Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 7th at 4:25 PM ET
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Betting Odds: ARZ +3, 47.5 O/U total via Oddshark
Network: FOX
Writer: Dustin Ludke (@TheDunit13 on Twitter)
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Geno Smith (Start, QB1)
The Seahawks need to win and get some help to make it to the playoffs. They can only control their own efforts, but the Seattle Seahawks couldn’t ask for a better matchup this week. The Arizona Cardinals are riding high after an upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, a revenge game of sorts for head coach Jonathan Gannon. However, the Cardinals’ defense is giving up the third-highest total of fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Fantasy football managers saddled with both a Week 18 Championship Week and untimely quarterback issues shouldn’t hesitate to fire up Geno Smith as a solid QB1.
Running Backs
Kenneth Walker (Start, RB2), Zach Charbonnet (Sit, Flex)
Teams that give up the third most points to quarterbacks aren’t normally generous to running backs as well, but these Cardinals are giving up more points to opposing running backs than any other team in the league. That’s great news for Kenneth Walker, who has been the bellcow for the Seahawks. He has seen an average of 15 carries over the past three weeks; that volume should continue, making him a solid RB2 this week. I do worry that if the Seahawks get the lead, they’ll chew up the game clock, which could mean more Zach Charbonnet in mop-up duty. Walker has been dealing with an injury so that’s one more reason to rest him late and give Charbonnet more work. The rookie from UCLA is a risky flex play, but there are worse options.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Tyler Lockett (Start, WR2), D.K. Metcalf (Start, WR1), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Sit, Flex), Noah Fant (Sit)
At the risk of beating a proverbial dead horse here, the Cardinals are giving up a ton of points to quarterbacks. It therefore stands to reason that the wide receivers would benefit as well. There really isn’t a bad matchup here. DK Metcalf has been the most consistent of the lot. He will be the go-to; he hasn’t seen under five targets since Week 9. Start him as a solid WR1.
Tyler Lockett has been hit-or-miss lately, but given the Seahawks are playing to keep their playoff hopes alive, I think Lockett will be leaned on fairly heavily. He will probably see coverage from Starling Thomas V who PFF.com rates as 118th out of 126 corners. Given this great matchup, Lockett will be a solid WR2 this week.
Rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been the slot man for the Seahawks. He only has four games in which he played over 70 percent of the team’s snaps so his upside has yet to be unlocked. If he doesn’t catch a touchdown he can be a massive bust in your lineup. He’s a risky flex play so unless you are desperate due to players sitting I’m looking for someone else.
Tight end Noah Fant is coming off his best game of the season but now draws the Cardinals, who are giving up the 16th most points to tight ends. Also, the more Smith-Njigba plays, the fewer opportunities Fant will have to offer up a smash matchup for the fantasy playoffs. Sit Fant this week, as the Seahawks are likely to do most often when JSN takes the field.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Kyler Murray (Start, QB1)
Do the Arizona Cardinals have anything left to play for? No. Does that mean they will rest their starters? Probably not. The Cardinals played them all last week and upset the Philadelphia Eagles; they can play spoiler again this week against the Seahawks. So is Kyler Murray going to play the whole game? The past few weeks would indicate he will. After missing the first nine games it seems the Cardinals want to give Murray as many reps in the new offense as possible to see what could be heading into the 2024 season. The Seahawks are middle-of-the-road in terms of surrendering points to the quarterback, so I’m willing to start Murray as a low-end QB1.
Running Backs
James Conner (Start RB1), Rondale Moore (Sit, Flex)
Volume is king in fantasy football. Few see more of it than James Conner. who has averaged 15 carries over the past three weeks. The Seahawks are giving up the second most points to running backs so Conner should be in line for another big game. He’s looking like a solid RB1 this week. Much like last week, we could see Rondale Moore get worked in specifically in the passing game. He’s a risky flex play for those vying for a championship in Week 18.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Greg Dortch (Start, WR3) Rondale Moore (Sit), Michael Wilson (Sit, Flex), Trey McBride (Start, TE1)
The Cardinals desperately need a star wide receiver who can command not only the targets but also handle top coverage. I don’t see Greg Dortch doing that against Michael Jackson, who rates as the 15th-best cover corner. Dortch has won Kyler Murray’s trust and has been seeing a very healthy dose of targets of late, but the matchup stinks for him and his Week 18 fantasy prospects. Nevertheless, he’s most likely to finish as a WR3 this week, as he could be moved around enough to get a desirable target share.
Michael Wilson finally got back in the box score after posting nothing the previous two games following an injury. It has been a rocky year for the talented rookie, who ran the wrong route, a gaffe that resulted in a 98-yard pick-six by rookie safety Sydney Brown. I don’t think this week gets any better as he faces one of the NFL’s best sophomores in Tariq Woolen. It’s a matchup that Wilson probably loses this year but as he matures he will start to take advantage of. Sit Wilson this week.
The Seahawks are middle of the road in terms of points given to the tight end position so we should be in for yet another good week from breakout star Trey McBride. He’s as solid of a play as you will find this week especially with the wide receiver position in Arizona being what it is. Fire up McBride as a TE1.