Jalen Hurts – Hurts was seen wearing a knee brace in the second half of the Eagles win over the Dolphins. It looks like Hurts won’t miss any time but this is something to monitor. Hurts is taking a lot of hits while extending plays and will need to protect himself better.

Bijan Robinson – What in the world happened to Bijan Robinson on Sunday? The Falcons have stated that he wasn’t feeling well but this was bizarre as Robinson wasn’t listed on the injury report. The hope is that Robinson indeed was just dealing with some type of bug and there aren’t underlying issues here.

D.K. Metcalf – Metcalf missed the first game of his NFL career on Sunday against the Cardinals. He is dealing with rib and hip injuries that kept him out last week. Metcalf is tough and I don’t expect these injuries to linger.

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NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 37, Detroit Lions 31

The Seattle Seahawks won 37-31 in walk-off fashion on the road in Detroit as Geno Smith found Tyler Lockett, who reached out for the pylon. Smith led Seattle to a turnover-free victory, going 32-for-41 with 328 yards and two touchdowns. Both passing touchdowns were to Lockett, who racked up eight catches for 59 yards. Seattle also found success on the ground, rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf left the game in the first quarter with a rib injury, and headed to to the locker room. He returned shortly after, finishing the game with six receptions for 75 yards, as Geno Smith spread the targets around all game. Turnovers proved to be the downfall for Detroit. The Lions fumbled the ball away twice in a row, one to end the first half and another to begin the second half. Jared Goff then threw a pick-six to Seattle cornerback Tre Brown, who ran it back 40 yards to the house. Late in the fourth quarter, Goff led the Lions down the field for a game-tying field goal, forcing overtime with a score of 31-31. However it was not enough for the Lions, who fall to 1-1 after the loss. Meanwhile, Seattle also moves to 1-1 with the victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 38, Las Vegas Raiders 10

Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a stress-free victory at home, going 31-for-37 with 274 yards and three touchdowns. Both the Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders move to 1-1 on the season.

The ball seemed to be in the hands of the Bills all game, as the Buffalo defense forced three turnovers. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard both intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo, and Taylor Rapp recovered a Zamir White fumble. Josh Allen spread the touches throughout the offense, finding Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, and Dawson Knox for touchdowns. The run game was unstoppable for the Bills, led by James Cook who ran for 123 yards, as Damien Harris and Latavius Murray ran in a touchdown each. Allen had no turnovers and looked comfortable in a bounce-back victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Baltimore Ravens 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens went on the road to Cincinnati and avoided a Bengals second half comeback, winning the game 27-24. The Ravens move to 2-0 on the year, as the Bengals fall to 0-2.

Jackson completed 24 passes on 33 attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He added 54 yards on the ground, as the Ravens ran for 178 yards as a team, including a Gus Edwards touchdown. Safety Geno Stone intercepted Joe Burrow to begin the second half, and the Ravens turned it into a touchdown on the next drive.

Burrow and the Bengals made a late push in the second half, with a final drive consisting of 16 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, making the score 27-24. The Cincinnati offense struggled, rushing for just 66 total yards as Burrow went 27-for-41 with 222 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 9

In a low scoring affair, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 17-9. Both teams move to 1-1 on the season.

The first five possessions resulted in punts, before Jacksonville finally took a 3-0 lead on a field goal. The Chiefs fumbled the ball away on the following possession, before Patrick Mahomes was picked off by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense struggled to move the ball all day, as the third year quarterback went 22-for-41 for 216 yards and no touchdowns. The ground game was no better, producing just 74 yards as the Jaguars failed to find the endzone. Kicker Brandon McManus was the lone scorer for Jacksonville, going 3-for-3. Mahomes finished the game 29-for-41 with 305 yards and two touchdowns, finding Travis Kelce on one of them.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tennessee Titans 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24

The Tennessee Titans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in an overtime thriller, as Nick Folk kicked the game-winning 41 yard field goal. The Titans move to 1-1 on the season, as the Chargers fall to 0-2.

Los Angeles got out to an early 11-0 lead after a Keenan Allen touchdown and a converted two-point conversion. Ryan Tannehill came back with a 70-yard pass to Treylon Burks, as Derrick Henry finished the drive with a touchdown, making the score 11-7. Both teams went back and forth all game, with impressive outings from both quarterbacks. Justin Herbert found Keenan Allen and Mike Williams consistently, with both receivers finishing the game with 8 receptions and a combined 194 yards. Allen brought in two touchdown passes, as the Chargers marched down the field for a field goal to send the game to overtime with a score of 24-24. The Chargers won the coin toss and got the ball first in overtime, but went three and out and punted the ball back to the Titans offense. Tannehill led them down the field for an 8 play, 37 yard drive to give Nick Folk a 41 yard field goal for the win, which he put down the middle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 25, Green Bay Packers 24

The Atlanta Falcons squeaked by the Green Bay Packers by a score of 25-24, including an electric fourth quarter comeback by the Falcons. Green Bay falls to 1-1 on the season as Atlanta goes to 2-0.

The Packers got out to a 24-12 lead in the third quarter after Jordan Love found Jayden Reed in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Desmond Ridder and the Falcons ground-and-pound offense put together an eight play, 75 yard drive for a touchdown of their own, as Ridder ran it in himself to make the score 24-19. The Falcons defense forced a punt and drove down the field for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 24-22. After forcing yet another punt, Atlanta went 12 plays for 66 yards, setting up a 25 yard field goal for Younghoe Koo. The made field goal put the Falcons ahead 25-24, ultimately winning them the game. Jordan Love finished the game 14-for-25 with 151 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Falcons.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Chicago Bears 17

Baker Mayfield shined, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Buccaneers move to 2-0 on the season, as the Bears fall to 0-2.

Although the Bears scored on their first possession, it was all Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers for the rest of the afternoon. Mayfield found Mike Evans wide open on a deep pass that Evans took 70 yards downfield, inside the 10 yard line. The big play setup for a Rachaad White touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 10-7 lead. Mayfield connected with Evans again in the third quarter for a 32 yard touchdown, making the score 20-10.

The Buccaneers defense gave Justin Fields fits all game, sacking him six times. In the fourth quarter, Fields connected with Chase Claypool for a 20 yard touchdown, making the score 20-17. The bears got the ball back after forcing a punt, beginning the drive on their own seven yard line. After a couple penalties, Justin Fields dropped back and had his pass tipped and intercepted by Shaquil Barrett, who brought it just a few steps into the endzone, giving the Buccaneers a convincing 27-17 victory at home.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 20

The Indianapolis Colts stole a game on the road in a divisional matchup as they beat the Houston Texans 31-20. The Colts move to 1-1 on the season as the Texans fall to 0-2.

Anthony Richardson ran it in for a touchdown on the Colts’ first two drives of the game, making it 14-0. On the second touchdown, he took a shot causing his head to bounce off the turf, forcing the fourth overall draft pick to be evaluated for a concussion. The rookie quarterback was ruled out for the rest of the game, leaving the Colts with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. Minshew took over and went 19-of-23 for 171 yards and a touchdown, maintaining the lead. The new acquisition at running back Zack Moss contributed 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, as the Texans couldn’t stop the Indianapolis offense.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive outing in the loss, going 30-for-47 with 384 yards and two touchdowns. Stroud connected with Nico Collins and fellow rookie Tank Dell seven times each, for a combined 218 yards. Each of the receivers brought in a touchdown, as the Colts bounced back from their week one home loss.

NFL Week 2 Recap: New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 28

The New York Giants rallied for a 21 point comeback on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, the third comeback that size in Giants history. With a 20-0 lead at halftime, and a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, Arizona allowed 24 unanswered points to fall to 0-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Giants move to 1-1 on the season following the rollercoaster of a week two game.

The Giants went scoreless for the first six quarters of the season, the first time since 1934. Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs showed his athleticism all first half, using his legs to gain yards along with scrambling out of the pocket to make throws on the run. On Arizona’s third possession, Dobbs dropped back to pass and found an opening up the middle, taking it 23 yards for a touchdown, trucking a giants defender just before falling into the endzone. The play gave Arizona an early 14-0 lead, which would quickly grow before the half ended. 

Daniel Jones and the Giants offense came storming back in the third quarter, with help from Saquon Barkley, who scored both a receiving and rushing touchdown before leaving the field with an ankle injury towards the end of the game. The injury took away from the stunning comeback, as the Giants await the information on his ankle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 23

The San Francisco 49ers went on the road to SoFi Stadium, pulling away with a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco elevates to 2-0 on the season as Los Angeles falls to 1-1 following the divisional matchup.

Two interceptions thrown by Matt Stafford proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon. With just under five minutes remaining in the game and the Rams trailing 27-20, Stafford looked across the middle for Van Jefferson but was picked off by Deommodore Lenoir.

Christian McCaffrey was in mid-season form, rushing for 116 yards on 20 carries to go with a touchdown. Brock Purdy missed some throws on big plays throughout the game, but was sufficient, going 17-for-25 for 206 yards, along with a rushing touchdown of his own. All three of the 49ers touchdowns came on the ground and the Rams defense had no answer. 

With Cooper Kupp sidelined, Puka Nacua was the focus once again for the Rams offense. He racked up 15 receptions for 147 yards, making him the first player in NFL history to record at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in his first two games of his career. Meanwhile running back Kyren Williams got 20 total touches with both a receiving and rushing touchdown, proving why he should replace Cam Akers in the backfield.

NFL Week 2 Recap: Washington Commanders 35, Denver Broncos 33

The Washington Commanders completed the thriller comeback on the Denver Broncos, holding off a late game hail mary to win by a score of 35-33. Denver completed a hail mary as time expired, but couldn’t convert the two point conversion to force overtime. The Commanders move to 2-0 on the season as the Broncos fall to 0-2.

The Broncos jumped out to a 21-3 lead early into the first half, including a Marvin Mims Jr. one-play, 60 yard touchdown pass from Russel Wilson. The Commanders cut the lead to 21-14 before halftime, and continued into the second half as the defense immediately forced a punt. The offense took over and scored a touchdown on its first drive as Sam Howell found Terry McLaurin in the middle of the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown, tying the game 21-21.

Denver eventually got the ball back with a chance to tie the game. After moving the ball to midfield, Russel Wilson and company had one last chance to force overtime. The deep hail mary pass was tipped around before being brought in by Brandon Johnson for his second touchdown of the game, making the score 35-33. The two point conversion, a pass intended for Courtland Sutton was incomplete as the Broncos looked for a pass-interference call but didn’t get it.

Sam Howell finished the game with an impressive 27 completions on 39 attempts for 299 yards and two touchdown passes. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. also ran in for a pair of touchdowns himself.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 30, New York Jets 10

The Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Jets handedly by a score of 30-10 as the Cowboys defense dominated for the second week in a row. Dallas moves to 2-0 on the season as the Jets fall to 1-1.

Micah Parsons and the Cowboys defense looked unstoppable in week two, intercepting Jets quarterback Zach Wilson three times. Parsons recorded two sacks and four hits on Wilson, as Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Trevon Diggs each intercepted a pass.

Ceedee Lamb showed he didn’t need the help of Brandin Cooks, who missed the game due to a sprained knee. Lamb recorded 11 catches for 143 yards, with big plays setting up for multiple scores for Dallas. Kicker Brandon Aubrey went five-for-five on field goals, as Dak Prescott found tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker for a touchdown each. 

The lone touchdown for the Jets came from star receiver Garret Wilson, who caught a pass across the middle and took it 68 yards to the house, marking his longest touchdown of his career thus far. Other than that, there wasn’t much going for Zach Wilson and the Jets offense, who recorded 215 total yards. Parsons along with the rest of the ruthless Dallas front four pressured Wilson all game, showing why they are one of the best defenses in the NFL.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 24, New England Patriots 17

The Miami Dolphins held off a late comeback by the New England Patriots, winning the game 24-17 as a lateral to Cole Strange came up short on fourth down. 

Tua Tagovailoa took what the defense gave him for most of the night, finding Jaylen Waddle five times for 86 yards. The Dolphins had plenty of success on the ground as well, as Raheem Mostert took 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie Cornerback Christian Gonzalez kept Tyreek Hill in check for the most part, holding the star receiver to four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, with the touchdown coming on a play where Gonzalez was not covering Hill.

Mac Jones finished the game 31-for-42 with 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The interception came at the end of the third quarter after the Patriots drove down the field into the redzone. Xavien Howard picked off the pass intended for DeVante Parker on the sideline at the Miami three yard line, putting an end to New Englands’ drive and keeping the score at 17-3.

The Patriots cut the lead down in the fourth quarter following a Mac Jones scramble for 18 yards, the longest run of the night for New England. Jones found Hunter Henry on the run for a six yard touchdown pass, making the score 17-10.

On the next Miami possession, Tagovailoa threw it deep down the left side of the field to Tyreek Hill as the pass was intercepted by Christian Gonzalez. The rookie first round pick made a leaping catch over Hill, giving the Patriots the ball back.

The Dolphins forced a three and out, getting the ball back on the New England 43 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Raheem Mostert took a handoff up the middle 43 yards untouched to the endzone, extending the lead to 24-10.

Mac Jones led the Patriots to a 9 play 75 yard drive ending with a Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run to cut the lead down to 24-17.

The Dolphins took the ball and drove it into Patriots territory, before the snap was fumbled on third and one. Tua recovered the fumble, but the mistake forced Miami to kick a 55 yard field goal. With concern for Brenden Schooler, who blocked the previous field goal, Jason Sanders missed the field goal, giving the Patriots an opportunity to tie or win the game.

After finding Kendrick Bourne for a pair of completions, Mac Jones was sacked by Bradley Chubb for a loss of 8 yards. New England was faced with a fourth and four, where Mac Jones completed a pass to Mike Gesicki short of the first down line. Gesicki threw a lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange, who was stopped short of the marker, ending the comeback for the Patriots.

The win brings the Dolphins to 2-0 on the season, as the Patriots fall to 0-2.

The post NFL Game Recaps Week 2 (2023) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

The Seahawks already have a formidable wide receiving corps headlined by D.K. Metcalf. They were only missing one piece and that was a slot receiver. Seattle addressed that need in the 2023 NFL Draft by selecting Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba is the next great Buckeye receiver and should fit right in on Seattle’s offense. He has exceptional hands and consistently makes tough contested catches. Smith-Njigba’s final season with the Buckeyes was injury plagued and he will have to show that he can stay healthy at this level.

The Bad

Like many other teams we have profiled, the Seattle Seahawks biggest weakness is on the offensive line. Seattle will need its young tackles to show great improvement in order to be successful. Mainly LT Charles Cross struggled down the stretch last year and the hope is he can better handle a long NFL season in year two. Evan Brown will take over the center position after spending last season with the Detroit Lions. The hope is Brown can be the anchor on this young o-line.

The Prediction

I see Seattle as a team that can make a run this year. It should be a head-to-head battle between them and the San Francisco 49ers with the 49ers pulling away late in the season. Keep an eye on rookie Zach Charbonnet as he could eventually take over as the starting running back.

2023 Record: (10-7 2nd in the Division)

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The current ADP below IS for Half PPR scoring.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions – WR) | ADP – 15 | WR9

Amon-Ra St. Brown was one of the breakout stars from last season. The 2nd year WR from USC built nicely on his rookie campaign and finished with 106 receptions, 1,161 yards and 6 touchdowns. This was good enough for 214.6 fantasy points in Half PPR. There are a couple of stats that stick out for St. Brown. He had 146 targets and accounted for a 25.9% target share on a team that lacked real playmakers at the WR position.

Don’t get me wrong, I am still high on St.Brown but I don’t like him as an early second-round pick. The Lions brought back Marvin Jones Jr. and drafted Jahmyr Gibbs from Alabama to help bolster their offense. Jones will eat into some of Brown’s target share and I also like Kalif Raymond as a potential late-round sleeper. If I had to choose right now between Garrett Wilson (ADP 17) and Amon-Ra St. Brown, I am taking Wilson.

Davante Adams (Raiders – WR) | ADP – 13 | WR7

Only Justin Jefferson had more fantasy points last season than Davante Adams. In his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Adams put up gaudy numbers along with a whopping 32.3% target share. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns with 14 and finished the season with 285.5 fantasy points. Adams showed no signs of slowing down at the age of 30.

If Derek Carr were still on the Raiders I would have Adams in the top-tier of wide receivers. Carr is now with the New Orleans Saints and in steps Jimmy Garoppolo. While I do like the fit, Garoppolo is not the same arm talent as Carr. Carr looks to push the ball down the field more while Garoppolo plays more of a short to intermediate game. I expect the Raiders passing game to be more balanced next season and with that Adams numbers will drop. If I had to choose right now between A.J. Brown (ADP 14) or Davante Adams, I am grabbing Brown.

DK Metcalf (Seahawks – WR) | ADP – 33 | WR15

Last season was certainly not a letdown for D.K. Metcalf. He finished with 1,048 yards, 6 touchdowns and 181.8 fantasy points, yet we expected more. Metcalf finished behind fellow teammate Tyler Lockett in total fantasy points (195.3) and touchdowns (9). New quarterback Geno Smith looked for Metcalf often in the red zone. He had 27 red zone targets but only 5 red zone touchdowns.

Looking ahead to next season, the Seattle Seahawks added to their receiving core by drafting Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba was selected 20th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and I really like his upside. This receiving group is shaping up nicely but I expect Smith-Njigba to take some of those red zone targets away from Metcalf. If I had to choose right now between Deebo Samuel (ADP 36) or D.K. Metcalf, I am taking Samuel.

Looking for more fantasy advice? Check out our fantasy football section.

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By: Andy Davies

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

When the Denver Broncos fired head coach Vic Fangio, it was deemed that they were just a quarterback away from being contenders.

And then the Broncos made moves. Nathaniel Hackett was hired, after a spell as the Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator. Not long after that appointment, the team went big in their search for a new quarterback. They traded a 2022 and 2023 first-round and second-round pick as well as a fifth round from this year and gave away Drew Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris in exchange for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick.

This was supposed to be the answer. However, so far it has been far from that.

The Broncos have lost their last two games and currently sit at 2-3 after their first five games with their new head coach and quarterback duo. Neither has set the world alight.

In five starts, Wilson has thrown for 1,254 yards, just four touchdowns and three interceptions. This would have projected to finish the season with 4,264 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Whilst those projected yards would actually be a career best, it would be an all-time career low in touchdown passes, six less than his current worst in 2014. He would only have four seasons with more interceptions than nine. 

Russell Wilson is said to have requested the trade, and many felt Pete Carroll’s run-first offense was holding him back. However, all Wilson has shown us in 2022 is that perhaps Carroll was doing this for a reason.

Against the Colts, Wilson threw an awful interception and despite having 274 passing yards, he threw for zero touchdowns and two interceptions. With the exception of one great run and one great pass, Russ had no moments of excellence. He was incapable of getting it done in the red zone, seemed to force his passes to his target men, and often missed several open receivers.

Hackett came in as an offensive guy, one that worked with the current back-to-back MVP. Russ was meant to be allowed to cook, presumably one of the reasons if not the main one for Wilson agreeing to join the Broncos. With Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick, he was not short of receiving options. Patrick may have suffered a season-ending injury prior to Week One, but the team still has K.J. Hamler and Albert Okwuegbunam.

His ability to just throw it without properly looking through his reads may have been disguised in recent years due to D.K. Metcalf being the closest thing to Calvin Johnson we have seen since the Hall of Famer retired. Neither Jeudy, Sutton and Hamler have the strength and hands of Metcalf. 

Hackett deserves some portion of the blame, with his questionable play calling and poor time management. He could well be one and done as a head coach for the Broncos. His time so far reminiscent of Adam Gase, a star quarterback glossing over coaching deficiencies. However, he is not the one out there missing open players, making bad throws, and seeming scared to get hit. So far, Wilson looks to have made no difference. With the number of draft picks given up and the long term multi-million-dollar extension given to him, this trade so far looks to be one the team may regret.

Let’s not forget that Wilson still has to play the Chargers and Chiefs each twice.

Granted, a new head coach who actually knows what they are doing may be the difference they need and not every quarterback can do what Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford did on new teams.

Despite this, should Wilson play like this for the rest of 2022 and beyond this trade could be one that potentially affects the team long-term.

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By: Jake Rajala

Geno Smith is singing “Hope by Shaggy” – as he will be the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1! As widely enunciated, the former New York Jets signal-caller isn’t a stranger to leading the Hawks onto the field. Smith started against the New Orleans Saints, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars a season ago. He had a strong losing effort against the Steelers – as T.J. Watt (shocker) had a sack and forced fumble on him in OT. Smith gained more experience this off-season as the QB1 and he’s clearly antsy to prove his worth in Week 1 of 2022. With that said, I’m going to unfold the pros and cons of Smith starting.

Pros of Geno Smith starting

• He has familiarity with DK Metcalf

The Seahawks official starting QB in Week 1 truly has fine chemistry with his hulk-like wideout in DK Metcalf. He showed his ability to lock in with Metcalf against the Saints last season – where he launched a beautiful, 84-yard touchdown strike to Metcalf (who was supposed to be covered by Marshon Lattimore) on the play.

• He can take care of the football

Smith may have had a critical turnover against the Steelers (who showcase a greek god-like defender), but he only tossed a single interception a season ago. Meanwhile, Drew Lock (aka the QB that fell off a cliff in Denver) unveiled three interceptions in his latest pre-season debut.

• Accurate

Smith is honestly an accurate NFL QB – which was evident with his 68.4 cmp% last season. He can absolutely execute the ins and outs of the Hawks west-coast offense.

Cons of Geno Smith starting

• He doesn’t have a sexy ceiling

Smith may have arm talent, mobility, understanding of the Seahawks scheme, and a lot of confidence heading into 2022. Although, he doesn’t have the sexiest ceiling. I’m talking about a QB that hasn’t thrown more than 13 touchdowns in a single season. Furthermore, Smith doesn’t have a fountain of youth – as he is six years older than Drew Lock. I’m not convinced that he can revolt into a top-tier QB at this stage in his career.

• Injury issues

Smith filled in for the injured, mythical Russell Wilson last season. Let’s still not forget that Smith has had injury issues himself. His starting opportunity in his fourth season (2016) was eroded after he suffered a season-ending ACL tear. So, can Smith survive in 2022 and beyond behind the Hawks OL that was ranked as the 32nd best OL by PFF heading into the season?

• Short-term success

Smith can be a superb game manager for his beloved team, but I’m not confident in him transcending into a Pro Bowl-caliber QB in the Rainy city. The Carolina Panthers had a similar situation as Seattle prior to bringing in Baker Mayfield. The Hawks may not enjoy the most short-term success in the frigid NFC West with their fourth-ranked QB in their hyper-competitive division.

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By: Christian Esparza

1. Tee Higgins ”“ Cincinnati Bengals (WR 11, ADP 32)

Higgins finished 2021 as WR24 overall, bolstered by a 43.4 performance in week 16 against a decimated Ravens secondary. Higgins is a good wide receiver, don’t get me wrong. But for him to be drafted as WR11 feels incredibly rich. There is no sense in drafting someone this high who is not even the WR1 on his own team. 

2. Jaylen Waddle ”“ Miami Dolphins (WR 16, ADP 44)

Waddle put together a sneaky-good rookie season last year in which he averaged over 15 ppr points per game. Especially through his mid-season tear, Waddle was a true weapon for Miami. Things look a lot different for Waddle with the Dolphins having traded for Tyreek Hill, a player who does a lot of the same things Waddle does. To make matters worse, Miami’s new head coach Mike McDaniel will be implementing his offense from last year’s 49ers team. That scheme saw San Francisco pass the ball on just 51% of their plays ”“ 29th in the league. It’s hard to imagine the Dolphins supporting two top-20 receivers with this type of offense, especially with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. 

3. DK Metcalf ”“ Seattle Seahawks (WR 19, ADP 51.5)

Does this one really depend on who takes the starting snaps in Week 1, Geno Smith or Drew Lock? The funny thing is, Metcalf actually had his best stretch of games when Smith was under center last year replacing an injured Russell Wilson. Over those four games, Metcalf averaged over 19 points per game. Lock of course comes in from the Denver Broncos, where he has notoriously struggled the past two seasons. But again, we don’t know who is going to be Seattle’s starting quarterback. If things were that easy, Head Coach Pete Carroll would have committed to someone by now with Week 1 less than two weeks away. Instead, Carroll commented that he does not feel the need to name a starter, even by the team’s final preseason game on Friday, Aug. 26. The bottom line is: be careful with DK Metcalf. 

4. Chris Godwin ”“ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (WR 25, ADP 71)

As noted in an earlier article, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feel weird this year. Quarterback Tom Brady just returned from an 11-day absence that was revealed to be a pre-planned vacation to the Bahamas with his family. This means the Bucs had to go throughout a large chunk of their camp without QB1. As far as Godwin goes, he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. Although things are looking good for Godwin to be back on the field by the start of the regular season, Godwin will not be 100%. Simply due to the nature of the injury, it may take an additional season for Godwin to truly return to form. There is a very good chance he does not finish the season as a top-24 receiver. 

5. Kenny Golladay ”“ New York Giants (WR 53, ADP 141)

Since signing a four-year, $72 million dollar contract in 2021, Golladay has been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. Golladay didn’t even crack 90 total fantasy points last year as he just did not seem to fit in with the New York Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones. That seems to be the case again this year, as reports out of training camp make it sound like Golladay has been less than impressive. He is listed as a starting wide receiver on the depth chart, but that could change as the season goes on. At his ADP, you would have much better luck taking a swing on an impressive rookie like George Pickens or Romeo Doubs. 

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By: Jake Rajala

The Seattle Seahawks don’t have Super Bowl MVP Russell Wilson, but they still have an incredible hulk-like WR in DK Metcalf and a speed demon in Tyler Lockett. Metcalf ousted 12 touchdowns last season and 10 TDs in 2021. PFF also gave him an 80.9 grade for his 2021 performance. Seahawks Wire also stated Metcalf is the best non-QB MVP for the Hawks. Of course, the Hawks likely need to make him the highest-paid WR soon.

Lockett has been a “Marques Colston” like WR — as he has been one of the best players to not make the Pro Bowl. He is coming off his third 1,000+ yard season in 2022. He also has registered 8+ touchdowns in each of the past four seasons. He scored an 81.0 grade by PFF last season. Lockett inked a four-year contract extension worth $69 million in 2021.

Freddie Swain ousted 25 receptions, 343 yds, and 4 touchdowns last season. He clearly isn’t the best WR3 for the Hawks. After Swain, I believe the x-factor in the Hawks WR room is Marquise Goodwin. He recorded a fantastic 2017 campaign with the 49ers — as he unveiled 56 receptions for 962 yds. In 2021, he ousted 20 receptions for 313 yds with the Bears.

The Hawks will also rely on the 24-year-old TE Noah Fant to be a receiving weapon — as he logged 670+ yds in 2020 and 2021. All in all, the Hawks have a slightly above-average receiving group. PFF ranked the Seahawks WR group as the 13th best unit in the league. The Seahawks WR room really needs to unleash their best performances next season for either Geno Smith or Drew Lock.

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By: Jake Rajala

The wide receiver DK Metcalf has been a rockstar and reincarnation of Steve Largent in Seattle. Metcalf impressively has 3,170 career receiving yards and 29 career receiving touchdowns in three seasons. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2020 and he also recorded a career-high 12 touchdowns in 2021.

Metcalf, who has a similar physical skill-set as Megatron, has been rumored as a trade candidate in Seattle. The Hawks have shipped out Russell Wilson and cut ties with Bobby Wagner, so it may seem easy to peg the Seahawks hulk-like WR as the next profile to depart from the Rainy City. Nonetheless, I really don’t believe the Hawks and Metcalf will part ways. With that said, I will simply untwine three reasons why the Seahawks won’t trade Metcalf.

Emotional connection

Metcalf may not love the Seahawks quarterback situation, but he still deeply respects the locker room as a whole, Seattle, and the energy that Pete Carroll has installed in the team. He was recently at Seattle’s celebrity softball game and he expressed his admiration for the team. Per Heavy., he stated, “I know I’ve only been here three years, but y’all are my family now”. It was nearly impossible for Drew Brees to leave the Big Easy and it seems that it could be quite difficult for Metcalf to move on from Carroll — who tore ripped his shirt off in Metcalf’s honor.

Cap Space

Seattle could be a special place in Metcalf’s heart, but he will still want Carroll and John Schneider to show him the money. The Hawks certainly won’t have to worry about breaking the bank for a Wilson or Wagner extension, so they should absolutely have room for a Metcalf extension. SEA has the tenth most cap space in the league. Per Bleacher Report, Carroll has stated that Metcalf’s contract extension is the priority.

Long term outlook

The Hawks may have growing pains in 2022, but they could certainly be a foe to reckon with after 1-2 seasons. Carroll isn’t abandoning ship and he will likely seek a gifted QB in the 2023 draft class. On defense, the Hawks still have the extremely talented Jamal Adams. There may have been a couple of band members that left SEA this off-season, but they still have a few superb pieces that will chase gold moving forward.

The post 3 reasons why the Seahawks won’t trade DK Metcalf appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Russell Wilson had a modest season in the eyes of every fan and analyst not named Ryan Clark in 2021. Wilson ousted 3,113 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, and six interceptions last year. For the second off-season in a row, trade rumors have circulated Wilson (and Aaron Rodgers).

The Seahawks future Hall of Fame QB wants to explore his options this offseason, but I don’t expect the Seahawks to be very open to Wilson looking around the candy shop. I actually don’t foresee Wilson to shipped out of the rainy city. Here is why Wilson will be a part of the 12th man in 2022.

• The Seahawks are firm about not trading Wilson

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins may call John Schneider, but I don’t expect the Hawks to participate in a deep conversation with a team about Wilson. The Denver Broncos dialed the Packers management to ask about a trade about Aaron Rodgers and nobody answered. I expect a similar outlook to play out in Seattle.

There may be moments where Wilson feels inspired to play with the Buccaneers and replace Tom Brady in the “dream team”. Although, I expect the Seahawks to not budge on dealing Wilson late in the offseason, just as the Packers kept firm on keeping Aaron Rodgers in the 2021 offseason. I expect it to be Pete Caroll’s way or the highway for the Seahawks great QB. In other words, I don’t believe Wilson would risk missing training camp to join any other team, too.

• DK Metcalf

The Seahawks have an incredible hulk and potential All-Pro talent in DK Metcalf. He has to be the reason why Wilson doesn’t feel an urge to leave Seattle. Metcalf is a prolific player and that’s clear with his 22 touchdown receptions in the past two seasons combined. Metcalf is also 24 years old, which is noticeably younger than Mike Evans (28 years old) and Michael Thomas (28 years old). The QB-WR duo can still grow together in the next couple of seasons.

The Packers make A-Rod feel warm and fuzzy with Davante Adams and the Seahawks keep Wilson comfortable with Metcalf. Metcalf, who is also training for the 2024 Olympics, can ensure Wilson that they can chase championships together for many years.

• Eighth most cap space in NFL

The Seahawks have the ammunition to bring in a few new faces in free agency that can impress Wilson and pay huge dividends moving forward. They could bring in a running back like Chase Edmonds or RB/WR like Cordarrelle Patterson.

They could also look at free-agent targets on the offensive line and in the secondary. Terron Armstead has been a Pro Bowl OT for the Saints in recent memory and cornerbacks like Patrick Peterson or Stephon Gilmore could be sought out. If Quandre Diggs leaves, they could ink the young and phenomenal Marcus Williams to pair with Jamaal Adams. I don’t expect the Seahawks to sit back and relax with their large-cap space, especially with Wilson looking for his second elusive Super Bowl ring.

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