Seattle Seahawks - Fantasy News

Should I Start Russell Wilson in Week 17?

by Derek Norton

12/27/17

NFL

Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson was a popular MVP pick for much of the season. The hype around the Seattle quarterback peaked when he and the Seahawks handed the Philadelphia Eagles their second loss of the season in what would be Carson Wentz’s final full game. Then the wheels came off.

But Wilson is no slouch, having played a part in 4,312 of Seattle’s 4,990 net total yards. Anyone creating 86.4 percent of his team’s offense deserves attention, though Wilson’s recent struggles make him a more worrisome pick than usual in his Week 17 matchup against Arizona.

Why Should I Start Russell Wilson?

The Seahawks can make the playoffs with a win and an Atlanta loss, while the Cardinals have nothing to play for. It’s reasonable to expect the Seahawks to be highly motivated and to throw everything they have at the considerably less motivated Cardinals, especially with a potential lame duck coach on the Arizona sidelines. This could be the get-right game that Wilson so desperately needs.

The former North Carolina State and Wisconsin product has exceeded his Week 17 projection (20.5 Dober points) more often than not this year. He’s done it nine times and averages 22.1 Dober points per game. Considering the circumstances, it seems unlikely Wilson puts up another below-average game.

Arizona is in a three-way tie with Cleveland and San Francisco for the most rushing touchdowns allowed to quarterbacks (five). Wilson is second among passers with 550 rushing yards and his 6.1 yards per carry rank second in the league among players with more than 60 carries. Only Alvin Kamara (6.2) averages more. Since there could be no tomorrow, the Seahawks may get Wilson involved in the running game even more than usual.

There is also a chance Patrick Peterson won’t suit up. He left Arizona’s Week 16 game with a concussion but isn’t in the concussion protocol. However, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Cardinals decided not to risk his health in a game that won’t affect them outside of draft position.

Why Should I Bench Russell Wilson?

Wilson has been awful in each of his last two games. He threw for a season-low 142 yards in a 42-7 loss to the Rams in Week 15, then followed that up with a career-low 93 yards in a win over Dallas in Week 16. Seattle’s offense is capable of brutally awful stretches from time to time, and this one may not have ended yet.

Wilson doesn’t have a great history against the Cardinals. In 11 career games, he has thrown one or no touchdown passes six times. He has thrown for 240 yards or fewer nine times and has just one rushing touchdown. He does put up the occasional monster performance against them (13 of his 20 total touchdowns came in four games), but they usually hold him in check.

The Cardinals have a good defense on a per-play basis. Their 6.7 yards per attempt allowed is tied for the sixth-lowest in the league. They are also considered the eighth-hardest matchup for quarterbacks according to 4for4.com’s Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed metric.

Seattle will also have to deal with Chandler Jones, who leads the NFL with 15 sacks. Aaron Donald showed how a single dominant defensive lineman can wreck Seattle’s entire offense. Jones could have Wilson running for his life all day.

Should I Make Russell Wilson a Week 17 Fantasy Starter?

No. The Cardinals have only allowed one quarterback (Blake Bortles) to go over 20 Dober points since Week 7, and he needed two rushing touchdowns to do it. Then there’s Seattle’s offense, which looks a little too out-of-sync to be trusted right now. Wilson ought to have a decent game, but his projection is too high for him to be worth using.

Week 17 Fantasy Prediction: Russell Wilson Under 20.5 DFPs