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This game was hyped as an epic road matchup between two playoff contenders. The Seattle Seahawks (8-4 going in) and the Philadelphia Eagles (9-3) were fighting for their collective rights to enter the postseason, and one team was going home without a goodie bag.
Also, somebody forgot to tell Mark Sanchez that moderately good looks won't win you football games...
[QB]
Russell Wilson - (48 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD, 263 Pass Yards, 2 Pass TDs = Total Points 33.32)
It took almost an entire full quarter of football for Seattle to leave their mark but eventually they did. Just 43 seconds in the 2nd quarter Russell Wilson took a beautifully designed quarterback read-option keeper to the house for 26 yards for the Seahawks first points on the day. To give Wilson owners a perspective on how the first half went, Russell made 21 passing attempts in the first two quarters, which is just 7 attempts shy of his total from all of last game (28).
Russell's hot hand continued as he connected with a wide open Marshawn Lynch for a 15 yard touchdown pass just 47 seconds into the third quarter. Though it felt like forever, just minutes later, still inside the third quarter, Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin responded back to the Eagles score with a 23 yards touchdown of their own.
Setting a season high in passing attempts (37), Wilson threw for 263 yards and two scores without tossing an interception. It wouldnt be a complete Wilson performance without a little rushing action to go with it so he also added 10 rushes for 48 yards and a score.
All around a dominant performance versus a very tough Philadelphia defense. Wilson is peaking at the perfect time and once again proved he is a match-up proof QB1 anytime, anywhere.
[RB]
Marshawn Lynch - (86 Rush Yards, 5 Catches, 27 Rec Yard, 1 Rec TD = Standard 15.3/PPR 20.3 Points)
We knew Philadelphia wasn't going to make Marshawn's day very easy and judging by his first half stats (12 rushes, 39 yards 3.3 YPC) they didn't. Just inside the third quarter, Marshawn Lynch found himself "free-range chicken" level wide open as he waved his arms just before securing an easy touchdown pass from Russell Wilson for a 15 yard score. Throughout the rest of the game Lynch would serve as a human battering ram while breaking off chunks of yardage. He finished his day with 23 carries for 86 yards 3.7 YPC. In the pass game he also reeled in 5 catches for 27 yards and one touchdown on 5 targets.
He's the centerpiece of this offense, and if Pete Carroll is going to let Russell Wilson throw this many times a game it can only boost Lynch's already lofty status. He will continue to be a RB1 as he faces off with some ferocious defenses down the fantasy football playoff stretch.
Robert Turbin - (7 Rush Yards, 1 catches, 14 Rec Yards = Standard 2.1/PPR 3.1 Points)
Pretty much a non-factor Sunday afternoon. He rushed 4 times for just 7 yards and added 1 catch for 14 yards on 2 targets. A serviceable spell back and accomplished passing down option, Turbin is not worth rostering at this point.
Christine Michael - (32 Rush Yards = Standard 3.2/PPR 3.2 Points)
Purely a garbage time addition, Michael didn't get much opportunity vs Philadelphia. An elite dynasty hold, but not worth the risk during your fantasy playoffs. He produced 32 yards on just 6 carries.
[WR]
Jermaine Kearse - (15 Rush Yards, 3 Catches, 34 Rec Yards = Standard 4.9/PPR 7.9 Points)
He saw a legitimate amount of targets (7) but his performance was far from "legit". He has some upside in this offense when Wilson is throwing the ball 37 times, but until this becomes a regular thing Kearse will be untrustable. Nearly a mirror image of his week prior, Kearse had 3 catches for 37 yards and a very, very, very subpar fantasy football outing.
Doug Baldwin - (5 Catches, 97 Rec Yards, 1 TD = Standard 15.7/PPR 20.7 Points)
He's back! We knew Doug had WR3+ abilities in this offense but at times it was hard to justify, today however, it wasn't. Baldwin finished the first half with 4 catches for 74 yards on 5 targets and made numerous big time plays for his quarterback down field. Part way into the 3rd quarter Baldwin got his defender to bite on an inside move, leaving Russell plenty of daylight to hit him for a 23 yard score in the back of the end zone. He ended the game 5-97-1, these are the type of numbers all of us wish were a weekly occurrence.
Baldwin is a talented wideout and still Russell's favorite. Doug will be a fringe WR3 heading into next week's clash with the 49ers back in Seattle.
Paul Richardson - (2 Catch, 27 Rec Yards, 53 Return Yards = Standard 2.7/PPR 5.9 Points)
He's just not very fantasy relevant in 2014 with the identity that the Seattle Seahawks carry. A high end dynasty stash at best, but nobody should be rolling P-Rich out during their fantasy football playoffs, nobody.
Kevin Norwood - (2 Catch, 22 Rec Yards = Standard 2.2/PPR 4.2 Points)
A much better DEEP dynasty stash than actual redraft player. He saw just two targets though he caught both. If you're debating whether or not to start Norwood than I think you may have bigger problems on your hands.
Ricardo Lockette - (1 Catch, 19 Rec Yards = Standard 1.9/PPR 2.9 Points)
More memorable for his ridiculous flop Sunday afternoon than his actual on the field play. He's less relevant to fantasy football than sugar free candy is to John Goodman.
[TE]
Tony Moeaki - (1 Catch, 15 Rec Yards = Standard 1.5/PPR 2.5 Points)
Tony is an athletic tight end that gives Russell an additional outlet in the pass game but that is where the buck stops. He does'nt have any fantasy football relevance unless you fancy yourself a river boat gambling man.
Luke Willson - (1 Catch, 1 Rec Yard = Standard .1/PPR 1.1 Points)
1 catch for 1 yard on just 2 targets. You want next to nothing to do with Luke in your fantasy football playoff battles.
[DST]
Seattle Seahawks DST - (3 Points Allowed, 4 Sacks, 2 INT, 1 Fum Rec, 52 Return Yards = Standard/PPR = 18.3 Points)
This defense has played with a chip on their shoulders for the past few weeks and after all the talk about the Eagles offensive pace I believe the Seahawks had finally heard enough. Despite the early Jeremy Maclin touchdown, the Seattle DST showed no quit. Early in the third quarter, the gloves came off as Seattle immediately forced a loosely carried football from LeSean McCoy arms which moments later set-up a 15 yard Marshawn receiving touchdown. Finally who could forget the Tharold Simon interception? All day long the Seattle pass rush and secondary played at a high level. This defense is starting to shift back into its 2013 form at the perfect time and fantasy owners couldn't be happier.
Next week the Seattle DST will take on their rival San Francisco 49er counterparts back in Seattle. This has to have all fantasy football owners salivating at the thought of the Legion of Boom versus what appears to be a nearly inept San Fran offense.
[K]
Steven Hauschka - (1 FG, 4 XP's = 6 Total Points)
Week in and week out he produces at a consistent level. An extremely poised and accurate kicker that rarely, if ever, leaves points on the field. Sunday afternoon was no different as Hausch' made his lone field goal and added an additional 4 extra points.
Fear nothing and roll Steven back out verse San Francisco as a top 10 kicking option.
[P]
John Ryan - You had one job. In one of the more horrific Seattle Seahawk punt situations John Ryan took his eyes off a long snap that, turned into a fumble recovery, that eventually turned into a goal line Jeremy Maclin touchdown.
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Editor's Note: FanDuel is hosting a $400,000 fantasy football league for SBNation. It's $5 to join and first place wins $35,000. League starts Sunday 1 PM ET and ends on Monday. Here's the link.