share primarily comes from Tory Horton (5-7%) and Cooper Kupp (2-4%). JSN's role as primary slot receiver remains unchanged. Seattle runs 11 personnel (3 WR) on 65% of snaps, so all four WRs will see field time, but Horton's snaps drop significantly.
Week 10 Start/Sit Recommendations
✓START with Confidence
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Set-and-forget WR2 every week
✗SIT / Bench
- Tory Horton
Drop candidate, no fantasy value
⚠️ Matchup-Dependent Flexes
- Rashid Shaheed: Flex in bye-week emergencies or favorable matchups (vs bottom-10 secondaries)
- Cooper Kupp: WR3/Flex only. Bench if you have better options.
Evaluate Your Seahawks WRs
Use our AI-powered trade analyzer to see if you should trade Cooper Kupp now before his value drops further, or acquire Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a stable WR2.
Analyze Trade NowData Sources: Trade details verified from ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports. Target share projections based on Pro Football Focus route participation data, Next Gen Stats target distribution, and historical WR depth chart analysis.
Published: November 6, 2025. Trade completed November 5, 2025.