2022 Dynasty Fantasy Football Summer Sleeper: Seattle Seahawks

In our annual 32-part Summer Sleeper series, DLF scribes identify a lightly-touted player on each NFL roster who may be worthy of your consideration. Our subjects all have varying levels of “sleeperness,” but each merits a bit of in-depth discussion.

To help everybody along, we are going to be categorizing our sleepers under one of three headings:

Super Deep Sleepers – Players who aren’t roster-worthy in 12-team leagues, but are still worth keeping an eye on.

Deep Sleepers – An end-of-the-roster player who is more often than not on the waiver wire in 12-team leagues.

Sleeper – A likely rostered player who makes for a good trade target. Their startup ADP puts them out of the top 175 or so.

Because we aren’t going to give you the likes of mainstream sleepers, most of these players will undoubtedly fizzle. All we are asking is for you to keep an open mind and perhaps be willing to make room for one of these players on your bench. You never know when the next Adam Thielen or James Robinson is going to spring up. Feel free to add your own thoughts about our choice for the designated sleeper, or nominate one of your own in the comments below.

With Russell Wilson moving out of the Pacific Northwest for the mountains of Mile High, the Seahawks offense is not a popular target in 2022. DK Metcalf should still have some boom potential catching deep passes and garbage time should be a benefit to both him and Tyler Lockett. There was hope of Noah Fant finally being attached to an improved quarterback in Denver but that was dashed when he was dealt in part of the Wilson deal. Perhaps he performs well in Seattle.

Part of me wanted to champion Chris Carson rising from the ashes like a Phoenix. However, it appears his career is likely coming to an end due to his injury. Rashaad Penny doesn’t fit the definition of a ‘Summer Sleeper’ although based on price, he is the Seattle running back to own. Fant is still being drafted above the top 175 mark.

I have decided on…

D’Wayne Eskridge, WR

Category: Super Deep Sleeper

PRODUCTION

Coming out of Western Michigan, Eskridge frustrated Seattle fans everywhere when the team selected him 56th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and passed on center Creed Humphrey. However, he was very intriguing as a fast receiver who could benefit from teams focusing on Metcalf and Lockett in coverage.

Statistics from Sports Reference.

Looking at statistics, Eskridge didn’t break out until he was a 23-year-old senior in 2020. It was likely his big-play ability and a solid Scouting Combine that helped him jump up as Seattle’s second-round selection.

Posting a 4.38-second 40-yard dash with an 81st-percentile 1.51-second 10-yard split likely caught the eye of John Schneider and Pete Carroll. The two are always looking for athletes who can be a difference on the field.

At the top of the comparison list for Eskridge based on combine data is the current fantasy favorite, Jaylen Waddle.

DEPTH CHART

After Metcalf and Lockett, the Seahawks’ depth chart is a bit of a mess. Freddie Swain showed he was competent to hold on as the WR3 on the depth chart in 2021.

Eskridge missed a majority of the 2021 off-season with a toe injury and in the first game of the season, he suffered a concussion and missed the next seven games. In week 15, with Lockett out with an injury, Eskridge was on the field for 70 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. He finished with only four targets and one reception.

Seattle brought in Bo Melton in the draft and signed Marquise Goodwin in the off-season. The Seahawks ranked 31st in pass attempts in 2021 so there aren’t many targets to spread around in this offense.

CONTRACT

Eskridge signed his rookie deal which takes him through 2024 with the team where he would then be a 28-year-old unrestricted free agent. Swain is only signed through 2023 and Goodwin was brought in on a one-year deal.

CHALLENGES

Even if Eskridge manages to climb the depth chart and cement himself as the WR3, he will still be limited by the Seattle offense. With either Geno Smith or Drew Lock at the helm and a limited number of targets to go around, it will be feast or famine.

If the team manages to add Baker Mayfield, things would improve for the Seattle pass-catchers.

CONCLUSION

I would prefer to find a sleeper at RB in Seattle, and draft Penny over Kenneth Walker. The offense will be limited. Gone are the days of the Legion of Boom and Seattle will likely be playing from behind often, so maybe you can eke out some boom-bust garbage time points. Pete Carroll will do everything he can to burn the clock with the run game to limit the time his defense is on the field.

Currently going undrafted in DLF June ADP, I would target Eskridge as a free agent addition after waivers run or as a $0 bid in your auction budget.