Dalton Schultz or Emanuel Wilson: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Schultz’s steady receiving role outweighs Wilson’s matchup upside

Wilson’s 21-carry Week 2 surge is the strongest argument against Schultz, but it came after Price left; Sports Illustrated (Seahawks On SI) 2026-09-21 reports Wilson became the lead back in that situation. Schultz’s projection edge is small, yet his high-volume pass-catching role and 25% target share give him a steadier path to points than Wilson’s rotational workload. Wilson has the softer matchup and the higher team total, but his matchup edge is based on a two-game sample with zero confidence, and the call depends on his touches climbing again.

What flips it: Another Price absence that leaves Wilson with the lead-back workload.

Sources: Sports Illustrated (Seahawks On SI) · Sep 21, 2026

AI editor

In standard and half-PPR scoring this is a coin flip.

Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz

TE21HOUvs IND

Projected Points

Start
Emanuel Wilson

Emanuel Wilson

RBSEAvs WSH

Projected Points

Toss-Up· low

Dalton Schultz’s market

REC
O/U 5.5
+103 / -132
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 50.5
-110 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+195
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Emanuel Wilson’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+220
Anytime Touchdown Props →
HOU@
INDSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
SEA@
WSHSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Dalton Schultz

Start

TE1 in high-volume pass-catching role. Reliable chain-mover over the middle with sure hands.

Start — TE21 consensus, projects TE15 this week: IND is the 10th-softest matchup vs TEs, 25% target share.

  • His sure-handed chain-moving role gives you a route to catches that doesn’t depend on a touchdown.
  • A 25% target share supports a steadier floor than a rotational back with little passing-game work.

Latest on Schultz

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Emanuel Wilson

Toss-Up· low

RB3 and rotational depth back. Compact, downhill runner with modest passing-game usage behind the top two backs.

8.9-point projection and a 21-carry Week 2 when Price left, but 24% snap share, 2% targets and a 3-of-32 DvP matchup cap his PPR floor.

  • If Price is out, Wilson has already shown he can take on lead-back volume.
  • His soft positional matchup gives him a real chance to outperform Schultz if that workload returns.

The call

  • Role is the swing factor. Across two games he's at just 24% of snaps and 2% of targets, a thin PPR profile. Per SI (2026-09-21), though, he took over when Price went out in the second half of Week 2 and posted a game-high 21 carries for 92 yards.
  • Game script helps. A 25.0 implied team total and a -3.5 spread point to a positive, run-friendly script, which favors early-down carries and scoring chances.
  • The matchup grades as tough at 3 of 32, but that rests on a 2-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so it shouldn't drive the call.
  • What tips it: if he projects as the lead back again, start him as an RB2/flex. If Price is fully back and Wilson returns to his 24% snap rotation, a replacement flex with steadier volume is the better play.

Latest on Wilson

Role

With Price out in the second half of Week 2, Emanuel Wilson became the lead back and finished with a game-high 21 carries for 92 yards, becoming the only healthy running back on the field for a stretch of the final drive.

Sports Illustrated (Seahawks On SI) · Sep 21, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricDalton SchultzEmanuel Wilson
Projected points
Consensus rankTE21—
Opponent vs positionIND · 23 of 322-game sampleWSH · 3 of 322-game sample
Receptions29 of 322 of 32
Receiving Yards29 of 322 of 32
Receiving TDs15 of 32—
Targets29 of 32—
Anytime TD13 of 321 of 32
Rushing Yards—7 of 32
Rushing TDs—1 of 32
Rushing Attempts—3 of 32
Target share25%2%
Reception share29%0%
Implied total · spread23.5-1.525.0-3.5
Depth chartTE1RB2
Snap share67%24%
Start/Sit record—0–0+1 toss-up

Recent form

Dalton Schultz — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs CIN
Week 1vs BUF

Emanuel Wilson — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs ARI
Week 1vs NE

Signal breakdown

  • 9.5 vs 8.9 projected PPR pointsDalton Schultz +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Opponent DvP rank 23 vs 3 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 23.5 vs 25.0 team pointsEmanuel Wilson +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 67% vs 24% snap shareDalton Schultz +

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