Roddy White Injury: Why Fantasy Owners Must Start Falcons WR vs Seahawks

The Falcons are expected to start Roddy White against the Seattle Seahawks, which means that fantasy players who have White on their squads need to make sure he’s active this week.

There may not have been a better matchup for White and quarterback Matt Ryan yet this season, going up against a struggling Seahawks’ defense that is being bugged by injury problems.

White was listed as questionable because of a quad strain, but he was listed as questionable 16 times last year and played 16 times.

The Seattle defensive backfield isn’t particularly strong to start with, and the Seahawks are expected to be missing starting strong safety Kam Chancellor for this one. He didn’t practice all week, and coach Pete Carroll said Friday the plan is to start Atari Bigby in place of Chancellor.

The key to White’s success could be the pass rush of the Seahawks. The Falcons have not protected Ryan very well, giving up 13 sacks in three games after allowing just 23 all last season.

That being said, the Seahawks had not put great pressure on the passer until sacking Kevin Kolb of the Cardinals three times last week with defensive end Chris Clemons back, so Ryan may have more time to find White than in any game this season.

The two have hooked up for 20 catches and 224 yards, including a nine-catch, 140-yard game last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so they appear to be hitting their mid-season stride.

It’s going to be a busy day for Bigby, a one-time starter in Green Bay, in replacing Chancellor, because the offseason Seattle addition will continue to play on special teams.