Fantasy Football 2011: Sidney Rice's Fantasy Value as a Seattle Seahawk

Former Minnesota Vikings star wideout Sidney Rice signed on with the Seattle Seahawks about a week ago. My initial reaction was, “What? The Seahawks? Why on earth would he want to go where there is no QB?”

My initial reaction hasn’t changed much, even after giving it some thought.

The Seahawks' starting QB spot will be vied for by former Vikings outcast Tarvaris Jackson, who signed a two-year deal with the team, and Charlie Whitehurst, a player who probably is and always will be best-suited as a backup.

I’ve had this theory that in order for any QB to develop or play well, outside of Peyton Manning and the other elites, he must have a solid receiving corps.

The Seahawks now have that after signing Rice and TE Zach Miller to go along with Mike Williams, but there is a limit in the situation.

Great receiving corps do not make lackluster QBs into solid QBs. Whitehurst had a solid Week 17 performance to nab the playoff berth for the Seahawks, but his 2010 total numbers were paltry. He went 57-99 (57.6 percent) for 507 yards with two TDs and three INTs playing in six games and starting two of them.

Not exactly the promise that many fans think they are seeing.

After a breakout season in 2009 for Rice, (1,312 YDS, eight TDs), he sat out most of 2010 with a serious hip injury and disappointed upon his return. Now, Rice has to snag passes from Jackson (the likely starter) with Mike Williams and Zach Miller around him.

There simply aren’t enough passes to go around.

While I’m not entirely sure what the future plan may be at the QB position for the Seahawks, one thing is for certain: Sidney Rice has no chance to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark.

I’m guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 yards and six TDs.

I’m not discounting Rice’s future from a fantasy standpoint, because the Seahawks could have a reliable QB in the next two to three years. Then again, two to three years is a long time.

Look to use Rice as a WR3 in a best-case scenario. I won’t be drafting him, but if you do, get him as a backup—don’t rely on him with a shaky QB and two other legitimate receiving threats vulturing the scarce passing yards away from him.

Players constantly say that money is not the main concern. They say they just want championships.

I get the feeling that simply isn’t the case for Rice.

Get your plungers ready, because Rice’s career and legacy as a player is going to need some help.