Seahawks at Broncos Preview: Zach Charbonnet Sits Again and Denver's Secondary Is on the Injury Report

The Seattle Seahawks visit the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football to open Week 6, and both sides arrive with injury questions that shape the fantasy board. Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said the team does not plan to activate running back Zach Charbonnet from the physically unable to perform list for the game, so Emanuel Wilson and George Holani will handle the backfield again. Denver's first practice report listed cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga as non-participants, with cornerback Riley Moss limited.

Kickoff is 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video at Empower Field at Mile High. Seattle is a three-point road favorite at most books, with the total in the 41.5 to 42.5 range.

Where both teams stand

Seattle is 3-2 after a loss to San Francisco at Lumen Field in which Sam Darnold threw two more interceptions and the short-handed backfield lost two fumbles. The defending champions are now two games behind the 5-0 49ers in the NFC West, and ball security has become the dominant theme of their week.

Denver is also 3-2 after a 23-17 win over the winless Chargers. The Broncos' offense was flat again: Bo Nix completed 16 of 27 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, and admitted afterward that it was not his best game. J.K. Dobbins scored the opening touchdown on a 2-yard run. Sean Payton took play-calling duties back from offensive coordinator Davis Webb before that game, and Thursday is the second look at Payton's offense on a short week.

The injury report

Monday's estimated reports (Thursday games use estimates early in the week) showed these designations:

Updates come Tuesday and Wednesday, and Thursday's inactives are posted about 90 minutes before kickoff.

Seattle's backfield: Emanuel Wilson leads, Holani mixes in

Macdonald described Charbonnet's ramp-up on a short week as tricky, and the team chose patience. His next realistic chance to play is Week 7 against Kansas City on October 25, and his 21-day practice window closes next week, so the Seahawks will have to decide soon whether to activate him.

That leaves Emanuel Wilson as the most likely lead back, with George Holani as the change-of-pace option and Velus Jones available in spots. Nobody has published a reliable snap split for this group, and that is the problem for fantasy managers: Wilson is a volume-based flex in deeper leagues against a Denver defense that just held the Chargers to 17 points, while Holani is a desperation play only. With four teams on bye this week (Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami and Minnesota), some managers will need Wilson. Start him as a flex in 12-team leagues only if your alternatives are worse.

Charbonnet is the stash. If he is activated for Week 7, he projects to take over a large share of the work.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Denver secondary

Smith-Njigba scored his seventh touchdown of the season against the 49ers and remains the engine of Seattle's passing game. He was limited Monday with an ankle issue; the designation is worth watching but has not been described as serious.

The matchup turns on Denver's secondary. Surtain is one of the best cover corners in football, and if he sits along with Hufanga, Smith-Njigba's outlook improves significantly. If Surtain plays, Smith-Njigba is still a must-start WR1, but the ceiling comes down. Darnold is a lower-end QB2 given the turnover trend and a road game in Denver, with an upgrade if Surtain is ruled out.

Denver's offense is a fade until it proves otherwise

The Broncos have scored enough to win games but not enough to support many fantasy starters. Nix's 123-yard passing day limits every Denver receiver, and Dobbins' value comes mostly from goal-line work. Against the defending champions on a short week, the Broncos' passing game is a sit outside of Nix in superflex leagues.

Dobbins is a touchdown-dependent RB2/flex. The Broncos' defense is the best fantasy asset on the roster this week given Darnold's turnover streak, especially if Surtain plays.

Betting angle

The market opened with Seattle around a 2.5-point favorite and moved to a field goal, with Seattle around -155 on the moneyline. The total has come down from as high as 42.5 to 41.5 at some shops, and forecasts include a chance of rain and wind in Denver. That combination, two inconsistent offenses, a short week and weather, explains the low number.

The swing variable is Surtain. A Surtain absence is worth watching on Smith-Njigba's receiving yardage prop and could nudge the total upward. For Verdexed's full board, see the weekly picks at /blog/nfl-week-6-picks-2026 and the game page at NFL predictions.

Start/sit summary

Start: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR1), Broncos D/ST.

Flex: Emanuel Wilson in 12-team leagues if you are short at running back; J.K. Dobbins for touchdown upside.

Sit: Denver's receivers, George Holani, Sam Darnold in one-quarterback leagues unless Surtain is out.

Stash: Zach Charbonnet before his Week 7 activation window.