Wes Welker Is a Must-Start Fantasy Option vs. Seahawks After Return

Denver Broncos wideout Wes Welker is back, meaning yet another viable fantasy football producer resides at the position.

Even this week against the Seattle Seahawks.

Welker was reinstated by the league earlier this week, somewhat of a timely suspension as he was recovering from yet another concussion. While Welker has been out of action for a few weeks, there is little reason to believe he will be a non-factor Sunday, especially when taking into account the words of coach John Fox.

"It's been great," Fox said of Welker's work this week, per ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold. "He's a veteran guy that attacks preparation, and he's had a great week.''

It is entirely too easy to forget just how productive Welker was last year while quietly ranking just outside of the top-20 scorers at his position:

WK	OPP	REC	YDS	TD	PTS
1	Bal	9	67	2	16
2	@NYG	3	39	1	9
3	Oak	7	84	1	14
4	Phi	7	76	2	19
5	@Dal	5	49	1	10
6	Jac	6	63	1	12
7	@Ind	7	96	0	9
8	Wsh	6	81	1	14
9	BYE	-	-	-	-
10	@SD	3	21	0	2
11	KC	8	72	0	7
12	@NE	4	31	0	3
13	@KC	3	38	0	3
14	Ten	5	61	1	12
15	SD	0	0	0	0
16	@Hou	0	0	0	0
17	@Oak	0	0	0	0

That string of eight games with nine or more points is encouraging, to say the least. But most important of all as it pertains to a trip to Seattle this week, remember one thing—the Super Bowl last year left a sour taste in owner's mouths, but Welker was a bright spot with eight receptions on 10 targets for 84 yards.

It is impossible to know if Welker is on a pitch count in terms of snaps this week. His injury history is alarming—just look at the goose eggs near the bottom of the above chart due to health issues last season.

But when Welker is in the game, he is a favorite target of Manning. Keep in mind that Eric Decker, the No. 8 scorer at the position last season, is now out of the way. Without Welker in the lineup, Manning has relied on tight ends more than ever, but that figures to change with his sure-handed, chain-moving presence back on the field.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

The chemistry between the two is critical in a hostile environment. But one more note about the scary Seahawks—through two games, they simply are not that good against opposing receivers.

In fact, Seattle gives up the ninth-most points to the position so far this year. The defense surrendered a combined 19 fantasy points to Green Bay's Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb to start the season, then turned around and gave up a combined 11 to San Diego's Eddie Royal and Keenan Allen, who, unlike the prior two, did not even lead the team in receiving.

So even if Welker is used in a limited capacity Sunday, the volume will be there. As Rotoworld muses, he is already flirting with No. 2 wideout status, but the propensity for No. 1 production is certainly there while Seattle must also account for Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas, not to mention Montee Ball out of the backfield.

Reliability is the main reason Manning will continually hit Welker come Sunday, and it is the same reason owners should feel safe starting him in any and all leagues so long as his health status remains positive right up until kickoff.

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.