Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 24th @ 1:00 PM ET
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Betting Odds: SEA -2.5, 41.5 total via PFF.com
Network: CBS
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ on Twitter/X)
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterbacks
Geno Smith (Sit)
Pregame, Monday night for the Seahawks was a bit whacky in that no one knew until right before kickoff whether Drew Lock or Geno Smith would start. It was expected since the weekend that Lock would start – and he did – but Smith was active for the game. On Tuesday, despite Lock leading Seattle to a thrilling win over the Eagles, HC Pete Carroll has already said Smith will practice this week and play against the Titans. The last we saw Smith, he put up 334 yards, three passing touchdowns, and a rushing score against the Cowboys, but that was Week 13, and he is coming back from a groin injury. I wouldn’t want to rely on him in a Semifinal matchup this week.
If news were to change and Lock is given the keys again, he wouldn’t be fantasy-relevant either.
Running Backs
Kenneth Walker III (Start, RB2), Zach Charbonnet (Sit)
Kenneth Walker III had himself a night against Philly. 19 carries turned into 86 yards and a touchdown, adding three receptions on as many targets for 26 yards. Walker kept rookie Zach Charbonnet in his rearview, as he out-touched him 22 to five per FantasyData. Walker will remain on the RB2 radar, as he is set to face a Titans defense that just allowed Devin Singletary to pop off for 121 yards on 26 carries, with four receptions on five targets for 49 yards to boot.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
DK Metcalf (Start, WR2), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Start if you must, FLEX), Tyler Lockett (Sit), Noah Fant (Sit)
DK Metcalf led the way for Seattle against the Eagles, catching five of six targets for 78 yards. 34 of those yards came in a crucial grab late in the 4th quarter, but nonetheless, he’ll remain on the WR2 radar against a Titans defense allowing the sixth most fantasy points on the season to opposing WRs.
As far as the other Seattle pass-catchers go, rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba had just four targets in Week 15, but he caught all four looks for 48 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Personally, I think the potential is there for him right now to see more involvement over Tyler Lockett, who hasn’t scored since Week 10, and has zero 100+ yard games on the year.
Tight end Noah Fant remains to be a fantasy non-factor this season.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Will Levis (Sit), Ryan Tannehill (Sit)
HC Mike Vrabel confirmed on Monday that rookie Will Levis has a sprained ankle, and one would suspect it’s going to put his Week 16 participation in jeopardy. CBS Sports alluded to the fact that Vrabel mentioned it’s a similar sprain that Ryan Tannehill suffered last season.
If Tannehill returns to action this week, he wouldn’t be a recommended start anyhow, nor would Levis if he does suit up.
Running Backs
Derrick Henry (Start, RB2), Tyjae Spears (Sit)
The Seattle defense is prime for the taking for opposing RBs, as they are allowing an average of 18.71 fantasy points to ‘backs on the year per CBS Fantasy, which is the sixth most on the year. Derrick Henry did lay a stinker last week against the Texans though, turning 16 carries somehow into just nine yards, and caught all four targets for a touchdown; this was good for just 5 points in a full-PPR league. Unless Henry is finding the end zone on short-yard situations, he’s not offering the same fantasy value as he has in years past. Given the plus-matchup on paper, you can still deploy him as an RB2.
Rookie Tyjae Spears gained 30 yards on his nine carries, catching one target for seven yards. He had a great Week 13 and 14, but won’t be a recommended start with a trip to the fantasy Championship on the line.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
DeAndre Hopkins (Start, WR3), Chigoziem Okonwko (Sit)
Like Spears, DeAndre Hopkins had himself a strong Week 13 and 14, but struggled in Week 15. He caught just two of nine targets for 21 scoreless yards. The Seahawks are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to WRs on the year, which could bode well for Nuk to rebound this week.
Tight end Chigoziem Okonwko had some decent success in recent weeks, but like the rest of the Titans offense, he struggled in Week 15. The summer draft season hype never came to fruition for Okonwko this season, and he’ll remain fantasy irrelevant against Seattle.