Week 5 at Cincinnati
So, is Marshawn Lynch healthy? He still has been limited in practice, so the answer is not 100 percent, but the Seahawks feel he will be back in the lineup after missing Monday night.
When Lynch is the game, the Seahawks offense is different and they will need him for Week 5 against a Bengals defense that is 11th in aFPA to running backs. Keep an eye on the injury list and don't forget, Lynch was healthy two weeks ago, but his play was limited. The health issues push him down to a high-end RB2 for Week 5, so watch his status closely.
Week 4 vs Lions
Marshawn Lynch did not come out of the locker room to start last week's game against the Bears. A back issue that has bothered him in the past flared up and he ended up with only five carries. Health seems to be the only thing that can stop Beast Mode and the lingering hamstring problem that has him limited in practice.
Seattle doesn't play until Monday, so it's an extra day for Lynch to rest. He is a risky play even if he suits up because of what we saw last week. If you have him, start him but only as an RB2 for Week 4 against the Lions average run defense.
Week 3 vs Bears
There is no place like home for Beast Mode, as the Seahawks will host Chicago this Sunday. Lynch, like the rest of the Seattle offense, is off to a slow start. He is also nursing a sore calf and was limited in practice on Thursday.
Lynch is still looking for his first touchdown and has only averaged 3.5 yards per carry in Seattle's two road games to start the season. That should change this week, as the matchup is great for Lynch (who is our No. 1 fantasy running back overall for Week 3). Start him in all leagues and formats.
Week 2 at Green Bay
Even with Marshawn Lynch's mother complaining on social media, Beast Mode continues to show us his value. He had 23 touches for 104 yards in Week 1. He didn't score any touchdowns, but we will ignore that for now as he will get his share over the next 15 games.
Lynch rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns last season against the Packers. We know Green Bay's defense is average at best. There is no reason to think they will be able to keep the Sehawks offense down, which means a big night coming for Lynch. Start Lynch in all leagues and formats as the No. 1 fantasy RB for Week 2.
Week 1 vs Rams
The demise of Marshawn Lynch many predicted last year never happened. And there will be some who say Beast Mode will take a step back in carries and production this season. We will believe it when we see it. Lynch remains a consistent top-5 fantasy running back and even with a tough matchup in Week 1 against St. Louis, he will be one of the best fantasy plays on opening weekend. Start Lynch in all formats and watch him rack up points for you.
Fantasy Upside
After plenty of offseason speculation, The Beast is back in Seattle. After four consecutive seasons with at least 1,200 rushing yards and 280 carries, Lynch expects to be the workhorse again for the Seahawks. There was talk last year that they would try to take some of the burden off him in order to keep him fresh for the postseason, but that never really happened. Touchdowns are another factor as Lynch has had double-digits the past four years, including 17 last season (four of those receiving).
Fantasy Downside
With the way he runs, it is a bit surprising Lynch has stayed healthy. And with running backs having a such short window in the NFL, how much longer can he perform at this level? The biggest issue as far as production may be something Lynch can't control. The offensive line lost two mainstays (James Carpenter and Max Unger) so there are some questioning if the Seahawks can run the ball like they have in the past.
Bottom Line
Lynch is still a top 5 fantasy back no matter what way you look at it. We have him ranked as third overall and he has an ADP of six, which shows you some people think he is going to start tailing off. We're not buying it. He should be drafted early, because there is really no evidence that he is slowing down at this point in his career.
Week 20: Lynch vs Packers
Marshawn Lynch only had 14 carries and 3 receptions last week which is lower than his owners would expect. He really didn't have much fantasy impact as the Seahawks got great numbers from Russell Wilson and Jermaine Kearse. But don't let that discourage you.
The Packers are 13th in aFPA to running backs which means Lynch should have some success. It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks use him after last week, but we expect the 17 touches to be a minimum this Sunday. Start Lynch if you can. He is still the best running back play for Week 20.
Week 19: Lynch vs Panthers
Marshawn Lynch will be in Beast Mode this weekend when the Panthers come to Seattle. The formula that got the Seahawks a World Championship had Lynch front and center. When Seattle faced the Panthers in the regular season, Lynch had a very average performance rushing 14 times for 62 yards. The Seahawks would rather him around 20 carries at least. One issue is the Panthers are the No. 1 team in the NFL in aFPA to running backs.
Since Lynch is at home and is the focus of the offense, he is still a good play this weekend despite the Carolina stout defense. Start him as a top 4 running back in the Divisional Playoffs.
Week 17: Lynch vs Rams
It was a big surprise last week when Marshawn Lynch did not start the game in Arizona. An upset stomach postponed his presence until later in the game, but that didn't hurt his fantasy value. Lynch still ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns and panicked owners rejoiced after the game.
We expect more this week from Lynch who faces the Rams. St. Louis is 12th in aFPA to running backs and St. Louis limited 'The Beast' to 53 rushing yards in their earlier meeting this season. However, the Seahawks offense is firing on all cylinders during their five-game winning streak. They are playing for the division and seeding so expect nothing held back. Start Lynch as a top 5 fantasy running back for Week 17.
Week 16: Lynch vs Cardinals
Marshawn Lynch is getting the ball a lot the second half of the season with at least 20 carries in six of the past seven games. He had 91 yards rushing and a touchdown last week against a good Niners defense, so it's safe to say Beast Mode is on a roll. It was his first TD since his four-touchdown performance against New York in Week 10.
The Cardinals are very solid defensively and rank 1st in aFPA to running backs, so it won't be easy for Lynch. He was held to 39 yards when these two teams met earlier this season. Still, the Seahawks want to make the running game the focal point of the offense, so expect another 20+ carry performance for Lynch. This is enough to make him a solid RB1 for Week 16. Start him in all leagues.
