Field Gulls
It wasn’t as clean as hoped, but the Seattle Seahawks did get the job done against the Tennessee Titans. Seattle was never really in serious danger of losing, but 30-24 doesn’t feel good when the Titans hadn’t scored more than 22 all season and Seattle had a 20-point lead. Still, a win is a win and the Seahawks are inching closer to securing a playoff berth with an 8-3 record. Leg one of the easiest portion of their schedule is complete, with two more to come before the gauntlet combo of the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams in mid-December.
Time for Winners and Losers!
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
With Tory Horton hurt and Cooper Kupp struggling to generate man coverage separation, the passing offense really now more than ever lives and dies off of JSN. I don’t think I’m off-base in suggesting that without him, the Seahawks may have a bottom 10 passing attack. He means that much to this offense with his ability to win against any coverage, at any depth of the field, against any type of defense. I don’t want to speak in absolutes, but this year it’s undeniable that he’s been the best receiver in the NFL, such that he should be getting MVP votes. Yes, not Offensive Player of the Year, I’m talking Most Valuable Player.
Kenneth Walker III
Don’t look now, but Walker has consecutive games with over 100 yards from scrimmage. He had 71 yards on 11 carries plus 30 yards on three catches. Seattle just didn’t run enough plays on offense for Walker’s stats to really beef up, or else I believe he was poised for a big day.
Zach Charbonnet
An effective day as the RB2, with six carries for 35 yards and a touchdown. Charbonnet has seven rushing touchdowns, and it’s almost a meme at this point when you consider how often he’s spelled for Walker in the red zone after drives in which Walker did the bulk of the work. I’m sure fantasy football owners who have Walker and not Charbonnet are seething every week.
Rashid Shaheed
It might be weird to put him in here after a zero-catch day (with a run for five yards sprinkled in), but he’s here for special teams. Shaheed had two quality punt returns that led to a touchdown and a field goal. It’s also worth pointing out he had the key block on Charbonnet’s 13-yard run during the first half two-minute drill.
Now with all of that said: Shaheed needs to get up to speed (heh heh) with Sam Darnold and this offense as a whole ASAP. I don’t really want to see him used as a gadget player taking direct snaps.
Leonard Williams
Another sack for ‘Big Cat’ and he has six on the season. He led all players with four quarterback hits and had a 3rd and 1 run stop. The man is like fine wine and he only gets better with age.
Byron Murphy II
Another sack...
