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There was a point in the fantasy football season last year where I flexed wide receiver Doug Baldwin into my lineup, but he will never be a consistent fantasy option who is worth drafting with the Seattle Seahawks.
From Week 9 to Week 15 last season, Baldwin averaged 10 fantasy points per game in standard scoring leagues, and he also caught four touchdown passes in between those weeks as well. With the departure of Golden Tate and with fellow receivers Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice most likely slated to miss some time during the season because of injuries, it would appear that Baldwin could be a prime candidate as a fantasy sleeper in 2014. The 25-year-old receiver, however, will not make an impact for your team.
The Seahawks, led by the legs of Marshawn Lynch, finished the 2013 season averaging 136.8 rushing yards per game. With a dominate ground game that ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing yards, there is little need for Russell Wilson to put on an aerial show. Coach Pete Carroll knows his bread and butter is his strong defense and reliable rushing attack, so don’t expect things to change in 2014.
Wilson averaged 209.8 passing yards per game last season, and has only had two games in his career where he has thrown for 300 or more yards, so the opportunities will continue to be on the lower end for Baldwin. The receiver has averaged 43 receptions in his three years in the league, and there is no reason to assume that he will see an increase in targets this season.
Finally, Harvin will be Wilson’s go-to guy if he can stay healthy, and Rice is looking to recapture his dominate performance with the Minnesota Vikings from 2009 when he totaled 1,312 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. Again, the odds aren’t great that either of Baldwin’s teammates can make it through an entire season, but they will be the targeted players when they hit the field.
Drafting Baldwin may have started to cross your mind for the 2014 fantasy football season, but don’t waste a pick on a player who is limited by his environment.
Jack Delaney is a fantasy football writer for www.Rantsports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jackbmore13, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google
