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Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Focus: The WR’s

By Dan Viens

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As I pointed out in my Top 5 Ways To Survive Until Seahawks Training Camp, focusing on the upcoming fantasy football season is one way to occupy yourself while waiting for the opening whistle.

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So, let’s take a look at some potential Seahawks fantasy performers for 2015, beginning with the wide receivers.

As our own Jeremy Damen points out, there are some interesting battles brewing in the WR corps.  Most of the preseason fantasy projections you see will knock the Seattle wideouts for all the predictable reasons: emphasis on the running game, lack of elite physical talent, QB who spreads the ball around and doesn’t throw it enough to produce a stud fantasy WR.  All these points are valid, but there are reasons to believe that the Hawk have a couple potential breakout fantasy stars if things fall a certain way.

THE MAINSTAY: Doug Baldwin

Entering his 5th season, Baldwin has bounced around between slot and outside WR for Seattle, depending on need.  Lack of an established, bigger outside WR has forced the team to play him more on the boundary than he should, as he’s more suited to working zones from the slot, and even roaming the middle of the field against slot CB’s in man coverage.

With the addition of Jimmy Graham to the fold, and the potential emergence of other young receivers, Baldwin should be able to do most of his work inside.  His success as a fantasy player then, depends on the continued development of QB Russell Wilson.  I feel Wilson is at his best when working the middle of the field and has struggled in that facet of his game at times, but he appeared to make strides in that area last year.

If Graham has the kind of impact we expect, and the Marshawn Lynch-led running game is still dominant, Baldwin could have a nice year, but his ceiling is still limited.  His greatest value would be in a PPR league.  Think similar to last year’s production (66 catches, 825 yards), but with a chance to at least double his TD total of 3 from 2014 as teams bracket Graham in the red zone.

THE MYSTERIES: Kevin Norwood, Chris Matthews, Paul Richardson

Pete Carroll and John Schneider have raved about Norwood since his solid rookie training camp, but he never really showed us why on game day, save for a few brief flashes.  He’s older for a 2nd year player, so this year may be his best, and last chance to step forward and contribute.  Even if he does, he doesn’t appear to be draftable.

Richardson appears ahead of schedule in his return from the torn ACL he suffered in the playoff win against Carolina, but even if he avoids the PUP list and starts the season on the active roster he can’t be counted on to produce fantasy starter numbers early in the season.  The potential is there, however, so this could be a crafty draft-late-and-stash candidate.

Matthews has everyone excited due to his Super Bowl XLIX performance and 6’5″ height.  He will be overdrafted in may local leagues by Seahawk fans, but I could see him being a factor in the red zone (IF he makes the team).  20 catches with 5 or 6 TD’s? Maybe.  I’ll pass on draft day.

THE SLEEPER:  Tyler Lockett

If you read our site regularly, you know how most of us (Charles!!!) feel about Lockett, and you’ve no doubt heard the rave reviews of his mini-camp work.  Lockett could be exactly the kind of gadget player that the Seahawks had hoped Percy Harvin was going to be.  He’s tiny, but uber quick in and out of breaks and he’s been referred to as the best route runner in his draft class.  He also returns kicks and his return ability has been classified as in the elite category.

He reminds me of T.Y. Hilton as a rookie.  He’ll have weeks where he gives you zero points, and then when you sit him down he’ll return a kick, run in a fly sweep, catch 5 balls and hang 25 up 25 fantasy points.  If you’re in a keeper league, find a chance to draft this kid, but don’t count on him being a consistent force.

THE REST:  Jermaine Kearse, Douglas McNeil, Kasen Williams, Ricardo Lockette

Please.

POSITION SUMMARY:  There certainly aren’t any high draft picks here, although die-hard Seahawk fans will overdraft a couple of these guys.  Let them.  While Baldwin is a solid pick in the 7-8 round range (depending on your league size) and Lockett is a smart late pick in a keeper league, anything more is a waste of draft capital.

PS:  Doug Baldwin, if you’re reading this, DON’T GET BENT!!  I’M NOT SAYING SEAHAWK WR’S AREN’T GOOD! They just aren’t worthy (yet) of being high draft picks in most fantasy leagues.

Next: Radio Host Out Of Line On Russell Wilson

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