2012 Fantasy Football, Monday Night Football Week 3 Preview: Packers vs. Seahawks
Unless otherwise noted, the following lineup and roster advice assumes a standard 10- or 12-team league with roster spots as 1 QB/2 RB/2 WR/1 RB/WR/1 TE. If I don’t mention a player it means I feel he isn’t worthy of starting in any league except very deep leagues. For advice regarding deeper leagues feel free to ask me on Twitter @44AMiller.
This week, the Packers visit the Seahawks in a classic offense versus defense battle. The Packers have started off slowly offensively, ranking 23rd in total offense and 20th in scoring offense, after ranking third and first, respectively, in those categories last year. To be fair, Green Bay has faced two tough defenses in its first two games, and that fact won’t change this week against a tough Seahawks defense, which should give the Packers all they can handle.
After two weeks the Seahawks rank sixth in total defense – one spot behind Green Bay, actually – but are just as good if not better in the other important defensive categories. Even though they’ve given up only the 13th fewest passing yards, they’ve only allowed 6.1 yards per attempt, good for sixth in the league. Their 2.6 yards allowed per rush is good for third in the league, and their 13.5 points allowed is also third.
In other words, the Seahawks defense is good, and it might cause you to change your roster a bit this week. Aaron Rodgers isn’t necessarily a must-start this week, because the Seahawks have only allowed 21 total fantasy points to quarterbacks in standard scoring. They shut down Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ offense last week, a week after the Boys put up 433 yards of offense. My buddy’s sitting Rodgers this week for Robert Griffin III – a move I fully endorse. Griffin’s scored five total touchdowns and has rushed for 124 yards in his first two games. Now he faces a Bengals D that’s been the fifth-friendliest defense to opposing QBs this year. If you want to play Rodgers that’s fine, but there are better matchups out there.
Another Packer you might want to bench is Cedric Benson. The Seahawks run D is dominant; they’ve only allowed 72 yards and one touchdown to opposing running backs this year. They shut down DeMarco Murray last week to only 44 yards on 12 carries. Benson doesn’t have the breakaway speed Murray does. Last week Benson scored 11 points against the Bears, another tough run defense. He’s no more than a flex play with this matchup.
The only two Green Bay receivers I feel comfortable starting are Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley. The Pack will have to abandon the run early in the game and rely on Rodgers throwing the ball. Last week Nelson was the most targeted Packer, with nine. Finley and James Jones both had five targets. Jones didn’t do anything with those five targets, only catching two for a minus-1 yard total. After a very good opening game Randall Cobb had 48 total yards on one rush and one reception last week. In deep leagues he’s a start, but in regular leagues you should have a better, more reliable option. Greg Jennings missed last week’s game with a groin injury, and is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game. He’ll probably play, but since the game is Monday you should play it safe and start someone who plays Sunday. Even if Jennings goes he’s facing a tough defense and won’t be 100 percent.
If you have either team’s D/ST I would go ahead and start either one and not worry about finding a replacement.
Russell WIlson hasn’t surpassed 153 yards in either of his first two professional games, and while he could throw for more than that this week he shouldn’t be more than a backup for you at this point. The Seahawks have relied on Marshawn Lynch so far, as he has 207 rush yards and a touchdown through two games. Lynch is a good start this week, but don’t expect a great game from him.
The Packers have played very well against wide receivers this year, only allowing one touchdown, 20 catches and 204 yards against them. The ‘Hawks leading receiver, Sidney Rice, only has seven catches for 67 receiving yards this year. In deeper leagues or on teams where you’ve lost a Jeremy Maclin, Hakeem Nicks or Greg Jennings, Rice could be an OK WR3 or deep flex play for you, but don’t expect much because Wilson is just 28th in attempts this year. Rice is the only Seahawks receiver or tight end I’d even think about starting.
Written by Andrew Miller exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com.
This week, the Packers visit the Seahawks in a classic offense versus defense battle. The Packers have started off slowly offensively, ranking 23rd in total offense and 20th in scoring offense, after ranking third and first, respectively, in those categories last year. To be fair, Green Bay has faced two tough defenses in its first two games, and that fact won’t change this week against a tough Seahawks defense, which should give the Packers all they can handle.
After two weeks the Seahawks rank sixth in total defense – one spot behind Green Bay, actually – but are just as good if not better in the other important defensive categories. Even though they’ve given up only the 13th fewest passing yards, they’ve only allowed 6.1 yards per attempt, good for sixth in the league. Their 2.6 yards allowed per rush is good for third in the league, and their 13.5 points allowed is also third.
In other words, the Seahawks defense is good, and it might cause you to change your roster a bit this week. Aaron Rodgers isn’t necessarily a must-start this week, because the Seahawks have only allowed 21 total fantasy points to quarterbacks in standard scoring. They shut down Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ offense last week, a week after the Boys put up 433 yards of offense. My buddy’s sitting Rodgers this week for Robert Griffin III – a move I fully endorse. Griffin’s scored five total touchdowns and has rushed for 124 yards in his first two games. Now he faces a Bengals D that’s been the fifth-friendliest defense to opposing QBs this year. If you want to play Rodgers that’s fine, but there are better matchups out there.
Another Packer you might want to bench is Cedric Benson. The Seahawks run D is dominant; they’ve only allowed 72 yards and one touchdown to opposing running backs this year. They shut down DeMarco Murray last week to only 44 yards on 12 carries. Benson doesn’t have the breakaway speed Murray does. Last week Benson scored 11 points against the Bears, another tough run defense. He’s no more than a flex play with this matchup.
The only two Green Bay receivers I feel comfortable starting are Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley. The Pack will have to abandon the run early in the game and rely on Rodgers throwing the ball. Last week Nelson was the most targeted Packer, with nine. Finley and James Jones both had five targets. Jones didn’t do anything with those five targets, only catching two for a minus-1 yard total. After a very good opening game Randall Cobb had 48 total yards on one rush and one reception last week. In deep leagues he’s a start, but in regular leagues you should have a better, more reliable option. Greg Jennings missed last week’s game with a groin injury, and is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game. He’ll probably play, but since the game is Monday you should play it safe and start someone who plays Sunday. Even if Jennings goes he’s facing a tough defense and won’t be 100 percent.
If you have either team’s D/ST I would go ahead and start either one and not worry about finding a replacement.
Russell WIlson hasn’t surpassed 153 yards in either of his first two professional games, and while he could throw for more than that this week he shouldn’t be more than a backup for you at this point. The Seahawks have relied on Marshawn Lynch so far, as he has 207 rush yards and a touchdown through two games. Lynch is a good start this week, but don’t expect a great game from him.
The Packers have played very well against wide receivers this year, only allowing one touchdown, 20 catches and 204 yards against them. The ‘Hawks leading receiver, Sidney Rice, only has seven catches for 67 receiving yards this year. In deeper leagues or on teams where you’ve lost a Jeremy Maclin, Hakeem Nicks or Greg Jennings, Rice could be an OK WR3 or deep flex play for you, but don’t expect much because Wilson is just 28th in attempts this year. Rice is the only Seahawks receiver or tight end I’d even think about starting.
Written by Andrew Miller exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com.
Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix
The Author
