Seahawks vs. Rams
Seahawks
A myriad of injuries to key players, a matchup against a well-balanced Rams offense in LA, and a short week following make the Seattle Seahawks one of the least appealing offenses and defenses from a fantasy perspective this week. Let’s take a look:
Will Chris Carson suit up?
Pete Carroll listed running back Chris Carson as a game-time decision on Friday morning. He had the same designation last week, before playing about a half and sitting the second half with a hip injury. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him sit this one out entirely, or if he does play be very limited. I won’t be starting him in any leagues, and advise you do the same. That makes Mike Davis an intriguing pickup in deeper formats, although the Rams have a formidable defensive front. Still, Davis ran 12 times for 68 yards and a touchdown last time these two teams met, and if he has full-time duty he’s worth a look.
Will Russell Wilson throw enough to be a QB1?
Last time these two teams played, Wilson only completed 13 passes for 198 yards. He did throw three touchdown passes however. Ultimately, I think Seattle will go to the air a bit more than they did last time, with Carson and potentially run-blocking guard D.J. Fluker not suiting up. Wilson is a fine QB1, even against the Rams.
What about the receivers?
Seattle’s running game has long been the fantasy dumpster fire to avoid, but this season it has become the receivers. Both Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin have the potential to be fantasy studs, and have on occasion demonstrated that this season, but the inconsistency in Seattle’s offense makes them hard to trust week in and week out. Lockett dominated last time out against the Rams, and I’d trust him over Baldwin this week, barely. Neither are more than a low-end WR2 this week. I would leave Jaron Brown and David Moore alone.
Ed Dickson or Nick Vannett?
Normally I would say that Seattle tight ends aren’t worth even looking at, but with the landscape of the tight end position this year, they might be. Dickson has worked his way back into a full-time role after missing eight weeks with an injury, but he only received one target last week while Vannett had what Pete Carroll called the best game of his career (6|52|1). I think I’d run with Vannett over Dickson this week, but again they aren’t worth playing unless you are truly desperate, as they will be utilized primarily as run-blockers in this one.
How about Seattle’s Defense?
No go this week. Bradley McDougald is likely not going to play, and even though Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright are elite up the middle, the rest of this defense just isn’t good enough to post good numbers against the Rams in LA. Leave them on the waiver wire for this one.
Boom: Mike Davis
Bust: Doug Baldwin
Sleeper: Nick Vannett
-Andy Patton
Rams
Fixable blemishes from last week?
If you think being perfect as a team in the NFL, let alone any league, is easy then please refer to the dictionary and the bowls of sports history. Last year, in the four games that followed losses for the Rams, they all resulted in wins. They followed a seven-point loss to Washington by beating the 49ers 40-39, a loss to Seattle with a 27-17 win against Jacksonville, a loss to Minnesota with a 26-20 win against New Orleans and a loss to the 2017-2018 Super Bowl champs with a 42-7 trouncing of Seattle. They’re not always pretty, but that looks like a nice trend to trust if I were a fan of LA or a fantasy owner of any Rams skill players. HC Sean McVay will have them ready to go. The defense may still be suspect, but they should be a bit sharper and simply angry on offense. I don’t think Seattle stands a chance, considering they will be without their starting running back (mentioned above).
Start everybody
Like I mentioned prior, I think this offense comes out with their hair on fire and puts up a pretty impressive box score. Sure, Seattle isn’t a pushover, but I also don’t think they stand a chance this week. Los Angeles knows they have to keep up with New Orleans with any chance to regain the top seed in the NFC. They have scored at least 30 points in six out of eight games this year and haven’t scored less than 23 since week 10 in that loss to Minnesota I cited earlier. Seattle just simply won’t be able to keep up. I think my only hesitation would be the tight end position, considering it hasn’t been much of a focal point for the Rams’ offense. Out of all the options, I think WR Brandin Cooks walks away with the biggest day, catching six balls for 122 yards. That being said, I think all the WRs approach 100 yards in this one.
Start Malcolm Brown?
Obviously, it depends on how dire your situation is, but RB Malcolm Brown is an interesting option considering how adept he is in both running and catching. I liken him to the Chargers’ Austin Ekeler in that he is extremely efficient and highly rated in every metric. Being backup to RB Todd Gurley can’t be all that exciting and yet he shows up ready to play and is barely a discount when performing. Depending on the gameflow, I could see him getting a couple red zone looks and a decent amount of looks later in the game, considering I think McVay goes scorched earth to remind the league that they are to be reckoned with, still.
Defense an option this week?
This defense is only worth starting if CB Aquib Talib is available, but he won’t be seeing the practice field until after Thanksgiving, it looks like. I’d leave them be, for now. Look to see if teams like the Patriots are available, instead.
Boom: Brandin Cooks
Bust: Josh Reynolds (doesn’t really count)
Sleeper: Malcolm Brown
-Joe Hanretty