SEATTLE (vs. Ari.): Coming off an upset win at San Francisco, Seattle has another big game here, with the current NFC West leader.
This snippet was first published on November 20.
The matchup is probably a little more favorable, though maybe not by much. Arizona seemed to have an awful defense while giving up 4-5 touchdowns in losses to the Bills, Commanders and Packers. But they've also held five opponents to 1 or no touchdowns, three of which have credible offenses (Rams, 49ers and Dolphins; Bears and Jets the others, the last two weeks). Call it an average situation, which the betting lines suggest -- a 24-23 type of game that could go either way.
The Cardinals rank just 21st against the pass, while Seattle leads the league in passing offense, so a good situation for Geno Smith. He averaged just 204 yards in the games a year ago, but threw 2 TDs in each, and he's playing at a higher level this season in a more aggressive offense. Smith is averaging 278 passing yards, with over 300 yards four times. He's led clutch drives in three narrow wins, including at San Francisco last week (which he ended with a 13-yard touchdown run). There are negatives, including throwing more than 1 TD only twice, and leading the league with 11 interceptions. But it's how the offense has been best moving the ball, and what the Cardinals have been susceptible to. (Holding the Bears and Jets to an average of 184 passing yards with no touchdowns the last two weeks doesn't seem impressive, given those teams' struggles in most other games.) With Seattle throwing only 11 touchdowns, same as Arizona has allowed, odds are against more than 1 TD pass; that's the main concern. Smith averages 22 rushing yards, with 2 TDs; with 1st place on the line, he probably won't be shy about running if the situation calls for it.
A wide receiver trio for most of the past couple of years seems to have two notable players right now. DK Metcalf averages over 5 catches for 80 yards, with 3 TDs and three 100-yard performances (plus a 99-yard game) in eight contests. Jaxon Smith-Njigba averages 6 catches for 68 yards, also with 3 TDs, and was better than that both when Metcalf missed two recent games (13 for 249 with 2 TDs) and at San Francisco last week (10 for 110, with 4 catches on the game-winning drive). Those guys are driving the passing game right now, and they should be catching plenty of balls this week (just 8 TDs by wide receivers against the Cardinals, however). Tyler Lockett has slipped back in a lesser role of late. His lone touchdown, and only game over 45 yards in his last four, was with Metcalf sidelined. With the other two available throughout he's averaging 50 receiving yards, with 1 touchdown. Just 6 catches total in his last three. Lockett caught at least 4 passes in six of his first seven, but he doesn't seem as involved of late. Smith-Njigba and Lockett each scored in one of the Arizona games last year (Metcalf missed one of the games).
Arizona is just 19th against the run, allowing 128 yards per week. They've allowed nearly as many touchdowns rushing (10) as passing (11). But Seattle doesn't seem to have much inclination or ability to run the ball; they're 28th, averaging just 92 yards per game. Kenneth Walker is at a career-low 57 rushing yards per week and 4.0 per carry. He's scored 7 touchdowns in eight games, though, and is averaging another 28 yards, plus 1 more TD, as a receiver. He averaged 92 rushing yards in last year's series; no touchdowns, but there will probably be a touchdown on the ground this week, with Walker the heavy favorite to score it. Zach Charbonnet has 5 TDs, but 3 of them came in the two games Walker missed. In the last seven with both available, Charbonnet averages 28 total yards and has scored once.
Noah Fant (groin) won't necessarily be available; he was ruled out on Friday last week. He'd been starting to come on prior to getting hurt, with 10 catches for 128 yards the two previous games. Fant didn't do anything in last year's series, but another member of the tight end rotation (Will Dissly) scored at Arizona. If he's out, AJ Barner will fill in; Barner averages 3 catches for 21 yards the last two games. Just 1 TD by a tight end against Arizona, however, and that was George Kittle.
Jason Myers has missed 3 kicks (2 from outside 50 yards), but he's made 5 of those longer kicks. Mostly he's just not getting enough opportunities, with Seattle kicking 10 more extra points (24) than field goals (14). Arizona has been good at forcing field goal attempts, allowing 22 field goals and 20 extra points. That works out to 8.6 per week to kickers.
The Seahawks Defense is below average in both sacks (23) and takeaways (10). It's unlikely to get much off Kyler Murray, who's been playing a careful brand of football this season. He's taken only 15 sacks in 10 games, while throwing 3 interceptions and losing 3 fumbles. The Seahawks have a kickoff return touchdown this season (one of 3, with the Cardinals and Bengals) but won't necessarily get to return any kicks.
This report is just a small snippet of the Week 12 edition of Fantasy Index Weekly, part of the In-Season Analyst & Super Fanatic Packages. The newsletter includes our player rankings and 20-plus pages of matchup previews, plus stat projections and custom rankings for the games being played this weekend.
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