Marshawn Lynch is back with the Seattle Seahawks for a postseason run. Is it worthwhile starting him in Week 17 in fantasy football?
Beast Mode returns to the Pacific Northwest just in the nick of time. The Seattle Seahawks have been ravaged by injuries in their running back stable. With an NFC West crown on the line on Sunday Night Football in Week 17, the Seahawks have decided to bring back Marshawn Lynch out of retirement for one last playoff run. Will he be a difference-maker for the Seahawks?
The Fantasy Footballers are very excited about Lynch’s return to the Seahawks but are split on if you should consider starting him in Week 17 for fantasy football purposes. Jason Moore doesn’t seem to mind if Lynch is out-of-shape, as his physical running style will be suitable enough to thrive in a high-stakes division rivalry game with the division on the line.
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Andy Holloway doesn’t feel comfortable with starting Lynch in a Week 17 fantasy league because we don’t know what type of running back he’ll be for the Seahawks. Lynch had spent the 2017 and 2018 NFL seasons as a starting running back for the Oakland Raiders and a good one. However, he spent the 2016 NFL season out of football as well.
As for Mike Wright, he just agrees with the notion that having Beast Mode back in our lives is a good thing. Sure, it’s a gamble to start Lynch in fantasy this week, but do keep in mind that Seattle is very much a run-first football team. He may not have a ton left in the tank, but Lynch will give his all for the Seahawks the rest of the way this season, no matter how far they end up going.
A reason you can feel good about rolling with Lynch this week is who else will quarterback Russell Wilson be handing the ball off to? Rashaad Penny, Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise are all out for the season due to injury. Once the depth chart was run through, it was Travis Homer as the lead back in the Seahawks offense. Look for Lynch to get some of those carries in Week 17.
Seattle may be at home this week, but the San Francisco 49ers are leading the division and will want to avenge their loss earlier this season at home to the Seahawks. With the NFC West up for grabs, Lynch will be a reason Seattle does end up winning the division if the Seahawks complete the season sweep of the 49ers in 2019.