The San Francisco 49ers were just what the doctor ordered for the Seattle Seahawks to get back on track in Week 11.
Seattle cruised to a 29-13 victory Sunday, and fantasy owners who banked on Thomas Rawls were rewarded with a career day from the rookie:
Rawls now becomes a must-start if Marshawn Lynch does not play. In three games as the featured back this season, Rawls has totaled 482 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Fantasy owners thought Lynch was going to play until right before kickoff, so it’s important to keep an eye on his status when making a decision on Rawls. When Lynch has played, Rawls has not rushed for more than 32 yards in a game.
When Rawls does play, though, it’s impressive, per Gil Brandt of NFL.com:
It’s simple moving forward with Rawls: If Lynch plays, keep Rawls on the bench, because there is no guarantee that he will get carries, even after his big day. If Rawls is the starter, he becomes a low-end RB1.
The other worry for Rawls is his Week 12 opponent: The Pittsburgh Steelers allow the fifth-fewest rushing yards in the league. However, his performances have been so good that it shouldn’t be a huge concern.
Backup Fred Jackson saw some action with Lynch on the bench, but after Rawls’ performance, Jackson is unlikely to contribute much in terms of fantasy points moving forward:
The four carries were a season high for the 34-year-old, but he failed to produce when he got the chance.
Jackson has always been a great pass-catching back, but he has not totaled more than 33 receiving yards in a game this year, with just one touchdown.
If Lynch doesn’t play, Jackson may see two or three more carries, but unless he busts a big run or catches a screen pass for a touchdown, he’s not going to score many fantasy points.
That’s not something fantasy owners want to rely on, and if they were not lucky enough to snatch Rawls, it would be a huge stretch to bank on Jackson as well.
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