The Seahawks passing game is in the midst of a historic stretch, and very thankfully, it has come during the Fantasy playoffs. As many Fantasy players enter the semifinal rounds of their postseason runs, they can expect more outstanding production from what has become the hottest QB to WR connection in the league.
Many Fantasy owners always look for and to a prolific QB/WR duo to give them two Fantasy prime sources of production from one potent offense. Whenever that passer and receiver combine for a score, for instance, you will get four points for a passing TD and six for the WR score, giving you 10 points on one play. The strategic angle is to double up on potential production with one duo as a very productive source. Over the last three games, no QB/WR pairing has been as productive as Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin. They have registered eight TDs as a pairing during that memorable span.
Wilson has rocketed back to a place among the best overall Fantasy passers on NFL.com, where he ranks fifth for the season with 269.16 points. He has scored over 126.94 NFL.com points over the past four games, an incredible Fantasy stretch that has propelled his Fantasy owners to playoff berths and key postseason victories to this point. His statistical heroics should continue this week against the Browns, who have allowed 19.09 Fantasy Points Per Game to opposing QBs, the eighth-highest total on NFL.com.
Cleveland's defense ranks 22nd in passing yards per game and has surrendered 26 TD passes with just 26 sacks and eight interceptions. He should have lots of time to throw this week while continuing to flourish as a pocket passer. Expect three TD passes as the Seahawks passing game remains the clear offensive axis. This week in Fantasy Football, it is the equivalent of the NFL's Conference Championship Round, and Wilson should carry many Fantasy teams to their Super Bowls in Week 16.
Baldwin is now the eighth-highest standard scoring WR on NFL.com with 152.00 points, and he has soared ahead of big name standouts such as Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas with his sizzling play over the past month. The Browns allow 26.01 FFPG to opposing wideouts, the seventh-most on NFL.com. Baldwin's on-field rapport with Wilson has never been as smooth as it is now, and he is displaying incredible versatility with his ability to gain important yards after the catch while also getting loose downfield for big plays and making tough grabs in tighter quarters. For the first time in his career, he is being regarded as a Fantasy WR1, and he is due for another impressive outing in Week 15. His 80.1 Fantasy standard Fantasy points over the past three games have catapulted Baldwin into lofty Fantasy territory for the first time in his career.
Rookie Tyler Lockett continued to build on his considerable potential last week, catching a pair of TD passes for the second time this season. He has 13 catches for 194 yards in the past two games and is quickly emerging as a new playmaking force in the explosive passing game. Wilson has been getting Lockett the ball in ideal spots where he can flash his ability to make things happen after the catch, but the first-year wideout has also been getting behind defenders for key plays as well. He deserves very strong Fantasy WR3 consideration for this week. Jermaine Kearse also caught seven passes for 74 yards last week and can be viable in some deeper leagues.
Former Eagle and Bill Bryce Brown is now in the mix for carries at RB for the Seahawks this week, and he was one of the hottest waiver additions in Fantasy Football this week. Brown averaged 4.9 yards per carry and scored four times in his rookie season with the Eagles, displaying the ability to create space for himself and elude defenders with some electric moves. At just 24 years old with just 226 NFL carries so far, he has fresh legs and some promise. The Seahawks also brought back Christine Michael on Tuesday as well. Obviously, having spent two seasons and the 2015 training camp with the Seahawks makes him another possible impact player in the short term. Michael has always intrigued Fantasy players with his considerable potential, as he has flashed a lot of ability in the preseason in the past.
The Browns allow 20.36 standard FFPG to opposing RBs, the seventh-most on NFL.com. The Browns rank 29th defensively in yards per game against the run (131.3) and have yielded 11 scores on the ground. Pete Carroll indicated that he may wait until game time to evaluate how he will use Brown and Michael, and their carries may also simply come down to who develops the hot hand. If Fantasy players can roster both, they can wait and see who emerges for possible usage in Week 16 for their potential championship rounds. This should be a week of evaluation for Fantasy players as well as Carroll when it comes to the Seahawks' current RB situation.
Steven Hauschka should be good for at least two to three field goals and a bevy of extra points this week. The Seahawks defense has totaled 22.00 Fantasy points on NFL.com in the past two weeks and is an elite starting unit again. The Browns rank 29th in the NFL with an average of 18.5 points per game. The Seahawks LB corps should have no problem shutting down Isaiah Crowell after his outstanding day last week, and Johnny Manziel will struggle to find open receivers consistently. They will also force him into more than one turnover.
In other games, Blake Bortles will continue to produce very good Fantasy numbers against the Falcons. Matthew Stafford has some real upside vs. the Saints. Ryan Fitzpatrick is underrated in Fantasy circles and will deliver another good performance against the Cowboys.
Lamar Miller can make the most of any amount of touches he gets against the Chargers. Chris Ivory will find the end zone as he takes on the Cowboys. James White will be busy against Tennessee and James Starks may score again as he takes on the Raiders. He's a quality flex option.
John Brown is a good bet to provide more big plays against the Eagles. Randall Cobb is a good WR2 start against Oakland. Golden Tate is worth a PPR WR play vs. the Saints and Emmanuel Sanders will re-emerge against the Steelers.
Vernon Davis and Jacob Tamme are nifty options if you are looking for some tight end help. The Jets defense is a solid start vs. Dallas and the Texans are another good option as they face the Colts.
For more in-depth Fantasy Football playoff analysis from Scott and his team at RotoExperts.com, register now for the Xclusive Edge Fantasy Football package right here and take advantage of a very special Fantasy Football playoffs discount offer for Seahawks fans by entering the promocode "seahawks" at checkout. You can also watch Scott on the Fantasy Sports Network (FNTSY) with the new app on AppleTV.
