FANTASY FOOTBALL THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: A SEASON ON THE BEAST (WEEK 7)
FANTASY FOOTBALL THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS:
A SEASON ON THE BEAST (WEEK 7)
By Muntradamus
BEAST DOME NATION.
When you look at all the early Draft Day BEAST DOME players this year.
Arian Foster has hit his groove. Matt Stafford appears to have his after 3 TD in the first half, even Jimmy Graham finally got on the action with 8 receptions for 140 Yards. Let us throw in more Calvin Johnson/Matt Forte/Demarco Murray/Chris Ivory/Brandon Marshall/LeGarrette Blount/Steve Smith Sr. all just PURE BEASTING.
Only one Superstar is missing from the pack, easily the most important player of them all, the #1 Pick, Marshawn Lynch.
This matchup against the 49ers is a big one for the Seahawks. For starters the Seahawks are 2-4 and are not even close to the playoff/super bowl picture. Second most important factor is that the Seahawks cannot lose to their Division Rival on National TV if people want to take them seriously. Yes, the ‘Hawks have all the talent in the world to be the best team in the NFC, but they are not playing like it.
The downfall to the Seahawks this season is simple. Play calling. The Seahawks try to use the pass to setup the run, when the pass does not work, defenses know they are going to run, which then sets up stacked boxes on 2nd and long, which leads to a 3rd and long, which leads to a sack or incomplete pass, and then a punt.
Seattle has too many weapons in the passing game for teams to stack the box, yet Russell Wilson is letting other teams get away with it because he is not making good decisions. There is no reason the Seahawks/Russell Wilson should have waited until the 6th game to get Jimmy Graham 10 targets in one game. There is no reason Russell Wilson should try to make nothing out of something when the safe option is there, because it always turns into 2nd and long or 3rd long, which eventually leads to a punt. Russell Wilson is playing like PURE garbage and he is not moving the chains well enough this season.
If the Seahawks want to start winning Football Games, they have to start using the Run to setup the Pass. Then Wilson will be able to bootleg/play-action far more often, which will lead to more Jimmy Graham.
Going up against the 49ers, Marshawn Lynch is primed to be his classic BEAST MODE self ranking in as the #6 RB in my Rankings. A spot he can easily beat if the Seahawks decide to play smart Football and run with BEAST MODE.
Marshawn has scored at least 1 TD or rushed for over 100 Yards against the 49ers in every game since 2012, and watching BEAST MODE run as hard as he did last week, you can be sure he will be ready to continue that type of success.
The key for the 49ers tonight is continue to play solid offense. Colin Kaepernick has really turned the corner since the 2nd quarter against the Giants two weeks ago and he has carried that momentum very nicely against the Ravens last week. Seattle’s secondary is a little too challenging for him which is a problem, but his WR duo in Anquan Boldin/Torrey Smith still has plenty left in the tank. Kaepernick has to be smart with his throws and not turn the ball over if the 49ers are going to have a chance. With Bobby Wagner back in the lineup and Carlos Hyde far less than 100% tonight, Kaepernick is going to have to win this game tonight for SF along with a lot of good defense.
In the end, I do not expect that to be enough and I trust that Seattle will start running the ball more. Or I may break my TV with a Baseball bat.
SEAHAWKS (24)
49ers (13)
(TNF Record 4-2)
MUST-START
Marshawn Lynch (RB #6)
Jimmy Graham (TE #3)
SEAHAWKS (D/ST #1)
Steve Haushka (K #5)
CAN-START
Carlos Hyde (RB #24)
Russell Wilson (QB #18)
Anquan Boldin (WR #32)
49ERS (D/ST #14)
BEAST