Week 13 vs Giants
In his first game back from injury, Carson only played 25/67 snaps against the Eagles and had just 10 touches. That likely was due to Seattle's easing him back into game action. But in those ten touches, Carson totaled 59 yards and a touchdown. Seattle will likely get Carson more involved now that he's healthier. He's back as a top-ten option among running backs, just in time for the fantasy playoffs.
Week 12 vs Eagles
Carson looks ready to play his first game since Week 7 when he suffered a foot injury against the Cardinals. He returns at a good time, as he faces a free-falling Eagles team. Carson should get his usual workload again, putting him right back in the RB2 range that he has settled in at.
Week 7 vs Cardinals
Chris Carson has posted two 100-yard games in the last three meetings with the Cardinals. The one he didn't was Week 16 last season when he got injured and saw his season come to an end. But before the injury, he had 60 yards on just nine touches. Carson should continue his impressive work against Arizona in primetime this week.
Week 5 vs Vikings
If there was any doubt about the status of Chris Carson, they were quieted Sunday with 19 touches for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Homer saw just one target against the Dolphins. Carson now gets the league's 24th-ranked rushing defense in Minnesota and a team allowing the 13th-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Carson is our No. 4 running back this week.
Week 3 vs Cowboys
Carson is 2/2 this season is recording a receiving touchdown. Whether that continues in Week 3 remains to be seen, but seeing him get 20 touches against the Patriots was a nice bounceback after he had 12 against the Falcons in Week 1. Dallas has actually been pretty decent against the run so far, allowing just 3.6 yards per carry on 74 carries in the first two games, which ranks 7th in the league. Seattle will at least try to get him in space again and it's those receiving skills that have him up high in PPR ranks, our No. 12 RB in half-PPR.
Week 2 vs Patriots
Carson only played 28 snaps against the Falcons, likely being on a pitch count as he continues to recover from his hip injury. Despite that, he still caught two touchdown passes in the win, catching all six of his targets for 45 yards. The Seahawks will keep Carlos Hyde involved in the running game, but Carson has enough juice in limited work to still warrant RB2 value, as he is our RB21 for this week, even against a solid Patriots defense.
Chris Carson looks healthy and ready to go after a hip injury cost him the final regular season game against the 49ers and the Seahawks' playoff run in 2019. But if Seattle's mock game a few weeks ago is any indication, Carson is ready to rock. Head coach Pete Carroll said he has fresh legs and looks great. Carson will look to build on what has been two straight top-seven rushing finishes against a team he had 90 yards and a touchdown against in Week 8 last season. He's a solid RB2 option this week and 14th on our RB board.
Fantasy Upside
Chris Carson is coming off two straight top-seven rushing seasons, including a top-five result in 2019 with 1,230 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games (he injured his hip during Week 16 and missed the rest of the season). Keep an eye on his hip, but he looks ready for 2020 and doesn't have much behind him to eat into his workload. Carlos Hyde is now in Seattle, but that won't be enough to keep the Seahawks from continuing to roll with Carson.
Fantasy Downside
The aforementioned hip concerns (as well as his durability in general) are worth monitoring. Carson also had fumble issues, totaling seven in 2019 and ten in the past two seasons. If those problems arise in 2020, Seattle would have no problem working Hyde into the offense even more. Carson would benefit from a healthy and turnover-free start to the season.
2020 Bottom Line
Carson currently sits as our No. 16 RB, which allows for plenty of upside with the rushing yardage he has posted in the past. Will he match his numbers from 2019? Maybe not, with the additions of Hyde and Greg Olsen. But among the backs he's sitting next to in fantasy, he arguably gives you more upside than guys like David Johnson or Leonard Fournette to name a few. He's a very solid RB2 option heading into drafts.
Week 16 vs Arizona
Chris Carson had another big game with 24 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns. It was a season-high rushing yard and his sixth 100-yard rushing performance. Carson is getting even more touches with Rashaad Penny out. He has been a very potent offensive weapon for the Seahawks.
The Cardinals are up next and are ranked 29th in aFPA to running backs. Carson had 145 total yards from scrimmage in the first meeting with Arizona earlier this season. He should be in that range again with a favorable matchup and his recent production.
Start Carson as a top-five fantasy running back for Week 16 and expect 25 touches and 100+ yards in total offense.
Week 15 at Carolina
With Rashaad Penny out, Chris Carson should get even more touches. Penny had been coming on in recent weeks, and that worried Carson owners. Carson had 18 touches for 91 total yards last week.
Carson faces the Panthers who are 32nd in aFPA to running backs, With the fact that Carson will get even more touches and how running backs have had huge games against Carolina, this sets up to be a big game for Carson.
Start him as a top five fantasy running back for Week 15 and expect a big day with 20-25 touches and over 100 total yards.
