Week 2: Baldwin vs Chargers
Doug Baldwin has solidified his status as the No. 2 behind Percy Harvin which means a couple different things. It means he will get snaps, but Seattle's offense does not really run through their wide receivers.
Keep an eye on Baldwin's matchups week to week. He had five targets Week 1 and that number could go up against bad pass defenses.
San Diego's pass defense is average so we don't expect much more production out of Baldwin for Week 2. Keep him on the bench for all formats on Sunday.
Week 1: Baldwin vs Packers
The Seattle offense really never had a No. 1 receiver last season. Sometimes it was Doug Baldwin. Sometimes it was Golden Tate. Sometimes somebody else. Tate is gone and a healthy Percy Harvin enters. So, where does that leave Baldwin? Probably in a similar situation where he will have big games and disappear. The Seattle offense will do that to you.
Even with a decent matchup for Week 1, the 'Hawks will probably try to get Harvin involved early and often. That will leave Baldwin out. He is not a starter for Week 1 and although he might be effective during the season, keep him on the bench on Thursday.
Fantasy Upside
Although a reliable receiver for Seattle, Doug Baldwin is nothing spectacular. He has shown he can play in the league and had some great fantasy weeks the past couple season. Right now, he is solid in his role as the Seahawks No. 2 receiver behind Percy Harvin. Baldwin and QB Russell Wilson had some chemistry last season, especially after Sidney Rice went down with an injury so he has his quarterback's confidence.
Fantasy Downside
It's hard to like any of Seattle's receiver because of the nature of the offense. Baldwin's numbers are okay, but it is hard to see him doing anything more than last season. The Seahawks tend to rotate receivers often so even with his standing as a 'starter', he might not see the field every down.
Bottom Line
Baldwin will become fantasy-relevant if something happens to Harvin, which is a distinct possibility. That's why we like him as a late round pick in deep drafts because despite the Seattle offense, somebody has to catch the ball and if Harvin can't get on the field, then Baldwin will be the man. The ADP is very low at 173. He is worth a flyer in the late rounds, mainly because of the Harvin factor.
