The Seattle Seahawks’ run game struggled against the Washington Commanders in Week 3, but offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s interchangeable usage of tight ends and fullbacks will open it up in Week 4’s matchup hosting the Los Angeles Chargers and beyond.
On the Seahawks third drive of the game, quarterback Sam Darnold hit tight end AJ Barner for a 32-yard catch-and-run, then immediately fired to fullback Brady Russell for a 20-yard gain. That’s the biggest catch of Russell’s career and only one yard shy from tying Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers for the biggest play by a FB this season. Fleury’s the only football mind who’s worked with both of those two in the past year. He’s ahead of the game on the shifts and motions that are reviving
this position’s playmaking ability.
Both NFC West stalwarts, Seattle and San Francisco, have been getting their big, rugged TE (Barner & George Kittle) and FB (Russell & Juszczyk) involved in the passing game early in 2026, and it’s ruined a main source of pre-snap intel opposing defenses can use. When elite blocking specialists are passing threats, too, the defense can no longer assume run or pass based on personnel in the huddle. They can’t commit to attacking the supposed weakness before the play. Two plays Fleury called at the end of Sunday’s first quarter set up the Seahawks’ first score of the game and rendered the Commanders’ defense as out of position as they were all day.
The first play began with the Seahawks lined up in the shotgun in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE) and motioned receiver Cooper Kupp from the boundary to the field side. Kupp came behind fellow receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to put a crack block on Commanders cornerback Fabian Moreau with a running start. Barner blocked and released, then Darnold hit him — and all of a sudden, the entire interior offensive line of center Jalen Sundell and guards Grey Zabel and Beau Stephens were in front of the 6’6” 250-pound ballcarrier to block. Fleury made a physical TE Screen call to get his big target involved and the Seahawks executed it as well as he could’ve hoped for a 32-yard gain.
The very next play, they line up under center in 21 personnel (2 RB, 1 TE) and forgo any shifts or motions, signaling an old-school power run play. They fake a power run to running back Emanuel Wilson, and Darnold gets Russell twice as open as he’s ever been on an out route as he comes out of the backfield behind tight end Nick Kallerup. Russell made a big catch the Seahawks haven’t seen the likes of from their fullback position in years.
Turning two major blockers into receiving threats causes headaches for opposing defenses. However, Fleury’s biggest opportunity in Week 4 is to turn this idea upside down. When the Chargers see this on tape, will they put extra coverage specialists on these two to prevent the occasional big play? Or will they just stand firm and try to stop the run with bigger bodies in the box? Either way, Fleury’s created a level of deception 30 other teams don’t have in their offense, and it could become a foundational piece for his success going forward.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Fleury's TE, FB usage will open Seahawks' run game in Week 4
