Fantasy Football 2017 Team Preview: Seattle Seahawks
This is the 2017 fantasy preview of the Seattle Seahawks. In this preview I will provide the Must-Own players, Sleepers, and Longshot players with upside very deep in drafts.
Must-own players are those who should be owned by someone in any league. Handcuff RBs can qualify, as they are often very important to a fantasy team over the full schedule. Sleepers are secondary players that you may find on the waiver wire at some point in the year, or may go undrafted in shallower auction-style leagues. The Longshots are players with microscopic ADP, who are being drafted at the very end of drafts, or more likely not drafted at all.
All ADP data is courtesy of FantasyPros.com.
**I will list all kickers, but I cannot give analysis on them. Sorry :-/
MUST OWNS
Doug Baldwin, WR (ADP: 26): Baldwin has become a big-time receiver, and now he’s the 12th receiver off the board. I’m not quite there on Baldwin, however, if he’s being ranked as a WR1. I think he’s among the best WR2s you’ll find, but a bit too inconsistent to be considered along the likes of an Odell Beckham or Julio Jones. Receptions will absolutely be there, but if the Seahawks can return to their running roots, then the touchdowns might not be there to elevate Baldwin to this value.
Jimmy Graham, TE (ADP: 52): Last year, the fantasy community got Jimmy Graham back. Graham was one of the most fun players to own until a torn patellar tendon in 2015 nearly wrecked his career. Last season Graham wasn’t his prime self, but he was damn good; he finished 2016 with 65 catches for 923 yards and six touchdowns. He was also dealing with a haggard Seahawks offensive line, and a largely hobbled Russell Wilson at QB. Seattle is poised to improve across the board, and Graham will benefit the most. It would not be a surprise if Graham led the team in touchdowns.
Russell Wilson, QB (ADP: 54): Wilson has a lot of potential, but I do not like this ADP. I have mentioned my doubts about Wilson as an elite fantasy QB to be drafted near Drew Brees and Tom Brady, but I’ll recap here. He’s largely dependent on rushing numbers, yet he has shown over the past two seasons he’s not much for scoring rushing touchdowns. Wilson’s ceiling through the air is about 4,400 yards and 30ish touchdowns; that’s solid, but it’s not worthy of a pick in the top five rounds unless its accompanied by much gaudier rushing numbers. Wilson’s capable of delivering them, but drafting him here means you are counting on them.
Thomas Rawls, RB (ADP: 140): Rawls doesn’t have the highest ADP among Seahawks running backs, but let’s be clear, the top Seahawks running back needs to be owned. Right now, that is Thomas Rawls. Last year was tough for those who drafted him, as he looked nothing like the monster truck who exploded in 2015. He got hurt, and in the nine games he played he averaged 3.2 yards per carry, a 2.4-yard drop from his rookie year. That may have been due to the struggles of Seattle’s offensive line, but he needs to own that as well. Don’t hesitate to draft Rawls and Eddie Lacy to lock up the Seahawks backfield, but if you only get one at this point in time Rawls is the one you want.
Defense/Special Teams (ADP: 114): With the addition of Sheldon Richardson, I am ready to call the Seahawks’ defense the top D/ST to own in fantasy. They are primed to get a ton of sacks, obliterate opponents’ rushing game, and generate turnovers in the secondary thanks to Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas.
SLEEPERS
Eddie Lacy, RB (ADP: 87): Lacy is talented, but he hasn’t been useful in two years. I was initially excited about his move to Seattle, a team that values a lead back, but he hasn’t overtaken Rawls. That’s worrisome, and while he still has big upside, this ADP is untenable for someone who looks like he’s on the low end of a timeshare in an offense with a clear third-down back. If Rawls gets hurt or continues to average 3.2 yards per carry, Lacy will become a fantasy-relevant RB2 at minimum. Until then, he’s a big back without the volume needed to be startable.
C.J. Prosise, RB (ADP: 139): Prosise is mega-talented, but lacks touchdown-upside, and is a high injury risk. He is a must-own in full-PPR leagues because of his pass-catching chops, but in other types of leagues he is a desperation FLEX play.
Tyler Locket, WR (ADP: 175): Lockett is high-upside, but we haven’t seen him reach his potential yet. I wrote about him here as the inspiration for my Sleeper Ghosts, but this is the case: the smallish speedster can take the top off any defense, and despite his stature he is capable of scoring, as his six touchdowns as a rookie attest. He enters Week 1 as the No. 2 receiver, and if Wilson takes a step forward as a passer, Lockett is the one who will make the biggest jump.
LONGSHOTS
Chris Carson, RB (ADP: 214): Carson has become a darling after a big preseason, and he’s definitely talented, but there are just entirely too many guys in his way to be worth drafting at this time. Dynasty leaguers feel free to pay attention to the Oklahoma State product, but otherwise move along.
Paul Richardson, WR (ADP: 280): Richardson is an athletic freak who can blow your mind with some of his catches, but he’s just never shown any traces of being fantasy-relevant in his three seasons, and this isn’t an offense that supports more than one or two passing options. Take a pass.
KICKER
Blair Walsh.