For those of you who don't know me my name is Nate Liss, and I am, without any actual medical diagnosis a "fantasy football addict". My goal is and has always been to make fantasy football more than just names and numbers on a screen. In 2014, joining the team here at Field Gulls, I plan to provide you with a weekly write up of the Seattle Seahawks skill positions from a fantasy stand point. I'll heap praise, caution you to resist particular weekly match-ups, and in the end we will all enjoy success. It'll be juicy, steamy and whatever other word you can think of that is uncomfortable to say anywhere but while ordering at a Wendy's. So without further ado, I bring to you....
The basis of my scoring system: I am using a combination of Standard & PPR (point per reception) formats in my final numbers, both of which will be clearly labeled and defined. This scoring is much like everything else you are probably used to seeing if you've played before:
Passing Yards |
25 yards per point |
|
Passing Touchdowns |
6 |
|
Interceptions |
-2 |
|
Rushing Yards |
10 yards per point |
|
Rushing Touchdowns |
6 |
|
Receptions |
1 |
|
Reception Yards |
10 yards per point |
|
Reception Touchdowns |
6 |
|
Return Yards |
40 yards per point |
|
Return Touchdowns |
6 |
|
2-Point Conversions |
2 |
|
Fumbles Lost |
-2 |
|
Offensive Fumble Return TD |
6 |
|
Field Goals 0-19 Yards |
3 |
|
Field Goals 20-29 Yards |
3 |
|
Field Goals 30-39 Yards |
3 |
|
Field Goals 40-49 Yards Yahoo Default |
3 4 |
|
Field Goals 50+ Yards |
4 |
|
Point After Attempt Made |
1 |
|
Defense/Special Teams |
League Value |
|
Sack |
1 |
|
Interception |
2 |
|
Fumble Recovery |
2 |
|
Touchdown |
6 |
|
Safety |
3 |
|
Block Kick |
2 |
|
Return Yards |
40 yards per point |
|
Kickoff/Punt Return TDs |
6 |
|
Points Allowed 0 points |
1 |
|
Points Allowed 1-6 points |
9 |
|
Points Allowed 7-13 points |
6 |
|
Points Allowed 14-20 points |
3 |
|
Points Allowed 21-27 points |
0 |
|
Points Allowed 28-34 points |
0 |
|
Points Allowed 35+ points |
-4 |
In addition to doing mathematical calculations like a boss I will also be tossing in my own opinions on the players recent performance and expectations for the upcoming week vs whomever they are set to face. Seeing as how this is my first article doing this here, and the fact that it is still the preseason is reason enough for me to scale it back a bit. With ALL that said, lets begin.
Did that just happen? 34-6? Its almost as if the Chicago Bears didn't even make it to Century Link Field at all on Friday night. What an unfortunate scenario for a Chicago fan watching from home - you stay up till 9 PM central time just to watch your team get trounced on the road. All sarcasm and jabs aside though, I think a midwestern JV lacrosse team could have tossed up a 6 versus Seattle. So because of everything I just said, plus a whole lot more, what I'm going to do next seems overwhelmingly justified.
Lets. Heap. Some. Praise.
Russell Wilson, QB
- Curbed after the first half of football for abusing the Chicago Bears defense all night long. Yes, I realize this is "just a preseason game, bro" but the fact is that Russell looked like a surgeon out there. Effortlessly, he commanded the field as he went 15 of 20 (202 yards) with a pair of TD's and zero INT's.
Routinely making split second decisions that would make Jimmy Clausen run back home to Mel Kiper look easy. What was even more interesting was watching the 3rd rushing touchdown in the last two games for Russell Wilson. A guy who in all of 2013 only rushed for 4 TD's, yet in just four quarters of football in the 2014 preseason, versus first team defenses, has three already.
Perhaps it's a change in play design by Seattle. Perhaps its Russell Wilson growing at the QB position and making better decisions as he watches defenses shuffle into position after the snap. PERHAPS! it's the presence of a player like Percy Harvin, who's forcing defenses to be honest on the outside. Whatever it is, I think we can all agree watching Russell post a rushing stat line like 4-23-1 in one half of football with nearly no effort is an awesome trend that we can only hope continues.
(202 Yards, 2 Pass TD's, 23 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD = 28.3 TOTAL POINTS)
Marshawn Lynch, RB
- Haters gonna hate! Beast Mode apparently only needed three touches versus Chicago to bounce back to regular season form. Rushing 3 times for 16 yards and a score was pretty much all she wrote for Lynch though, before he headed to the bench. Its hard to really gauge where exactly Marshawn is currently versus typical form but if history is any indication, then is probably safe to assume he will be mowing down Skittles by the wheelbarrow full come regular season. I believe we are done here.
(3 Carries, 16 yards, 1 TD = 7.6 TOTAL POINTS)
Percy Harvin, WR
- When dynamite meets lighting you get Percival Harvin. Almost as dangerous a threat to an opposing defense without the ball in his hands as he is with it in his possession. Percy lead off the game with a very "Percy" like kickoff return of 46 yards to get the CLink fired up early, and they wouldn't look back again from that point on. An efficient yet relatively quiet night for Harvin as he reeled in 3 catches for 61 yards on 3 total targets. As stated earlier, Percy was as usual a dangerous decoy opposite players like Doug Baldwin as he constantly drew primary attention and safety help over the top even when he wasn't on the receiving end of a pass. I expect significant numbers from Percy in 2014 as the primary option on a team that likes to make you pay with their speed.
(3 Catches, 61 Yards, 46 Return Yards = 10.1 PPR/7.1 Standard TOTAL POINTS)
Jermaine Kearse, WR
- This guy is emerging as a wide receiver favorite for Russell Wilson. I'd definitely keep an eye on him in deeper leagues and especially dynasty format leagues if your roster size will permit the addition. Almost a mirror image of his breakout performance from last years Super Bowl (4-65-1), Kearse posted a 4-63-1 stat line Friday night.
If its true that in the land of the blind the man with one eye is king, then in the wide receiver corps of the Seattle Seahawks the man that exceeds 6 feet tall is a major red-zone target. Jermaine does what we've become accustomed to seeing him do which is beat the mismatch coverage or find a way to get open in the end zone. I think its not unreasonable to believe that Kearse will lead the Seahawks in TDs this season as the biggest physical option they have at WR.
(4 Catches, 63 Yards, 1 TD = 16.3 PPR/12.3 Standard TOTAL POINTS)
Zack Miller, TE
- Not Much to write home about here. He had 1 catch for 7 yards on just a single target. More than likely a byproduct of the type of game the Seahawks were in but I don't really fancy Miller much in fantasy leagues anyway. The less dynamic of the pair (Zach Miller/Luke Willson), truth be told I'd probably rather gamble week to week on Willson if I HAD to pick one.
(1 Catch, 7 Yards = 1.7 PPR/.7 Standard TOTAL POINTS)
Steve Hauschka, K
- Going 2 for 3 from field goal range tonight and 4/4 on extra point attempts, Steve did his usual thing. Chalk the missed field goal up to the wind, or Jimmy Clausen's face (I swear I actually think Jimmy is a swell guy).
(2 Field Goals, 4 Extra Points = 10 TOTAL POINTS)
Seattle Seahawks, DST
- Proving yet again that they are worthy of your first round selection (JUST KIDDING). 1 INT, 3 sacks and an overall disturbing evening for the highly touted Chicago Bears and Jay Cutler. Holding the Bears to under 7 total points and making a mockery of the "monsters of midway".
Outside of Seattle, with the NFC West having such a serious lack of dangerous offensive weapons, I foresee Seattle being an even more dangerous DST option entering 2014. With a healthy Percy Harvin, a potential full time punt returner in Earl Thomas and that defense a year better after hoisting the lombardi, I think its safe to say they are the clear cut #1 DST option in 2014.
(1 INT, 3 Sacks, Held CHI Under 7, 46 Return Yards = 15 TOTAL POINTS)
---------
Expect a cleaner, fuller weekly article after each Seahawk battle this year. Any questions related to fantasy dont hesitate to ask, I'll answer everything. As far as the people I left out tonight? This had everything to do with the fact that it was preseason and absolutely none to do with the fact that the players I didnt mention aren't starters or anything of that nature.
See you next week!
Editor's Note: SB Nation's partner FanDuel is hosting a $100,000 Fantasy Football Contest for Week 1's NFL games. It's only $10 to join and first prize is $10,000. Starts Sunday, September 7th at 1pm ET. Here's the link.
Note: State laws prohibit residents of Washington from playing FanDuel for money. For more info check FanDuel rules here.