RADIO
Happy Monday RotoBallers! Another week, another Monday.
2017 hasn't exactly gone to plan for the Atlanta Falcons. I'll save you the details that you already know, but it all dates back to February 5th, when the Falcons ended up on the wrong side of the record books during the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. Entering this season with a clean slate, hopes were high for the reigning NFC Champions, but the Falcons now find themselves at 5-4 and trying to stay afloat in the playoff race. Matt Ryan's regression has been at the center of the team's problems, and they will be without star running back Devonta Freeman tonight as well in one of the toughest places to play in all of football. Coming off an impressive 27-7 win against the Cowboys, Atlanta is looking for back-to-back wins for the second time this year.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks are just trying to keep pace with the red-hot Rams in the NFC West. And speaking of red-hot, Russell Wilson is in the midst of some fantastic football of his own. A top-five fantasy QB in three of the last four weeks, Wilson is averaging over 300 yards and almost three touchdowns per game since the team's Week 6 bye. Seattle has won five of the last six to boot, and a win tonight would put them in a tie atop the division that they won by a full three games last season.
Atlanta Falcons @ Seattle Seahawks
Date and Start Time: Monday, November 20th at 8:30 p.m. EST
Game Spread: EVEN
Notables from Injury Report:
- Devonta Freeman (RB, ATL) - Concussion - OUT
- Kam Chancellor (S, SEA) - Neck - OUT
- Luke Joeckle (G, SEA) - Knee - OUT
- Duane Brown (T, SEA) - Ankle - Questionable
Offensive and Defensive Rankings (based on per game stats through Week 10):
| Falcons | Seahawks | |
| Passing Yards | 11th | 3rd |
| Rushing Yards | 13th | 23rd |
| Pass Defense | 6th | 14th |
| Run Defense | 17th | 9th |
Must Starts
Top Players That You Should Have In Your Lineup
Julio Jones (WR, ATL)
I know, I know – Julio Jones has been a disappointment so far this season for where you drafted him. That doesn't make him someone you can afford to bench though. Do you want to be the guy (or gal) that has Julio sitting on your bench the week that he finally explodes for 30 fantasy points? I'm not saying that it's going to be this week, but Seattle is without Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman in the secondary, so I'm not saying that it isn't going to be this week either. Fact of the matter is that Julio is still hauling in plenty of yards and seeing plenty of targets. Fire him up with confidence tonight.
Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)
For the sake of not repeating the same statistics from the opening of this article, it's simply fair to say that Wilson is one of the hottest quarterbacks in football right now. With a QB rating averaging 106.5 over the last four games, he'll take on an Atlanta pass defense that has been very good this year. Nonetheless, Wilson is matchup proof right now and could top 40 pass attempts if this game turns into a shootout. He's a high-end QB1 until further notice.
Jimmy Graham (TE, SEA)
Speaking of matchup proof, Jimmy Graham continued his touchdown rampage last week finding the end zone twice, making it six scores in the last five games for the eighth-year veteran. At a position that has been anything but, he offers consistency and a high floor as one of Wilson's favorite targets. He's scored double digit fantasy points in PPR leagues for seven straight weeks now, and he's coming off back-to-back games with 8+ targets for the first time this season.
Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA)
If you can't tell, I'm pretty bullish on the Seahawks' passing attack. Wilson is playing at a level that has not only escalated himself, but others around him, and Baldwin is the perfect example. Averaging 56.8 yards on 7.8 targets per game through the first five, he's turned in 69.8 yards on 10 targets per game since Wilson's hot streak began in Week 7. And if you're a fan of trends/patterns, all three of Baldwin's touchdown receptions have come on odd-numbered weeks (hint: it's Week 11).
Must Sits
Players To Avoid Putting In Your Lineup
Any Seahawks RB
The Seattle backfield remains one to avoid in fantasy circles. Ever since Chris Carson went down with a knee injury in Week 4, it's been a rotating RBBC (running back by committee) situation with no front runner. Thomas Rawls has led the backfield in touches each of the last five games, but he has yet to find the end zone his year and has totaled over 50 all purpose yards just twice this year. JD McKissic remains the most reliable passing-down back, but the volume isn't there to warrant a flier.
Solid Options/Sleepers
Which Players Will Have Solid Games and Which Could Surprise?
Solid Option - Matt Ryan (QB, ATL)
Though Ryan has fallen back to Earth after a stellar 2016-17 season, he's still a fine QB option tonight against a banged up Seattle secondary. He's thrown 2 touchdowns in each of the last three games, and his floor in a pass-first offense keeps him a QB1 for right now.
Solid Option - Mohamed Sanu (WR, ATL)
A big part of the Atlanta offense over the last few weeks, Sanu has scored double digit PPR fantasy points in three of the last four weeks. Weeks 9 and 10 have been a bit more tame than the two prior, but Sanu's floor is a WR3 so long as he continues to see consistent targets.
Solid Option - Austin Hooper (TE, ATL)
See: Seattle's banged up secondary. Also see: inconsistent tight end position. On those premises alone, Hooper is a TE1 for this week on the back of three straight six-target games.
Sleeper - Tevin Coleman (RB, ATL)
With Devonta Freeman on the shelf for tonight, Coleman steps into a big-time opportunity to shoulder the load. Unfortunately for him, Seattle's run defense is in much better shape than it's pass defense, but I think he's a sleeper in the fact that he can finish the week as a legit RB1. The volume should be there and he's an excellent pass catcher, so don't be surprised to see a second-straight 20+ touch game from the former Indiana Hoosier.
