Fantasy Football Week 5: Complete Monday Night Preview

We are basically five weeks into the 2014 NFL season, and on the field, there will be no perfect season for any of the 32 teams.

And that’s perfectly fine for the alumni of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who may be still sipping a little champagne this Monday morning.

But what about your fantasy football team these days? Have you managed to make it through one weekend into October unscathed? Or does your run at perfection depend on the performances of the certain Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins on Monday night?

To be honest, we are not looking for a lot of points out of this matchup in terms of the offense. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be some scoring during this matchup by one or more players or units.

Let's begin the preview.

Starting Quarterbacks

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Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson

It might surprise some people that the third-round pick in 2012 threw exactly 26 touchdown passes in each of his first two NFL campaigns. After three games this season, Wilson has already connected for six scores through the air with just one interception.

Unfortunately, while he’s rushed for 87 yards to date, he has yet to find the end zone on the ground. Wilson has also fumbled twice and been sacked six times. And Seattle’s offense always seems to perform a lot different on the road.

Fantasy Prediction: 15-of-21, 192 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 5 carries, 35 yards, 0 TD

Washington Redskins: Kirk Cousins

When we last saw the three-year pro, he was on the wrong end of his team’s 45-14 home loss to the New York Giants. Cousins committed five of the team’s six turnovers in the 31-point loss, including four interceptions.

It’s not like the Redskins’ young signal-caller hasn’t seen the Seattle defense before, although it wasn’t much of a look. Cousins took over for an injured Robert Griffin III late in the fourth quarter of the team’s meeting in the 2012 NFC wild-card playoffs.

Fantasy Prediction: 17-of-28, 201 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT; 3 carries, 11 yards, 0 TD

Running Backs

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Seattle Seahawks Starter: Marshawn Lynch

What would head coach Pete Carroll do without the relentless Lynch? Known for his affinity for Skittles, he often looks like he’s taking candy from a baby when dealing with opposing defenses.

The Seattle offense has produced 10 touchdowns in three games, and the Pro Bowl runner has five of those scores. He leads the team with 234 yards on the ground, and three touchdowns and two of his eight receptions have wound up in the end zone. He is the glue that holds together this unit.

Or is it bubble gum?

Fantasy Prediction: 31 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD; 2 receptions, 12 yards, 0 TD

Seattle Seahawks Backup: Robert Turbin

When Lynch does get a breather, it’s Turbin to the rescue. In terms of running backs, he has the second-most carries on the team with 10 attempts. But in terms of rushing, his 35 yards rank fourth in the club behind Lynch (234), quarterback Russell Wilson (87) and wide receiver Percy Harvin (86).

The question Monday night may not only be Turbin’s playing time but also if third-stringer Christine Michael will be active for the first time this season.

Fantasy Prediction: 9 carries, 38 yards, 0 TD; 0 receptions

Washington Redskins Starter: Alfred Morris

It is three seasons, 36 games and 36 starts for the former sixth-round draft choice, one of the league’s more reliable running backs.

Morris has totaled 316 yards rushing on 71 carries and scored three touchdowns. He has never been much of a factor in the passing game and has just three catches for 27 yards in 2014. In fact, the productive performer has as many rushing touchdowns (23) as pass receptions in his NFL career.

Fantasy Prediction: 18 carries, 91 yards, 0 TD; 1 reception, 7 yards, 0 TD

Washington Redskins Backup: Roy Helu

With Morris around, it doesn’t leave a lot of carries for other running backs on the Washington roster.

Helu has totaled 80 yards rushing and a touchdown on 15 carries this season. He has also caught 10 passes for 159 yards, 55 of those coming on one reception.

Don’t expect a ton of touches on Monday night.

Fantasy Prediction: 4 carries, 15 yards, 0 TD; 3 receptions, 19 yards, 0 TD

Wide Receivers

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Seattle Seahawks: Percy Harvin

The Percy of all trades certainly touches the ball in a variety of ways.

Besides his work on kickoffs (seven returns for 141 yards), Harvin leads the team with 15 catches for 106 yards. But the speedster has also racked up 86 yards rushing on six attempts, including a 51-yard score in the Week 2 loss to the San Diego Chargers.

There’s little doubt that he will keep the Washington secondary preoccupied.

Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 35 yards, 0 TD; 2 carries, 34 yards, 0 TD

Seattle Seahawks: Doug Baldwin

The Seattle passing attack hasn’t put a big dent in opposing defenses this season—ranking 26th in yards entering Week 5.

Baldwin ranks second in the club with 10 catches for 105 yards but has not scored a touchdown to date. While the Washington secondary is certainly suspect, it doesn’t mean that Baldwin will get the chances to exploit it.

Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 34 yards, 0 TD

Seattle Seahawks: Ricardo Lockette

He’s made a habit of making the big play at the right time this season, despite less than a handful of receptions.

Lockette has totaled just three catches in 2014 for 77 yards, but two of those grabs have gone for touchdowns. The opportunistic wideout caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in Week 1 vs. the Green Bay Packers and struck again back in Week 3 with a 39-yard score in the overtime win over the Denver Broncos.

Fantasy Prediction: 5 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD

Seattle Seahawks: Jermaine Kearse

The numbers aren’t huge so far and are not expected to be Monday night. Kearse has caught seven passes for 91 yards this season to date. Last season, the Seahawks wideout totaled 22 catches for 346 yards and four touchdowns and then followed that up with two more scoring receptions in the postseason.

Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 24 yards, 0 TD

Washington Redskins: Pierre Garcon

Last season, the one-time Indianapolis Colts wideout led the entire NFL in receptions. This season, Garcon is off to another decent start, hauling in 24 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown.

Against the Seattle secondary, the speedy performer will obviously have to pick his spot. Finding the end zone may be a different story altogether.

Fantasy Prediction: 6 receptions, 74 yards, 0 TD

Washington Redskins: DeSean Jackson

With the exception of an 81-yard touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, the electrifying wide receiver has yet to break out in 2014.

Jackson has totaled 15 catches for 207 yards and that lone touchdown to date. It will be fun to see if he locks horns with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman on Monday night.

It might be fun to listen to as well.

Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 52 yards, 0 TD

Washington Redskins: Santana Moss

The veteran wideout has been inactive in each of the team’s first four games this season. We expected to see him a week-and-a-half ago vs. the New York Giants, but such was not the case. Once again, it’s strictly hit or miss here.

Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 12 yards, 0 TD

Washington Redskins: Andre Roberts

While the free-agent acquisition this offseason has been more of a factor on special teams to date, the former Arizona Cardinals wideout did catch a touchdown pass early in last week’s loss to the New York Giants.

Roberts has totaled 10 catches for 135 yards and a score in 2014, and as opposed to Moss, he has actually been on the field.

Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 8 yards, 0 TD

Tight Ends

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Seattle Seahawks Starter: Luke Willson

For what it’s worth, Willson (one reception for one yard) has the same amount of catches this season as Wilson, as in teammate and quarterback Russell Wilson (one reception for 17 yards). With Zach Miller out, how much Wilson-to-Willson will we see on Monday night?

Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 17 yards, 0 TD

Seattle Seahawks Backup: Cooper Helfet

The former undrafted free agent was inactive the first two weeks of the season but was around for the Week 3 meeting with the Denver Broncos. However, Helfet was not targeted as a receiver and doesn’t figure to be a factor in this contest, even with Miller sidelined.

Fantasy Prediction: 0 receptions

Washington Redskins Starter: Niles Paul

It’s worth noting that in their last two games, the Seahawks have allowed five touchdown passes—all to tight ends.

Meanwhile, Paul (who figures to start Monday night) ranks second on the team with 21 catches, second only to Pierre Garcon on the team, and leads Washington with 313 receiving yards. His lone touchdown grab came in Week 2 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. He's coming off a concussion suffered in last week’s loss to the Giants.

Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 23 yards, 0 TD

Washington Redskins Backup: Logan Paulsen

In last week’s lopsided loss to the G-Men, Paulsen totaled three catches for 28 yards. He’s been targeted seven times all season and has totaled seven receptions for 35 yards and zero touchdowns.

Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 6 yards, 0 TD

Defense/Special Teams

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Seattle Seahawks Defense/Special Teams

We don’t expect the Seahawks to get six takeaways as was the case for the New York Giants last week at FedExField. However, we look for Pete Carroll’s club to keep the Redskins out of the end zone. Seattle defenders will force a pair of turnovers and be in the face of quarterback Kirk Cousins. We even see the Seahawks coming up with a safety on the evening.

Fantasy Prediction: 9 points allowed, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF

Washington Redskins Defense/Special Teams

Although we are not predicting victory for Jay Gruden’s club, we look for defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and his unit to put up respectable fantasy numbers. And while Washington defenders will come up with a few sacks and takeaways at the expense of Wilson and the Seattle offense, they won’t be getting much support from their offensive counterparts.

Fantasy Prediction: 19 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF

Best Sleeper Adds

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A couple of these performers may not be on your team and could be worth adding on Monday morning. Sometimes a little last-minute shopping can be beneficial.

1. Robert Turbin, Running Back, Seattle Seahawks (Owned in 5.8 percent of ESPN leagues)

It’s interesting to note that third-string running back Christine Michael is owned in 8.3 percent of ESPN leagues, and he’s been inactive for the team’s first three games. Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times updates us on Michael’s health.

As for Turbin, he has rushed for just 35 yards on 10 carries, but he does have 39 yards receiving and a score on three catches. He’s worth taking a chance on if you think Lynch will struggle or the Seahawks are in the midst of a comfortable victory.

2. Ryan Kerrigan, Outside Linebacker, Washington Redskins (Owned in 26.7 percent of ESPN leagues)

If you are in an IDP league (Individual Defensive Player), you may already have the pass-rushing standout.

Kerrigan has totaled only 11 tackles this season, but he does have five of Washington’s 11 sacks, as well as a pass defensed and a forced fumble. The former first-rounder has made his share of big plays the last few seasons and could have a good night in this encounter.

3. Kai Forbath, Placekicker, Washington Redskins (Owned in 0.6 percent of ESPN leagues)

This season, the Redskins’ specialist has connected on 11 of 12 point-after attempts (PATs) and four out of his five field-goal attempts for 23 points. We are forecasting just nine points for Gruden’s club against Seattle’s formidable defense, with all of the scoring coming from the Washington kicker.

So at least for this week, Forbath may be your kind of Kai.

Injury Report

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Here is a look at the latest injury report regarding the Seahawks and Redskins, focusing on key performers (courtesy of NFL.com).

Team
Player		Status
Zach Miller	TE	Out
Tharold Simon	CB	Out
Bruce Irvin	LB	Probable

With just over two weeks to get ready for this tilt, the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are pretty healthy heading into this contest. Luke Willson will open at tight end in place of Miller, while Irvin is expected to play.

Team
Player		Status
Tracy Porter	CB	Out
Jordan Reed	TE	Questionable
Niles Paul	TE	Questionable
Trent Williams	T	Questionable
Shawn Lauvao	T	Questionable
DeSean Jackson	WR	Probable
Jason Hatcher	DE	Probable
Brian Orakpo	LB	Probable

Although the layoff wasn’t as long for the Redskins, Gurden’s club has had a little extra time to heal. Hatcher, Jackson and Orakpo were all full participants in practice, and they figure to play. While Reed and Paul are both listed as questionable, Paul has practiced and Reed has not. And keep an eye on the offensive line with Williams and Lauvao on this list.

Sit or Start

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We know who the stars are when it comes to this contest. But is there a pivotal player or two who may be on your roster whom you can’t decide whether to start or not? Here’s a little help.

RB Robert Turbin (Seahawks): Marshawn Lynch is one of the league’s true workhorses. It’s hard to see Turbin getting that many carries, and it's even harder to see when it comes to looking for him in the end zone.

Verdict: Sit

WR Ricardo Lockette (Seahawks): He may not get you a lot of catches, but he has had a sneaky way of finding the end zone when called upon. It’s a bit of a reach, but if you are going to go with a Seahawks wide receiver, he may be the choice.

Verdict: Start

TE Luke Willson (Seahawks): It’s not impossible for Willson to have a decent game against Washington’s 3-4 defensive unit. But it is also not very likely. The second-year pro will be busy blocking for Lynch Monday night.

Verdict: Sit

RB Roy Helu (Redskins): Helu has touched the ball 25 times this season and does have one rushing touchdown. But the Washington offense might not be on the field that much on Monday night.

Verdict: Sit

Some statistical support provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL.com and ESPN.com. Depth chart info provided by Ourlads.