Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
- Russell Wilson: 22/28, 240 yards, 1 TD
Russell Wilson was his usual, impressive, efficient self in this divisional matchup. Many owners will be disappointed with his performance after some massive previous weeks. But this is the danger with Wilson. This team is more than happy to run the ball 30 times unless they are forced to throw. Wilson did have a few more chances at the end zone that he did not capitalize on, which would have made his day more productive. Even considering the Seahawks run happy approach, had a few passes gone his way, he could have had three touchdowns. Wilson remains a high-end QB1 moving forward.
Running Backs
- Chris Carson: 22 carries, 104 yards; 4 catches, 41 yards
- CJ Prosise: 3 carries, 4 yards, 1 TD
Chris Carson rolled into week four with something to prove. His fumble last week was a deciding factor in a tough loss at home. Many people were calling for Carson’s head, especially with talented backups behind him. But Carson showed up. He was very elusive and broke plenty of tackles finishing with 140 all-purpose yards. This usage cements Carson’s status as the lead back and shows Pete Carrol’s faith in the back. Carson’s day would have been more impressive had CJ Prosise not vultured the 4th quarter touchdown. It is nice to see Prosise healthy again, however, his usage at the moment does not warrant a fantasy look.
Wide Receivers
- Tyler Lockett: 4 targets, 4 catches, 51 yards
- Will Dissly: 8 targets, 7 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD
- DK Metcalf: 4 targets, 1 catch, 6 yards
Okay, I see you Will Dissly. I was not a Dissly believer. The two-touchdown performance two weeks ago was fun, but I did not expect this level of involvement in the offense. Eight targets is significant, especially given Wilson only threw the ball 28 times. In a barren tight end landscape, Dissly is his fantasy owners hope. Tyler Lockett caught all four of his targets but overall had an uninspired day. DK Metcalf’s stat line looks atrocious but I saw a different story. Although he and Wilson were only able to connect once, Metcalf saw three end zone targets which could have lead to a massive fantasy game. Metcalf is clearly a part of this offense and is going to continue to get end zone targets from one of the league’s most accurate quarterbacks.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
- Kyler Murray: 22/32, 241 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT; 4 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD
The frustration I feel when it comes to the Cardinals offense is hard to put into words. Kyler Murray had yet another unimpressive showing against an opponent that has had many problems on defense. So what is wrong with the offense? At times the air raid seems to work extremely well, especially when David Johnson is galloping down the middle of the field. But then you look up, and suddenly it’s 3rd and 17! This short passing offense although simple, ironically requires perfection. This style of offense is not equipped to handle penalties and sacks and the Cardinals have had plenty of these. Murray’s frustration is obvious as he often seems to be pressing for the big play which subsequently is causing more problems. How can you blame the kid? On their second drive, he dropped back for a screen that was sniffed out by Jadeveon Clowney and taken back for six. This pretty much set the tone for the rest of the game as the Cardinals never could catch up. As the team gets more comfortable in this offense, I would expect some better numbers, however, if it does not improve soon Murray’s frustration could lead to more troubling games.
Running Backs
- David Johnson: 11 Carries, 40 yards; 11 targets, 8 catches, 99 yards
- Chase Edmonds: 6 carries, 37 yards
If you drafted David Johnson this season, this is likely what you envisioned. Johnson, an adept pass-catcher, fits well within this offense and was easily the most productive player on the field. He continues to be an integral part of the offense and the air raid style makes him game script proof. Johnson’s upside is currently capped by the state of the Cardinals offense, however, if they start to move the ball more effectively, we could see an explosion of fantasy production. Chase Edmonds made the most of limited work, rushing for 37 yards, however, he provides little value other than a handcuff of Johnson. If Johnson were to get hurt, Edmonds would still be a risky option as he does not have the same receiving skill that is driving Johnson’s production.
Wide Receiver/Tight Ends
- Larry Fitzgerald: 5 targets, 5 catches, 47 yards
- Christian Kirk: 5 targets, 4 catches, 37 yards
- KeeSean Johnson: 3 targets, 2 catches, 19 yards
This wideout group will be looking to improve next week after a lackluster performance. Many of these receptions are coming at or near the line of scrimmage, which means the wide receivers need to make plays with the ball in their hands. The problem is that none of these players have skill sets that match with what is asked of them. The good news is that there will always be plenty of targets to go around, and even with less than ideal roles, that will provide a nice floor. I would love to see the Cardinals “air it out” more and actually attack down the field where the receivers can do more damage. Outside of the fantasy realm, hats off the Larry Fitzgerald as he now sits 2nd all-time in receptions.
- Stephen Dudas