The Seattle Seahawks are off to a disappointing 0-2 start after winning the NFC title in the past two seasons, and fantasy owners who are relying on their offensive playmakers have received mixed results in the early going.
Quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver Doug Baldwin connected for a touchdown during a futile comeback attempt in Sunday’s 27-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers, but running back Marshawn Lynch consistently ran into a brick wall. Here is a look at their final stats:
The team is not going to panic after the loss, and neither should fantasy owners.
Wilson may not be seen in the same light as Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck when it comes to individual stardom and fantasy football, but he topped 3,100 passing yards in each of his first three seasons, including a career-high 3,475 in 2014.
Wilson’s ability to make plays with his legs as well as his arm (1,908 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground in his career entering Sunday’s game) is invaluable in fantasy football. Seattle’s offense finally moved the ball in the second half against the Packers when it opened up and let him operate in space and push the tempo.
Perhaps the Seahawks won’t wait as long to let Wilson loose in the future, which is what fantasy owners want to hear.
Wilson wasn’t fantastic Sunday, but he still managed to put up solid fantasy numbers. He is a safe, high-ceiling play every week, and that doesn’t change just because the Seahawks lost their first two games of the year.
As for Lynch, you cannot ignore his track record. He boasts four straight years of more than 1,200 rushing yards and double-digit touchdown totals with the Seahawks, and the lack of dominant wide receivers on the roster means Lynch is always going to be a primary focus in the offense.
His lack of a touchdown or any significant running room this year at the age of 29 should be concerning, though. He also had 2,051 career carries coming into Sunday’s game, and eventually even Lynch will reach a point at which he isn’t the same guy.
Don’t push the panic button after only two weeks, however, because he is too talented to remove from your lineup. Just keep the workload in mind, especially if he struggles throughout the first half of the season. Then, it may be time to start looking elsewhere for fantasy help, but it would be a reactionary move at this point.
Lynch’s presence has always been a blessing for Baldwin because opposing defenses often stuff the box to stop the powerful runner. Baldwin took advantage Sunday with a touchdown and bounced back with a solid showing and confidence boost after 35 yards and no touchdowns in Week 1.
What’s more, tight end Jimmy Graham is not siphoning yardage from the other options in the passing game, with 62 total yards after Sunday’s 11-yard effort.
Baldwin is fresh off a 2014 campaign that saw him tally a career-high 825 receiving yards. He appeared to grow more comfortable with Wilson from game to game, and no other Seattle receiver topped 537 receiving yards a year ago. Baldwin is not going to be a topnotch option in fantasy circles a la Calvin Johnson or Antonio Brown, but he is a solid play in the flex position every week.
Ultimately, he is the top receiving target for an impressive quarterback who will find him in space while opposing defenses key in on stopping the run.
Wilson, Lynch and Baldwin should all be in your lineup in Week 3 because they play the hapless Chicago Bears defense. Chicago allowed a stunning 48 points to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and Larry Fitzgerald caught three of Carson Palmer’s four touchdown passes.
Sarah Spain of ESPN painted an enticing picture for fantasy owners who are counting on the Seahawks next week:
Chicago looked like the 2014 version of its defense, which finished 30th in total defense and 31st in scoring defense. The Seahawks are desperate for a win, and they are running into the perfect opposing unit.
That means it should be a fantasy field day for the offensive playmakers.
Read more Fantasy Football news on NerdyFootball.com
Football
NFL
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks
Marshawn Lynch
Fantasy
