Seattle Seahawks 2011 Fantasy Preview

Of the 12 NFL teams that participated in last year’s postseason, only Seattle will line up with a new QB on opening day. They will also have a new projected No. 1 WR, and a new TE. Not usually what you will find from franchises that won a playoff game the previous January. Of course, the Seahawks were a unique postseason team to begin with. Their unimpressive 7-9 record supplied them with the dubious distinction of being the first sub-500 team in NFL history to qualify as a division champion, and they were also first team with a losing record over the course of a full 16 game schedule to enter the postseason.

There were reasons for that losing record, starting with an offense that could only manage 297.8 YPG, which ranked just 28^th overall. They struggled mightily to establish any semblance of a running game throughout most of the season, ranking a lowly 31^st while averaging just 89 YPG. Their passing attack ranked 19^th, as QBs Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst combined for just 14 TDs, with 20 INTs, and a rating of 69.3.

All of which explains why the Seahawks have aggressively transformed their lineup, in hopes of igniting their attack.  Starting at QB, where Hasselbeck’s 10-year run as the starter has ended. Former Viking Tarvaris Jackson signed a two-year deal, and was immediately anointed as the starter by HC Pete Carroll. That was somewhat surprising, since an open competition for that role would seem logical. However, it appears that Whitehurst is already destined to serve as Jackson’s backup. The No. 1 WR slot is not in question, as Jackson’s former teammate, Sidney Rice, was also imported from Minnesota, and supplies a clear upgrade to the position. Plus, Pro Bowl TE Zach Miller was pilfered from Oakland, to provide another dependable target for the new signal caller.

Seahawk’s Offense

Jackson’s 3,984 passing yards would constitute a nice season, but unfortunately, that is his career total after five years. In his most productive season (2007) he was just 24^th in passing yardage, behind such notables as Joey Harrington and Damon Huard. The Vikings had already rejected the concept of him being a viable NFL starter, and subsequently announced his release last March. However, Jackson will have several factors in his favor this season. First, his former OC in Minnesota – Darrell Bevell – is now functioning in that capacity for the Seahawks. Also, his friend and former teammate, is also his newly acquired No. 1 target.

Tarvaris Jackson’s Career

That of course is Rice, who immediately becomes Seattle’s best receiving option, despite the continued presence of Mike Williams, who led the Seahawks in receptions last season with 65, and Ben Obomanu, who scored four TDs. Rice experienced his proverbial breakout season in 2009, finishing fourth among all WRs with 1,312 yards, while also collecting 83 receptions. Four of the five games in which he has surpassed 100 receiving yards during his career, also took place that year.

Otherwise, his four seasons in purple were forgettable, and the former second-round pick would be widely considered a bust. It is noteworthy that Rice’s only success occurred while lining up with Brett Favre… not Jackson. The reunion of former Vikings needs to be significantly more productive than their previous engagement. Because at this point, the Seahawks have invested $52 million in a tandem that has failed to experience success together, when they had the opportunity.

Sidney Rice’s Career  

Miller was a perpetual and reliable weapon, despite working with five different starting QBs during his four seasons with the Raiders. While he is certainly talented, and will remain a dependable target for the Seahawks, it can be argued that he does not represent a massive upgrade at the position. While he averaged 56.5 receptions and three TDs during his four years with the Raiders, he is replacing John Carlson, who averaged 46 catches and four TDs over the past three seasons.

Zach Miller’s Career  

The fortunes of Jackson, Rice, and Miller will improve if the team can establish an effective rushing attack. That is dependent primarily upon Marshawn Lynch, whose inconsistency was maddening last season. His electrifying 67-yard TD during last year’s first round playoff game formed an indelible impression with many observers. However, in 12 regular season games after being traded from Buffalo, he only accumulated 573 yards for the Seahawks, averaging a pitiful 3.5 YPC. He failed to exceed 50 yards seven times, and did not even reach 40 yards in five different games. He must perform considerably better, although the potential is there for him to accomplish just that. He does have two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, and is still just 25-years old.

Lynch, Rice, and Miller, have all proven that they can produce at a high level in the NFL. But there is nothing from Jackson’s tenure in Minnesota to suggest that he will suddenly emerge as a viable NFL QB. Nor that he will now develop chemistry with Rice, so that the wideout can re-establish himself as a starting WR in your lineups.

Because of those severe deficiencies at QB, the numbers for all Seahawks will be somewhat limited. Owners should keep that in mind, as opposed to focusing too much on Rice’s one productive season, or Miller’s potential. Consider Rice and Lynch as sixth-round selections and nothing more. With Miller a 10^th round pick. Stay away from Jackson and Whitehurst, and even Williams for that matter.