Game Info
Kickoff: December 22, 2024, 4:05 pm ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WAS
Network: FOX
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Sam Darnold: Start, QB1/2 Borderline
Darnold didn’t have the greatest week against the Bears last week, and we could see another down effort against Seattle. The Seahawks have athletic corners and have only allowed 6.1 yards per attempt this season. If Darnold is your best option, I don’t think you’re necessarily screwed or anything, but you will need improved efficiency from him against a solid secondary.
With his lack of rushing upside of late, I wouldn’t hesitate to sit him if I had an option with better upside, even if it means sacrificing a little safety that Darnold brings, given his attachment to Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson.
Running Back
Aaron Jones: Start, RB1
Cam Akers: Sit
Aaron Jones cemented his role as the lead back in the last game, vastly outgaining Cam Akers. The Seahawks have also been soft against opposing RBs this season, allowing the ninth-most fantasy points per game to the position. They’re 25th in yards per attempt and are also soft in coverage against RBs out of the backfield.
It wouldn’t shock me if Jones posted a huge day in this spot, and he would be an auto start for me unless I had some ridiculous combo of Barkley and Derrick Henry at RB.
Wide Receiver
Justin Jefferson: Start, WR1
Jordan Addison: Start, WR2
If you have Justin Jefferson, you’re starting him. Seattle does have athletic corners, but Jefferson has taken on and beat the best. This is all just me providing you with a pep talk so you don’t do something stupid and sit with one of the best WRs in football.
Jordan Addison’s recent stretch of play also makes him an easy WR2 in this spot for me. The Seahawks are tough on WRs, but they’re not unbeatable either, and the Packers had multiple players go for 50+ yards last week despite a run-heavy gamescript.
Addison has too much big play potential to sit unless you have the deepest of benches.
Tight End
TJ Hockeson: Start, TE1 (low-end)
I like this spot for Hockenson to potentially see 6+ targets again and post a solid day. He’s mostly been used in the short passing game, but the Seahawks can be soft underneath and have allowed the eighth-most receptions to opposing TEs this season.
He’s coming off a 5 reception day, and while he’d likely need to find the end zone to push to be a top-five player at his position, it is doable against this defense.
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Geno Smith: Streaming Option, QB2 (sit if better options)
Geno Smith will likely be back in the lineup this week, but I’m not sure he’s someone I really want to take a shot with this week with the season on the line. Minnesota has only allowed the 26th most fantasy points to opposing QBs and tends to get a lot of pressure on the QB.
There is the chance he finally connects with DK Metcalf for a long score, but without that, you could be looking at a 220 yards and a TD and an INT (or two) kind of day, which has been his M.O. of late (and will likely lead to your demise).
Running Back
Zach Charbonnet: Start, RB1 (if no Walker)
Kenneth Walker III: RB2/FLEX (if he plays)
Kenneth Walker III is questionable for this week’s game. If he plays, all bets are off as to how this Seahawks backfield will unfold. If Walker is healthy, I would expect him to get the majority of the work and potentially even a full workload, as the coaching staff has been clear that he is their lead back when healthy.
At the same time, Zach Charbonnet has played so well lately that he could carve out a bigger role and make this a very convoluted situation, and potentially ruin both guys for fantasy.
A. If Charbonnet plays and Walker sits, Charbonnet is an RB1/2
B. If Walker plays, then I would be OK viewing Walker as an RB2/Flex and sit Charbonnet (unless we get news that they split work)
It’s a dicey situation, but Walker should be good to fire up if we get good news on his health.
Wide Receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Start, WR1
DK Metcalf: Start, WR2
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an every-week start at this point. He caught 10 passes last week and has out-targeted DK Metcalf severely in three of the last five games. With Minnesota’s pass rush, it also makes sense for the Hawks to use JSN more in the quick pass game.
I still like DK Metcalf this week, but he’s become a very boom-or-bust type of WR2. His targeting has dipped the last two weeks, and he hasn’t scored since Week 7. The Vikings have allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing WRs, however, and the eighth-most TDs to the position (15). If Metcalf can’t get going here, it’s a bad look for him and this Seattle offense going forward.
Tight End
Noah Fant: Sit
Fant had seven targets last week but only turned that into 15 yards and 3 receptions. He has zero TDs on the season. Surely you can find someone with better upside than him if you need a streaming option.