Dynasty fantasy football is our beloved stripped-down approximation of the NFL. We are the head coaches and general managers of our teams, choosing who stays or goes, and who plays or sits. NFL Training Camps are perhaps the best opportunity we have on the dynasty calendar to project how useful our assets will be in the coming season, particularly when it comes to managing the bottom third of our roster. The better you know the rosters of every NFL team, the more prepared you’ll be to execute the corresponding dynasty moves when camp news breaks. I’m mining all the beat reports, team websites, and post-practice press conferences to bring you a comprehensive overview of what’s going on this summer in all 32 training camps.
Seattle Seahawks
Our 12th stop on the 2017 DLF Training Camp Tour is with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks boast one of the NFL’s more efficient passing attacks thanks to the very underrated trio of Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin, and Jimmy Graham. A once proud rushing tradition has fallen by the wayside due to an inconsistent offensive line and fungible talent at the running back position.
Speaking of efficiency, the Seahawks ranked 18th in passing attempts, but tenth in passing yards in 2016. The team had never ranked higher than 20th in passing yards with Wilson at the helm. The uptick may have been due to the quarterback running less (battled a leg injury for much of the season), or it may have been just another step in Wilson’s steady ascension. He quietly eclipsed 4,000 yards passing for the second consecutive year. While most fantasy players wouldn’t consider Seattle a strong passing team, the fact that they funnel production through their primary playmakers makes this the land of the 12th Man a great target for your dynasty teams if you’re looking for a safe floor.
The team ranked 25th in rushing yards in 2016. Once again, things appear to be headed for a committee approach in the post Marshawn Lynch era. I am not optimistic we will see much improvement here this season.
Seattle rookies and veterans reported on July 28.
Wilson has returned to full health this season and is moving around great in camp. There’s nothing to fear with this elite dynasty quarterback asset. Even if his 2016 rushing line of 72/259/1 is the new norm (it isn’t), he can guide your team to victory on his arm alone, thanks to his strong passing game weapons. He has looked fantastic in preseason action, completing over 70 percent of his passes and throwing three touchdowns on 41 attempts. I’m anticipating a big year for the sixth-year veteran. The depth chart behind Wilson is sketchy at best and there is no one to stash.
Running back is shaping up to be a mess for fantasy purposes, thanks to the emergence of Chris Carson. It was already ugly enough when trying to determine who the lead dog would be among Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, and C.J. Prosise. Carson has looked the best throughout the preseason, however Lacy and Rawls bring stronger track records. Prosise has been battling injuries throughout camp but is on track to play in the preseason finale and should be ready for week one. There is definitely an air of uncertainty regarding the team’s plans for this committee in 2017. The one thing which is clear? Alex Collins is on his way out. The emergence of Carson has made Collins expendable. The team reportedly put him on the trade block earlier this week.
Baldwin remains undervalued in dynasty based on his back to back WR1 fantasy seasons as Wilson’s primary target. Feel free to go buy him if you enjoy winning. The real story in camp has been the continued emergence of Paul Richardson following his surprisingly strong playoff run to close the 2016 season. Richardson is tabbed as the number two wide receiver. Tyler Lockett has returned from his gruesome broken leg and is the team’s slot receiver this season. Neither one projects to have enough volume to be a reliable fantasy starter until the team fully commits to a “pass-first” offense, but there’s enough to like about each of their respective skill sets to feel comfortable if they are your dynasty team’s WR5/6. Jermaine Kearse is a likely cut or trade candidate due to the ascension of these younger players with higher draft pedigree.
Jimmy Graham deserves more attention for his late career resurgence. It took a while, but the former superstar has regained most of his prior fantasy utility, finishing as the TE4 in 2016. At 31, there’s plenty left in the tank, but he may be available at an age discount in your league. He’s a strong trade target for contenders. Nick Vannett is worth rostering in all but the shallowest of leagues and would likely become an immediate low-end TE2 if Graham were to go down with injury.
Possible Cuts (among dynasty relevant players): Alex Collins
Projected ADP Risers
Players Who Will Rise 1 or more rounds in startup ADP by the end of the 2017 Season: Paul Richardson
Projected ADP Fallers
Players Who Will Fall 1 or more rounds in startup ADP by the end of the 2017 Season: Eddie Lacy
Waiver Wire Watch List (players with ADP >240): Chris Carson
- Mount Bust-More? Historical Context for 2017’s Early First Round WRs - December 28, 2017
- The Return of Josh Gordon - December 2, 2017
- Player Value: Two Wide Receivers Who Might Never Be Cheaper - September 15, 2017
Carson/Richardson is on the waiver wire in my 2 team league. I have a roster spot open. What should I spend on these guys? Total budget of 35.
Is Lockette still the returner ? Our league has return TD’s but not the yardage. Also in another league traded Lockette & McCaffery for Nelson of GB to make up for the loss of Edelman. Comments ?
