Houshmandzadeh Signs With Seattle: Fantasy Football Impact

The Seattle Seahawks made a big splash in free agency signing former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh. The deal is a reported five years at an estimated $40 million with $15 million guaranteed.

Seattle entered 2008 with expectations of competing for a division title in a weak NFC West division, but with injuries to many of the team’s top offensive players, including the majority of their wide receiving corps, the Seahawks struggled mightily and finished third in the division with a 4-12 record.

Housmandzadeh is coming off a 92 reception campaign in 2008 in which he gained 904 yards with four touchdowns, which were solid numbers considering the Bengals' starting quarterback Carson Palmer missed 11 games with an elbow injury.

Houshmandzadeh has averaged 98 receptions for 1,042 yards with 8 touchdowns over the past three seasons, with his best season coming in 2007 when he had 112 receptions for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He should immediately become quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s top option in the passing game and will help shore up a receiving corps that includes Deion Branch and Nate Burleson.

From a fantasy football point of view this may not be the most ideal situation for Housh, but if Hasselbeck can rebound from an injury plagued 2008, he can still put up very good numbers.

Consider him a high-end WR2 that will likely be drafted in rounds 4-5, as he should be able to gain near 1,000 yards and close to double-digit touchdown totals.

This signing increases the fantasy value of Hasselbeck, and he should be considered a QB2 as a middle-to-late round pick.

Even though the addition of Houshmandzadeh makes the Seahawks receivers a much more formidable unit, he does diminish the fantasy value of both Branch and Burleson.

Consider Branch a WR3 and Burleson a WR4 with both being available late in fantasy drafts.

Losing Houshmandzadeh will also have an effect on the fantasy value of the Cincinnati Bengals offensive stars, most importantly Palmer and wide receiver Chad (call me Ocho-Cinco) Johnson.

Palmer loses his biggest target in the passing game and coming off an injury plagued 2008, he should be considered a QB2 option.

Johnson becomes Palmer’s top option in the passing game, but without Houshmandzadeh to draw attention, he will likely see many double teams. Johnson is likely a WR3 option available as a mid-round pick.

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