The Sky is Falling in Seattle
The losses of left tackle Walter Jones, left guard Mike Wahle, and center Chris Spencer have decimated the Seahawks' offensive line. No member of Seattle's projected Week 1 unit returns at the same position, and three are new starters. Let's have a look:
LT Sean Locklear - Injury-prone right tackle playing out of position on left; undersized at 6'4/301.
LG Rob Sims - Started 16 games in '07, but deemed ineffective and lost job to Wahle in 2008.
C Steve Vallos - 2007 7th-round pick forced to start five games in 2008 for 4-12 Seahawks.
RG Mansfield Wrotto - Former college defensive tackle has seven career appearances, all in '08.
RT Ray Willis - Ten career starts in five seasons, all in '08 due to Locklear, Jones injuries.
** Jones is supposedly due back 4-6 weeks after his August 20 knee surgery. The optimistic end of that estimate would have Jones back for Week 2, but the odds are heavily against him. He's 35, already had microfracture surgery on the same knee this offseason, and is also dealing with a bad back. The Seahawks will be lucky if Jones is effective by Week 6.
** Wahle has retired.
** Rookie Max Unger has not cracked the lineup.
** Spencer has a torn quadriceps. Throughout his career, the 2005 first-round pick has never demonstrated the ability to recover quickly or stay healthy, making it through one 16-game campaign in four years. His timetable is 4-6 weeks, but again we see that as very optimistic.
Week-to-week shuffling on the Seahawks' offensive line all season appears inevitable. With two backs that lack any sort of explosiveness (Edgerrin James, Julius Jones) and one of the most run-heavy offensive coordinators of all time (Greg Knapp), this situation should be avoided entirely in fantasy leagues. Expect John Carlson to stay on the line to help Locklear and Willis block. I'd give 34-year-old Matt Hasselbeck a 5-10 percent chance of making it through the season unscathed. It's gonna be a long, long year in Seattle.
Comments
Evan,
Is there any chance for Forsett to achieve some fantasy value this season as maybe a flex play?
He seems to be a good target out of the backfield and has the explosiveness Jones and Edge lack. He might catch alot of dumpoff passes if Hasselbeck doesn't have the time to set and throw.
Posted by: Bobby | August 25, 2009 02:17 PM
Bobby - Definitely someone to watch. We already blogged on him as a Deeeep Sleeper, in fact.
Posted by: evan | August 25, 2009 02:42 PM
I think I read a blog entry around these parts a while back that said he needs some injuries to get an opportunity, but Knapp isn't the type is shy away from him just because he doesn't have elite size or speed if he does get that opportunity.
By the way, had my first fantasy draft the other day, and when I looked at my final roster, I couldn't help but notice it was very Rotoworld-influenced. Here's hoping that bold prediction about Shaub comes to fruition.
Posted by: Fredex | August 25, 2009 02:46 PM
Evan, what does this do to TJ Housh's value? Sounds like Hasselbeck is going to have to throw like crazy on short and medium routes. That's TJ's bread and butter, right?
Posted by: Patrick | August 25, 2009 02:57 PM
I'll be avoiding all seattle RB's in drafts this year. Jones & Edge will be splitting time and they are not trust worthy at all. Carlson & Housh are.
Posted by: Misfit | August 25, 2009 03:36 PM
To Patrick:
That is only if Hasselbeck can stay healthy this year.
A big "IF" i don't see that happening at all. has been hurt last few years and is getting up there in age. stay away from Matt this year I am.
Posted by: Misfit | August 25, 2009 03:39 PM
looks like Roto was right that Carlsons number might take a hit this year. Although im not so sure. With this news and the apparent lack of blocking for a running game, wouldnt that mean more passing for this offense. Or just mediocre everything. I guessing mediocre everthing offensively.
Posted by: scott c | August 25, 2009 03:54 PM