Seahawks at Chargers
Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday, August 24, 2019, at 10:00 PM EST
Location: Investors Group Field, Winnipeg, Canada
Betting Odds: SEA -3.5 via Oddsshark
Network: NFL Network
Seattle Seahawks
D.K. got K.O.’d
Rookie WR D.K. Metcalf is down with a knee injury. He had to have what Pete Carroll is playing off as minor knee surgery, but as we know, Pete is an overly optimistic head coach. This puts a damper on the appeal of Metcalf as the team’s WR2 and top red-zone threat, at least to begin the season. We will not see him on the field for the season dress rehearsal, but the main concern is how long this will drag on. Tyler Lockett, already with an ADP around pick 50 in PPR leagues, now carries appeal for some and more stress for others. Already with a HIGH dependency on scoring touchdowns, Lockett, the teams new #1 de facto WR will at least be the team’s only real receiving threat. The biggest benefactor to this whole development is the running game that was already the most used backfield in the NFL a season ago. Whatever the split in the backfield is will have to carry a heavier load with a less than stellar WR core. We will see if someone like David Moore. Meanwhile, if you are in a keeper or auction league or even are just a Metcalf believer, he can be had for a big discount in your drafts right now.
Whose Backfield is it Anyway?
The answer to this question might be neither. The favorite right now is Chris Carson with an ADP of 34 while his running mate Rashaad Penny has an ADP of 79. All reports out of Seahawks camp are that Carson is the leading candidate and is going to be in line to have as many targets as Alvin Kamara. Then again, do you remember what I said about Coach Pete being overly optimistic? I do believe Carson is the better runner, but I think he will have his carries limited, at least for a little while, by the presence of Penny. This game will be a good tell to show us exactly what a split will look like on a normal workload. Carson is currently a great value at his ADP and someone you should be looking to on your team as the main rusher in the Seattle offense is very valuable.
Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan and L
Keenan Allen was having a stellar preseason. Trash talking and catching his way to a highlight reel preseason. Then he was lost for what looks like the remainder of the preseason with an ankle injury. This seems to be the narrative with Allen. He is always a high-risk, high-reward player who many fantasy players and analysts are split on. Going in most drafts in the late second or early third round, Allen is now a risk of having a slow start this season by being out for what seems like the preseason. We also have no real clear clarity on the injury so it could be something that lingers. This is something to monitor and now Mike Williams will be had in drafts at less of a discount as he should get a bump, especially if he performs well on Saturday. Williams was already high on my draft boards and he should be on yours too as a true threat at 100 catches and double-digit touchdowns.
-Matt Dean (@MattDeanQBL)