FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

Prediction: SD 20, SEA 16

Update: Malcom Floyd missed some practice time with a hamstring strain but is expected to be okay to play this week. Ryan Mathews has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and has not practiced but has not been formally called out yet. Mike Tolbert is expected to start in his place and I will adjust the projections accordingly.

Two 1-1 teams meet and both have home wins and road losses. The results have been rather opposite for each team as well since the Seahawks throttled the 49ers but then were spanked in Denver. The Chargers lost in Kansas City in part because of a couple of very long scores but then stomped on the Jaguars. This week needs to show what sort of teams these really are and chances are the Chargers are the good one.

QUARTERBACK: After two weeks without Vincent Jackson, Philip Rivers has averaged 381 yards and three scores per game. Antonio Gates is back on top of his position and Rivers is just spreading the ball around very well. So far he has given one big week to both starting wideouts and this game helps indicate which he prefers.

The Seahawks rank about average against quarterbacks but they have only faced David Garrard and Matt Cassel. And Orton came away with 307 yards and two scores. Expect at least a good 300 yard, two touchdown standard from Rivers.

RUNNING BACKS: Ryan Mathews injured his ankle in a pileup against the Jaguars and left the game on a cart. He later returned in pads but never played. In his place, Mike Tolbert stepped in and ripped off 82 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns that were denied the Mathews owners. The expectations are that Mathews will play this week but I will update if there are any concerns or changing situations.

The Seahawks have been very good against the run and held Frank Gore to only 38 rushing yards there. He's returning from a sprained knee so temper expectations for Mathews this week. The Seahawks at home always play better defense.

WIDE RECEIVERS: The jury is still out on which wide receiver is the primary. In week one, Legedu Naanee rolled up 110 yards on five catches and scored but only had one catch last Sunday. Malcolm Floyd started out with just three catches for 38 yards but then turned in 95 yards and a score on three catches last week. The reality is that being "primary" will change depending on the defense and the whim of Philip Rivers.

Either receiver could go off this week against a defense victimized by Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas in Denver. Both Charger wideouts have six catches and one score. it could be both players.

TIGHT ENDS: Antonio Gates already has three touchdowns on the year and five catches in each game for around 60 yards or so. While a solid showing, he's not been called on to step up his volume because Vincent Jackson is gone. Gates remains the same and the other wideouts step up.

Pregame Notes: The Seahawks lost their momentum when they were squashed by the Broncos and maybe having no game film on themselves was an advantage against the 49ers. But now the same Matt Hasselbeck has to make do with a patchwork backfield and a collection of questionable wide receivers. After this week is a trip to St. Louis and then the bye. Getting there at 2-2 would be success enough for a rebuilding franchise.

QUARTERBACK: Matt Hasselbeck opened big against the 49ers but in Denver was limited to 233 passing yards and one score while throwing three interceptions. HC Pete Carroll insisted that Hasselbeck remains the starting quarter which something nice to hear when you have held the same job for only NINE YEARS. At some point Charlie Whitehurst is going to get playing time but apparently not just quite yet. Hasselbeck has rushed in a score in each of the first two games which is amazing since he only had five touchdowns during his 11 year career and never more than two in a season.

The Chargers have not allowed more than one passing score per opponent and that falls into line with Hasselbeck's norm anyway. Expect mediocrity. Embrace it if you must.

RUNNING BACKS: Win or lose it doesn't matter. There is nothing going on in the rushing attack of the Seahawks which has produced zero touchdowns and never more than 84 rushing yards that has been split out over four to five different runners each week. More surprising? That there are all these runners and yet almost no passes thrown to the position.

Seattle not only has one of the easiest rushing schedules in the league, they are determined to take no advantage and produce no player with fantasy relevance from this backfield. I project for Justin Forsett mostly out of habit.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Mike Williams turned in four catches for 64 yards in week one but then fell to only one catch for seven yards in part because if a thigh bruise that hampered his ability to run a route. Golden Tate had his first NFL catch last week and it went for 52 yards but that was his only reception. Throw in Ben Obamanu and Deion Branch and this is a collection of sub-average receivers that mix in and have no consistency or reliability.

The Chargers can be beaten in the secondary and this is where Hasselbeck has to work to remain in the game. But he is posting only very average stats so 210 yards and one score is right in line with what he has been doing. That should benefit Deon Butler the most since Mike Williams is still nursing a thigh bruise.

TIGHT ENDS: John Carlson doesn't catch a ton of passes but he always catches a few and he almost never scores. He is becoming a safe bet for about 40 yards on four catches if that is what you are needing.