Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: SEA 27, SD 16 (Line: SEA by 5)

UPDATE: Both Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates were listed as questionable but are expected to play.

The Seahawks come off an easy win over the Packers and 6-2 on the road last year.. The Chargers were clipped by the Cardinals on Monday night and now return home where they were 5-3 last year. Seattle has the look of a champion still and the Chargers offense only scored 17 points against a lesser defense than the Seahawks.

Just one game in but the Seahawks defense looks every bit as impenetrable as last year and the offense with Percy Harvin healthy appears even better. While they may have a target on their backs from winning a Super Bowl, the schedule may be easier than last year. The Seahawks usually play worse in road games but then again their last one in January went really, really well.

QUARTERBACK : Effective and efficient as always, Russell Wilson passed for 191 yards and two scores and ran seven times to gain 29 yards. It is encouraging to see him run so much since that helps prop up his normally mediocre passing stats.

RUNNING BACK : The concerns about the backfield were unfounded. Marshawn Lynch ran 20 times for 110 yards and two scores and remains the full-time back. Robert Turbin ended with six runs while Christine Michael did not play. This remains a run-first offense that goes through Lynch. Wilson only passed twice to running backs in the game – this is a true rushing offense.

WIDE RECEIVER : As will be the case most weeks, the stats here were marginal at best and Doug Baldwin only caught three passes for 24 yards. The Packer’s game went really well and there was no reason to throw much later in the game. The one difference maker of note was Percy Harvin who is healthy and a big part of the game plan. He ran for 41 yards and them caught all seven passes thrown to him for 59 total yards. At this point Harvin is the only fantasy starter and even he’s just a moderate play for total yardage so far.

TIGHT END : Zach Miller (3-42) was better than usual but remains below any fantasy relevancy.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Chargers held the Cardinals to only 73 yards on 20 carries but Lynch is a must start and will get his carries in. The Chargers gave up 300 passing yards but did hold Larry Fitzgerald to only one catch. The only fantasy play here aside from Lynch is Harvin and even he’ll be lucky to post top 20 numbers for wide receivers. This is a great NFL team but not much of a fantasy squad aside from the defense and Lynch.

Tough loss to the Cardinals on Monday night and how have to host the Seahawks. This is a much tougher schedule than the Chargers faced last year and there is not that much to look forward to outside of a few AFC West matchups. The passing game also took a big step backwards when Keenan Allen faced someone who could cover him. Like this week.

QUARTERBACK : Philip Rivers struggled against the Cardinals and while he got hot at the end and made a game of it, he still only ended with 238 yards and one score. The crew is all healthy again and Malcom Floyd was able to score but facing a decent defense last week was more than the offense could bear.

RUNNING BACK : While Ryan Mathews saved his fantasy value with a touchdown run, he still only ended with 40 yards on 12 carries and caught just two passes. Danny Woodhead was completely ineffective with just five yards on six runs and then a single catch for six yards. Donald Brown ran twice for a net two yard loss. Mathews runs into another buzz saw this week and his good fortune with the schedule last year is not carried forward. As a team the Chargers only rushed for 53 yards on 20 runs.

WIDE RECEIVER : Malcom Floyd is back and healthy this year with the only team receiving score so far. He ended with four receptions for 50 yards while Keenan Allen was held to just five catches for 37 yards on nine passes. The focus on Allen limited the entire group and forced Rivers to throw more than usual to his tight ends.

TIGHT END : Antonio Gates starts out with a nice effort of six catches for 81 yards and was targeted ten times. His fourth quarter catch should have helped seal the game. Ladarius Green only managed two catches for 24 yards and was not targeted until late in the game. Gates did not look particularly fast, but he was able to find spots to get open and was the lead receiver in the game.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: Make no mistake – the Seahawks shut down the Packers rushing game and even still Aaron Rodgers could not produce much using a better offense than the Chargers. At home does help the Bolts but these Seahawks look scary good again. Keenan Allen won’t draw Richard Sherman unless they force the matchup and they really don’t need to with Byron Maxwell on the right. Taking away both wideouts will likely happen and force shorter throws to Gates and the backs. No player here is more than a risky moderate start and only Gates looks like he could end up with at least nice yardage.

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