Team Talk: Seattle Seahawks

By Adam Filadelfo (@Frostt24)

Heading back to where the Team Series all started, let's talk a look at the NFC West and the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks aren't just coming off of a championship season, they're coming off helping plenty of fantasy owners win fantasy championships in 2013. Most owners have no doubt the defending champions will once again warrant some serious attention in fantasy football in 2014.

Russell Wilson- Coming off of a season that saw the second year quarterback pass for more than 3,300 yards and 26 touchdowns plus rush for another 539 yards and a touchdown, fantasy owners can expect another spectacular fantasy season from the Seattle signal caller in now his third season under center. He averaged almost 21 fantasy points per game and could see those numbers increase if his big play receiver Percy Harvin can manage to play more than one game.

Marshawn Lynch- Beast Mode was just that in 2013. One of the top fantasy running backs last season, Lynch proved fantasy owners were right when they drafted him early. With over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns to his credit in 2013, Lynch also added 36 catches for 316 yards and two scores. He averaged 15 fantasy points per game in 2013 but where the problem could lie regarding Lynch in 2014 is the talk about a running back by committee or just more touches for Christine Michael. With over 300 touches last season, the Seahawks may want to look into keeping Lynch fresh throughout the season. If Lynch gets a reduced workload this season, fantasy owners may want to drop him a little bit in their rankings. At this time, it's unclear how the Seahawks plan to divide carries for their three backs throughout the season.

Christine Michael- The Seahawks may have a very capable backup to Marshawn Lynch and with the news that Seattle plans on giving Michael more carries makes him a much earlier pick than he normally would be. If the reports of more touches for Christine Michael are true, fantasy owners have to believe Michael is a must own fantasy back heading into 2014 drafts. He's shown explosive ability and can score from anywhere on the field. Suddenly, Christine Michael is no longer a handcuff to Marshawn Lynch.

Robert Turbin- Although the news of a running back by committee is what the Seahawks are planning on for 2014, it's hard to believe Robert Turbin will see that many touches as long as Lynch and Michael are healthy and running well. While Turbin may still be worth a late round stash as a handcuff in case Lynch or Michael gets hurt, it may be a little tough for fantasy owners to swallow holding onto a player that isn't going to see consistent playing time

Doug Baldwin- Baldwin had a decent fantasy season in 2013 with 50 receptions for 778 yards and five touchdowns. Baldwin could be a nice option for fantasy owners late in drafts again in 2014 seeing how Percy Harvin is all but guaranteed to miss time as is Sidney Rice and Golden Tate is no longer with the team. Baldwin could end up being the number one option by default.

Percy Harvin- It's too bad Harvin can't stay healthy long enough to play a full season because he'd be quite the fantasy receiver. He played in only one game last season and had a total of one catch for 17 yards. He's a threat in the return game a well as the passing game but he's too difficult to trust on a week to week basis being that consistency is the name of the game and Percy Harvin is the complete opposite of consistency. Nonetheless, if Harvin is still on the board later in drafts, fantasy owners will have no choice but to scoop him up seeing how high his upside can be.

Sidney Rice- Another receiver that just can't stay healthy long enough to prove what he's truly capable of, Sidney Rice played half a season for the Super Bowl champions in 2013 and averaged five fantasy points per game. If he stays healthy to play more games, he will no doubt provide fantasy owners with much better numbers in 2014.

Zach Miller- Miller is an underrated fantasy tight end. He may not put up the biggest numbers on a weekly basis, but he is reliable for the most part. In 2013, he averaged just over five fantasy points per game and did have five scores. He is a decent fantasy option if you plan on waiting at the tight end position.

D/ST- One of the biggest strengths for the Seahawks and fantasy owners as well, the Seahawks defense was once again tops in fantasy football as far as defenses were concerned. There weren't too many weeks the defense got lit up and always found a way to come up with a turnover when they needed it. With most of the defense in tact from 2013, fantasy owners should expect the Seattle defense to produce big time in 2014 again.