FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 5/21/2013 12:19pm et

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said QB Russell Wilson is a million miles ahead of where he was last year. 'He threw a couple of balls today, things that we talked about over the offseason that he'd like to take a shot at, and he did it today just to see what would happen with full awareness of why he was doing it,' Carroll said.

Huddle Up: Wilson wound up 11th among all fantasy QBs last season with 333 fantasy points (Huddle Performance scoring). The total received a big boost from Wilson's 489 rushing yards -- third among QBs -- and 4 TDs. Expect Wilson's passing numbers (3,118 yards, 26 TDs) to go up and his rushing figures to dip as he becomes more comfortable as a passer this season.

Posted: 4/5/2013 12:08am et

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said he believes QB Russell Wilson could have a breakout season in 2013. 'I think he's going to really do well this year. He's going to bust out and will benefit tremendously from his first year. It may be hard to imagine he's going to get any better, but I think he's going to get a lot better, being he was a first year starter, first time in the league,' Carroll said.

Huddle Up: While Wilson was rather impressive, tying the rookie single-season record with 26 TD tosses, challenging RGIII for offensive rookie of the year honors and finishing 11th among all fantasy QBs, there is some definite room for improvement, especially when you consider he didn't record a single 300-yard passing game all season.

Posted: 1/23/2013 11:06am et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, contrary to an earlier report, did not ask the team to rework his rookie contract. "I speak for myself. I never demanded or asked for a restructured contract," Wilson said.

Huddle Up: The CBA pretty much ties the hands of both Wilson and the Seahawks when it comes to his contract, so unless they wanted to cut him--and expose him to waivers--and then re-sign him he'll have to play for his existing deal for the first three years. By that time the Seahawks should be more than ready to back up the Brinks truck to Wilson's front door.

Posted: 1/22/2013 10:05pm et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson will be added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster for the 2013 Pro Bowl in place of Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan (shoulder).

Huddle Up: Even though it took cancellations by Aaron Rodgers and Ryan for Wilson to get to Hawaii, it's an honor well deserved for the rookie, who was one of the top QBs in the league over the second half of the season.

Posted: 1/15/2013 12:52pm et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson threw for 385 yards in the Divisional Round playoff game, which set the franchise record for passing yards in a playoff game.

Huddle Up: Rookie or not, Wilson emerged as one of the league's most dynamic QBs over the second half of the season. Still skeptical? Compare this stat with any QB: Wilson had 24 combined TDs and only 3 interceptions over his final 10 games, including the postseason.

Posted: 1/3/2013 1:48pm et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has been named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month for December.

Huddle Up: This might not be the only rookie honor Wilson nabs this month as the Seahawks' QB could snare the NFL season honor after leading all first-year QBs with 30 total TDs, including a rookie-record 26 passing.

Posted: 12/31/2012 12:06am et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson tossed his 26th touchdown pass in the Week 17 game against the St. Louis Rams. Wilson tied the NFL rookie record held by QB Peyton Manning, then of the Indianapolis Colts.

Huddle Up: Wilson finished the game 15-of-19 for 250 yards and a TD, and was otherworldly over the second half of the season with 19 total TDs and only 2 interceptions over that 8-game span.

Posted: 12/16/2012 10:36pm et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson passed for one score, and ran for three others, in the Week 15 win against the Buffalo Bills. He is the first QB in NFL history to run for three scores in the first half of a game, and the first QB since former Minnesota Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper to run for three scores in any half. Wilson is the first Seahawks QB to run for three scores in a single game.

Huddle Up: Wilson entered the game with 310 rushing yards and no scores, but took care of that early with his 3 first-half TDs. Wilson's growth into a formidable QB and fantasy force has been just short of stunning, and he's now accounted for at least 2 passing and/or rushing TDs in 6 of the past 7 games.

Posted: 10/24/2012 7:42pm et

Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch is second in the league in carries this year, and he's on pace to set a franchise record in that category. Head coach Pete Carroll doesn't want to put too much pressure on rookie QB Russell Wilson. 'I'm trying to make sure we don't go too far too fast and overload him,' Carroll said. 'See if we can find a winning formula with that in mind. We're right on it.' They are averaging 25 passes per game this year. No other team is averaging fewer than 28.

Huddle Up: While this approach obviously has killed any fantasy value in the Seattle passing game, it's been quite all right with Lynch's owners and the Seahawks in general, who are are 4-3 and on the 49ers' heels in the NFC West race.

Posted: 10/17/2012 12:40am et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson said that his height (5-foot-9) has not been an issue. "My height's not a factor at all," Wilson said. "My height does not define my skill set. I try to have a high, quick release, throw the ball on time. Sometimes I may have to find a lane just like any quarterback who might be 6-2. Some of these guys are 6-7 on the other side of the ball, so sometimes you've just got to make a play and find ways to be on time with the football. You know where your guys are and where they're going -- you just have to deliver the ball accurately and on time."

Huddle Up: Wilson has debunked a lot of doubters and had his best fantasy outing of the season so far in Week 6 with 293 passing yards and 3 TDs against the Patriots. Still, as impressive as Wilson was, the rookie's toughest challenge comes this Thursday night on the road against a rugged 49ers defense still stinging from the beating they took from the Giants this past Sunday.

Posted: 10/1/2012 11:55pm et

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday, Oct. 1, that he isn't thinking about changing quarterbacks, and QB Russell Wilson is his man. 'He's not far off from being really, really successful right now as a leader in that position,' Carroll said. The Seahawks rank last in the NFL in passing yardage.

Huddle Up: Wilson looked like, well, a rookie QB in Sunday's loss to the Rams, throwing for only 160 yards and getting picked off three times. While his fantasy value is limited, he can be a solid starting QB if he can avoid the turnovers.

Posted: 9/25/2012 1:53pm et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson called the wrong play on the final play of the game against the Green Bay Packers Monday, Sept. 24. 'Instead of sending three receivers to the left corner of the end zone where Tate and Jennings ultimately fought for the ball, Wilson mistakenly called a 'Waggle' play which called for him to roll right while several receivers ran underneath routes,' Yahoo! Sports' Michael Silver writes.

Huddle Up: Regardless of what play was called, Wilson's late TD pass salvaged an otherwise lackluster fantasy night (130 passing yards, 18 rushing, 1 other TD) for the rookie QB. No reason to abandon Wilson now as he should only improve going forward.

Posted: 9/13/2012 7:06pm et

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said the team does not see QB Russell Wilson as a running quarterback but is fine if Wilson moves around to get a pass off. "We're not saying he's a running quarterback," Bevell said. "That's really not what we're trying to do. Obviously it's a long season, and he's going to take his hits and stuff. But we're not really trying to design the thing for him to run. What's probably been best about him is when he's moved, he moved with merit. And then when he's moved in the passing game, he's moved to throw down the field and make explosive plays. That's what we need to continue to do."

Huddle Up: Here's where fantasy and reality start to separate. Wilson's running ability -- he had 150 yards on 10 rushes in the preseason -- adds to the rookie's fantasy value, but the extra hits he would be subject to while scrambling have the Seattle coaches wary. He ran 8 times for only 20 yards in the opener, but there undoubtedly will be better days ahead.

Posted: 8/26/2012 11:35pm et

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll tabbed QB Russell Wilson as his starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Huddle Up: Wilson's stellar play was one of the preseason's top headlines, and he's now slated to be one of 5 rookie QBs starting in Week 1, joining Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden. Each of the other 4 QBs were drafted in the first round, while Wilson was a third-round pick. Seattle signed Matt Flynn to a 3-year deal worth nearly $20 million in the offseason to be their starter, but Wilson's uber-impressive preseason (35-of-52, 464 yards, 5 TDs, 1 interception; 10 rushes-150 yards, 1 TD) were simply too good for Carroll and his staff to overlook. He's fantasy-backup worthy is all leagues.

Posted: 8/25/2012 12:11am et

Russell Wilson completed 13-of-19 passes for 185 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Seattle's 44-14 preseason road win over Kansas City on Friday night.

Huddle Up: Matt Flynn sat out the game with a sore elbow -- and may have just lost out on the Seahawks' starting job in the process. Wilson, a third-round pick out of Wisconsin, delivered his best performance yet in an already stellar preseason, guiding the Seattle offense to 37 points -- most of the scores coming against the Chiefs' starting defense -- and adding 58 rushing yards to his passing stats. Fantasy GMs who need to choose between the Seattle QBs before an official starter announcement is made would be wise to bank on Wilson.

Posted: 8/23/2012 4:25pm et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson will need to be significantly better than QB Matt Flynn to have a chance to win the starting job in his team's preseason game Friday, Aug. 24.

Huddle Up: While Wilson has the better stats this preseason, more of his playing time has come against opponents' defensive reserves. That will change Friday night when the rookie starts against the Chiefs. Flynn, meanwhile, certainly has done nothing to play himself out of the starting gig, and it will be up to Wilson to clearly distinguish himself in the race.

Posted: 8/21/2012 1:36pm et

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson will be the starting quarterback for the team's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs Friday, Aug. 24.

Huddle Up: If there was a preseason MVP award, Wilson would be one of the front-runners. The 3rd-round pick has completed 66.7 percent of his passes in 2 games for 279 yards, 3 TDs and an interception for a 110.5 rating. He's also picked up 92 yards and a TD on only 8 rushes. Big-money free-agent signee Matt Flynn may be in line to start the regular season for the Seahawks, but Wilson most definitely deserves some attention in dynasty and keeper leagues.