Fantasy Football 2016 Preview: Seattle Seahawks wide receivers

Doug Baldwin

Fantasy experts across the whole spectrum of coverage aren’t quite sure what to do with Doug Baldwin.  He had a monster season last year and inked a new extension for big money just last month. He finished last year as the seventh-highest scoring receiver in fantasy points, but he’s definitely not being drafted as if he has a chance to repeat.

Baldwin did provide almost all his fantasy production over the last seven games of the season. Over those seven games he had 12 touchdowns including four straight multi-touchdown performances.  Considering he had 15 touchdowns in his first four seasons that kind of production would seem to be unsustainable.

Still, Baldwin obviously has a great connection with Russell Wilson and comes into this year as the clear go-to option.  He is just 27 as he enters his sixth year in Seattle, so he isn’t on the down side of his career just yet.

While I don’t expect Baldwin to get double-digit touchdowns this year, I do think he’ll lead Seattle in targets, catches, yards, and receiving touchdowns and lead the way in an improving Seattle passing game.  Seeing him repeat as a top-10 WR overall is tricky, but I definitely see him as a reliable second receiver in standard leagues.

Right now, Baldwin is sliding to the fifth round as the 22nd receiver taken. He’s going a little later than I would rank him, since I think he’ll likely be in the top 20. Remember he finished last year as the receiver to own for the fantasy playoffs, and he should continue to be Russell Wilson’s favorite target this year.

Next: Big-play and Breakout-year potential