Russell Wilson Is a Fine Fantasy Football Bargain in Divisional Round

The Atlanta Falcons have been quite stingy when it comes to fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks in the 2012 season, but fantasy football owners with their eyes on Seattle Seahawks rookie Russell Wilson should find him to be worth the bargain.

In ESPN standard scoring, the Falcons have allowed 12.8 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, ninth best among NFL defenses. However, against mobile quarterbacks with fantasy upside due to their rushing ability, they have been considerably less stout from a fantasy perspective. Atlanta faced off against Philadelphia Eagles talent Michael Vick, Washington Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III and Carolina Panthers sophomore Cam Newton (twice).

Griffin was injured and left the game after completing 10-of-15 passes for 91 yards, taking two sacks and running once—for seven yards. Newton and Vick finished their respective run-ins with the Falcons. In those three games, Atlanta’s defense gave up 231.0 passing yards and 81.3 rushing yards on 8.3 carries per game with seven total touchdowns (two rushing) and no forced turnovers.

That all bodes quite well for Wilson, a QB with six or more rushing attempts in each of his last four games and seven or more in six of his last eight (including the playoffs). He doesn’t have to toss the ball all over the yard to net a respectable fantasy performance; he ended 2012 as the 11th-best fantasy QB despite never throwing for 300 yards in a single game.

His most prolific yardage output was 293 on 37 throws against the Chicago Bears defense on the road in overtime. He threw for the same total against the New England Patriots at home on 27 attempts. Wilson chucked five touchdowns and zero interceptions in those two games.

Wilson’s best fantasy asset in the passing game is his touchdown-to-interception ratio: In 17 games, he has thrown 27 TDs and just 10 picks. Because he hasn’t turned the ball over more than once in any game since Week 5 and he keeps the ball so often, Wilson’s fantasy floor is quite high in the divisional round.

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