Major playoff implications will be on the line Thursday when the Seahawks host the Rams: both teams are 11-3 and battling for not only the NFC West lead, but for the top seed in the conference. In addition to the high stakes, this matchup brings a Thursday Night Football DFS slate. Let's dig into each position for the single-game contests on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Quarterback
At 37 years old, Matthew Stafford ($10,400 DK, $12,000 FD) is having one of the best seasons of his career, posting at least two touchdown passes in all but two games, including seven games with at least three. As good as he has been, this isn't an easy matchup against a Seahawks team that has allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards per game in the league. When these two teams met in Week 11, Stafford threw for 130 yards and two touchdowns. It also won't help his cause that Davante Adams (hamstring) is expected to be out.
As difficult as the Seahawks can be on quarterbacks, Stafford is still more appealing than Sam Darnold ($9,400 DK, $11,400 FD), who has finished with no more than one touchdown in four of his last six games. That included when he threw for 279 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions against the Rams in Week 11. Turnovers could be a problem again, considering the Rams have the sixth-most interceptions in the league.
Running Back
Both teams have a two-headed approach at running back. For the Rams, it's Kyren Williams ($9,800 DK, $10,400 FD) and Blake Corum ($4,800 DK, $7,200 FD). Despite sharing carries, Williams has rushed for at least 72 yards and one touchdown in six of his last seven games. In Week 11, he posted 91 yards and one touchdown against the Seahawks. Not only is he appealing for this rematch, so is Corum at his cheaper salary. He has taken on more work down the stretch, rushing for at least 71 yards and one touchdown in three straight games. He has also proven to be difficult to bring down, recording a 20.5 percent broken tackle rate this season.
The two running backs who lead the way for the Seahawks are Kenneth Walker III ($7,200 DK, $9,600 FD) and Zach Charbonnet ($6,200 DK, $8,200 FD). Walker is wilting down the stretch, rushing for fewer than 60 yards in each of his last three games. Part of the problem is that he was given only 32 carries during that three-game span. Given his cheaper salary, Charbonnet might be the better play between these two. He has 29 carries over the last three games and has reached the end zone three times in his last six. The Seahawks have given him 37 red-zone carries for the season, compared to 32 for Walker.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
With Adams likely out, Puka Nacua ($12,000 DK, $12,600 FD) should have a hefty target share. Even with Adams in the fold, Nacua has accounted for 28.1 percent of the Rams' targets this season. He is coming off back-to-back games with at least 167 receiving yards, and he caught seven passes for 75 yards versus the Seahawks previously. Behind him at wide receiver will be Konata Mumpfield ($2,000 DK, $2,400 FD), Tutu Atwell ($3,400 DK, $4,600 FD) and Jordan Whittington ($2,400 DK, $4,200 FD). Atwell has big-play upside, averaging at least 12.4 yards per reception in each of the last three seasons. He might be the best dart throw out of the bunch.
The Seahawks have their own star wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($11,600 DK, $13,000 FD), who has eight games with at least 100 receiving yards. One came in Week 11 when he caught nine of 12 targets for 105 yards against the Rams. He has given even the best defenses in the league problems, so he could be well worth his hefty price. While Cooper Kupp ($5,600 DK, $5,600 FD) is a big name, he is a shell of the player he was during his prime. His average depth of target is just 7.8 yards and he only has a 16.4 percent target share. A better Seattle wide receiver to consider is Rashid Shaheed ($6,600 DK, $7,000 FD), who has back-to-back games with at least four receptions and 67 yards.
As good as the Seahawks have been defensively, they are tied for the second-most receptions allowed to tight ends. Enter Colby Parkinson ($5,400 DK, $7,600 FD), who has received at least five targets in three straight games. He also has 15 red-zone targets and six touchdowns since Week 10. One of those scores came against the Seahawks, so don't be surprised if he provides value in the rematch. AJ Barner ($4,400 DK, $5,000 FD) caught 10 of 11 targets for 70 yards against the Rams in Week 11, but he hasn't topped four receptions in any of his four games since. The Rams allow the second-fewest yards per target to tight ends, which means Barner could provide a more muted stat line this time around.
Kicker
Harrison Mevis ($5,000 DK, $6,200 FD) took over kicking duties for the Rams in Week 10, connecting on just five field goals; that's because he made 28 PATs. Field-goal attempts have not been difficult to come by for Jason Myers ($5,200 DK, $6,800 FD), who nailed all six of his attempts in Week 16. That was his sixth straight game with at least three made field goals.
Defense/Special Teams
The Seahawks ($3,600 DK, $6,600 FD) have allowed the second-fewest points per game, while the Rams ($4,000 DK, $6,400 FD) have given up the fourth fewest. They both rank inside the top-10 in the league in fewest yards per carry allowed and fewest yards per pass attempt allowed. Another strength of both teams has been their ability to put pressure on quarterbacks. The Seahawks have the fourth-most sacks, while the Rams have the ninth-most.
