Getty Images
Wide receiver Doug Baldwin has been on the verge of becoming fantasy football relevant, but he has never been able to find enough targets to become a consistent option. Former teammate Golden Tate will now be catching passes from Matthew Stafford, so the only competition Baldwin faces is injury-prone receiver Percy Harvin. Will this be the year that the 25-year-old receiver makes it into the top 20?
Positives:
Tate saw 98 targets in 2013, which means he accounted for 23 percent of the passing targets last season. Harvin has never topped 87 receptions in a season, and Baldwin should see an increase from his career-high 51 receptions. Baldwin looked strong towards the end of the season, with four games of 12 or more points after Week 9.
Negatives:
The Seattle Seahawks‘ bread and butter is running the ball. The offense finished fourth in rushing yards but only ranked 26th in passing yards. Quarterback Russell Wilson only had the 16th-most passing yards in 2013, so the opportunities for receivers are very limited. Even if Marshawn Lynch is unable to repeat his performances from the last two years, Seattle has depth in Christine Michael and Robert Turbin that will still allow the game plan to focus around the rushing attack.
Final Verdict:
There are just not enough opportunities for Baldwin to become a reliable fantasy option. His value will be greatly boosted if Harvin is injured, but there isn’t much upside in drafting Baldwin. Unless the Seahawks plan to drastically alter the passing attack, focus your attentions on Harvin instead of Baldwin.
Bye Week: 4
Projected Round: Last
Auction Value: $1(fftoolbox.com)
Jack Delaney is a fantasy football writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jackbmore13, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google
