Dynasty Capsule: Seattle Seahawks

As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re again going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.

We continue the series with a look at the “almost Super Bowl Champion” Seattle Seahawks.

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson

Welcome to the dynasty elite! Although the Seahawks were unsuccessful in defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX, no one can deny Russell Wilson showed tremendous growth this year. At just 26 years of age and entering only his third NFL season, Wilson did it all for the Seahawks last season. Through the air, he recorded 3,475 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. According to pro-football-reference.com, Wilson’s 1.5 interception percentage tied both Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady for fourth best in the league. In addition, pro-football-reference.com rated Wilson seventh in yards per pass attempt (tied with Andrew Luck) and sixth in yards per completion (tied with Tony Romo and ahead of Peyton Manning). In other words, Wilson is a cerebral quarterback who can not only make big plays but facilitate them as well.

If having a career high in passing yards and attempts while still remaining deftly efficient as a passer was not enough, Wilson also added 849 yards on the ground to go along with six rushing touchdowns. Wilson’s 7.2 yards per attempt were tops in the NFL. His 2014 season is a clarion call to dynasty owners that there are few better options at the quarterback position to guide your team into the future.

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Running Backs

Marshawn Lynch

At 28 years old, Marshawn Lynch is entering into uncharted territory as a fantasy commodity. Coming off one his strongest seasons to date, Lynch rushed for 1,306 yards on the ground (fourth in the NFL) and 13 touchdowns (first in the NFL). Lynch’s 4.7 yards per carry (tenth in the NFL) were second best in his career. With speculation in the news ranging from possible retirement to a huge payday, Lynch’s future is uncertain. However if Lynch does return there is little doubt he will once again play a major role in Seattle’s offensive attack. Assuming he continues to play football next year, dynasty owners might possess one of the most versatile commodities in the fantasy football world. Lynch is both a great addition for contending teams and an excellent asset for rebuilding ones. For teams that are in “win now” mode, he projects as one of the best potential running backs going into 2015. For teams that are rebuilding, Lynch could garner an early second round pick depending on the format. Few fantasy football running backs can boast as much dynasty versatility as he can.

Robert Turbin

This 25-year-old has shown that after Lynch he is the most versatile back on the roster. While Turbin may not be the same athlete as Christine Michael, he is a better receiver and pass protector. I honestly feel that if Lynch were to retire or miss time due to injury, Seattle might use both Michael and Turbin as a running back by committee. Unfortunately, this type of analysis offers little comfort to dynasty owners as Lynch’s sterling medical record over the last several years have given us little insight into how Seattle would handle such a situation. If I were a Lynch owner, I would probably hold on to Turbin as a back-up. He offers a complementary skill set to both Lynch and Michael that would almost guarantee a role in the offense.

Christine Michael

The 24-year-old Texas native and 62^nd overall pick in the 2013 Draft was touted as the heir to “Beast Mode.”   However, as we look towards the 2015 season as he’s going into his third year in the NFL, Michael has only recorded 52 carries for 254 rushing yards and no touchdowns. When you consider he has been playing behind one of the premier backs in the NFL, paltry numbers are to be expected. A closer inspection of the numbers, however, reveal that Michael’s averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season; which is far from paltry. He recorded only 34 carries, but his big play ability was evident throughout the season. I went back and watched all of Michael’s carries from last season because I am bit of a “tape head.” I came away impressed as he showed excellent burst and good lateral agility. He was able to get skinny between the tackles and get tough yards. In short, Michael is a very good runner. As a dynasty commodity, it’s hard to place a value on this young back. While Lynch contemplates retirement, Michael’s value lingers in the unknown. So while the prudent decision might be to consider trading Michael and cashing out in your league, the fan in me wants hold on a bit longer. After all he was a second round pick in 2013.

Wide Receivers

Doug Baldwin

On the heels of inking a three-year contract with the Seahawks, Doug Baldwin finished his best season as a pro in 2014 logging 66 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns. The 26-year-old Stanford product displayed good hands and physical toughness. He was far and away Russell Wilson’s favorite target throughout the year with a team leading 98 targets. Despite all of his real world success, Baldwin was merely a fourth wide receiver on most fantasy teams. Still only 26 years of age, Baldwin offers nothing more than quality depth in most dynasty formats.

Jermaine Kearse

When Sidney Rice unexpectedly retired prior to the 2014 season, many thought Kearse would be the main beneficiary in the passing game. The 25-year-old, 6’1” 212 lbs. prospect out of Washington seemed poised to take the next step this season after finishing the 2013 season with a four-cath, 65-yard, one touchdown effort in Super Bowl XLVIII. Despite several solid games this season, Kearse never produced consistently. He tallied 38 receptions for 537 yards and one touchdown during the regular season. It is important to note that while Kearse did reel in two receiving touchdowns during this years playoffs he is still far, far away from solidifying himself as a viable fantasy commodity. It is also important to note that Kearse just finished the final year of his contract with Seattle this past season and his future with the team is unknown.

Paul Richardson

Drafted 45^th overall by Seattle, Richardson was one of the most explosive wide receivers at the 2014 NFL Combine. His rookie season began slow as playing time was hard to find behind Percy Harvin, Baldwin and Kearse. When Harvin was traded to the New York Jets in mid-October, Richardson’s rookie campaign began to show signs of life. As he saw more and more playing time he began to grow as a receiver. Richardson was one of the most efficient receivers on the team in 2014, catching 29 of his 44 targets (65.7 catch percentage, good for second on the team). As the playoffs rolled around, Richardson’s role began to grow when suddenly disaster struck. Suffering an ACL tear in his left knee (the same knee injury he suffered in college) in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Carolina Panthers, his rookie campaign was abruptly ended. Rumors have been swirling recently that Richardson may start the 2015 season on the Physically-Unable-To-Perform list (PUP). While it’s unclear how Richardson will perform when he does return to action, dynasty owners should not be so quick to abandon ship. Although this injury does put Richardson’s future in serious jeopardy, other athletes have returned from ACL tears successfully. Depending on the roster size of your league, holding Richardson may be a luxury you can’t afford, but if injured reserve spots are available, you may want to consider holding on at least until more information becomes available about Richardson’s rehabilitation.

Kevin Norwood

Taken in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Norwood was a 6’2” 199 lbs. prospect out of the University of Alabama. He was considered by many to be not only one of the better route runners of the 2014 class, but also possessed one of the better sets of hands (ten inches) as well. Norwood is more quick than fast on the field and his 6.68 second 3-cone drill time supports that as he was fourth best amongst rookies in his class. The future seemed bright for the young Alabama product but a bone spur in training camp derailed his rookie campaign. Although Norwood returned to the field several days prior to the first game of the season, he did not collect his first reception as a professional until week seven. With Paul Richardson’s injury in the playoffs and rumors of the PUP list looming for his 2015 return, the 25 year old may have another chance to make an impact in 2015. Norwood’s size, and pass catching ability means he profiles well as a potential possession receiver. Dynasty owners should follow this situation closely in the off-season – he could be a potential sleeper in 2015.

Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews had one of the most compelling performances of the season in Super Bowl XLIX. His four receptions for 109 yards and one receiving touchdown against the Patriots in the Super Bowl might be one of the most shocking performances of the year. The 25-year-old, 6’5”, 218 lbs. receiver out of Kentucky began his professional football career with stints in Cleveland and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL before landing in Seattle. At this point, Matthews is still an unknown commodity, but he profiles as a big possession receiver, which Seattle is seriously lacking. If Seattle does not grab another receiver in the draft or free agency, Matthews could be making his way up the depth chart.

Tight End

Luke Willson

Taken in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Seahawks, Willson was the fifth most targeted receiver on the team in 2014. He finished the year with 22 receptions for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Although his role in the offense increased this year primarily as a result of fellow tight end Zach Miller’s injury, Willson did little to inspire confidence with his twelve additional targets. He is an unrestricted free agent in 2017 and early predictions among draft pundits are that Seattle may look to acquire a tight end in this year’s draft. Willson is of little value in dynasty formats.

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