Seahawks News
[the_ad id=”105842″]Seattle’s rookie wide receiver Tory Horton enters Week 1 as a player to watch. Horton, a fifth-round pick out of Colorado State (166th overall), earned the No. 3 wide receiver spot after a strong showing in camp and preseason. His full-practice status on Wednesday signals that he will likely be available when Seattle faces the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Sunday afternoon, marking his NFL debut. Horton’s rise adds intrigue to the Seahawks’ receiver depth behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.
Horton’s path has not been smooth. He missed early camp time after tweaking his ankle in preseason Week 2. Still, he returned to full practice and took over the No. 3 role once veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling was released. That suggests trust from the coaching staff and a path to snaps, even as a distant third in targets. His presence stabilizes the depth chart as Seattle shifts away from past leaders like Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, and Geno Smith.
With higher-profile targets in Smith-Njigba and Kupp, Horton likely slots into specific packages and route concepts early on. His consistent practice and slot placement show the team values his versatility and readiness to contribute. That may signal special teams work early in the year—team sources and camp reports indicated he has punt return experience. If Smith-Njigba or Kupp deal with injuries or fatigue, Horton could see expanded snaps and a chance to build a role in the offense.
Horton has sneaky DFS GPP value and deserves a stash in dynasty leagues or deeper redraft leagues. If he sees the field early and gets thrown to consistently, he could emerge as a viable midseason breakout candidate. If snaps remain heavily tilted toward the top two receivers, Horton becomes an expendable hold or shuttle candidate.
Seattle’s Week 1 game sets the tone. If Horton plays and contributes, keep an eye on his route run frequency and snap counts. He’s already beaten out several options for the WR3 job. And with Seattle emphasizing pre-snap motion and dynamic movement schemes, Horton’s agility and route versatility could be a good fit.
Seattle enters Week 1 with an overhauled offense. The departures of Lockett and Metcalf signal a need for new faces to step up and fill the void. Horton is carving a path. He already holds a spot behind trusted veterans. If he stays healthy and continues to practice well, he could factor into the passing game mix sooner than expected.
[the_ad id=”104525″]
