Chris Carson

The fantasy football playoffs are all about living on the brink.

Catch a break here, and you might soon soak your living room during a celebratory champagne shower. Get a bad bounce there, and you could be in the market for a new hobby.

This is the championship-or-bust portion of the schedule. You play for league titles—and championship-validated bragging rights—and this is your chance to go get one.

We're here to nudge you in that direction with our complete positional guide to Week 15 of the 2019 NFL season.

                

Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings

Quarterback

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets

2. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans

3. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans

4. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

6. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

7. Tom Brady, New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals

8. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams

10. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons

              

Top Matchup: Baker Mayfield at Arizona Cardinals

A frustration-filled season still has the chance to end on a high note for the Cleveland Browns. Even if they can't sneak into the playoff picture, they can at least carry momentum into the offseason.

The Browns have won four of their last five, and their hot streak has coincided with some of Baker Mayfield's most productive stretch. While far from a juggernaut stretch, he still has eight passing touchdowns and two rushing scores against four interceptions over this stretch.

He could build on that success in a big way this weekend.

The Cardinals pass defense is as exploitable as they come. Over their last eight games, they've allowed all quarterbacks not named Devlin Hodges or Daniel Jones to pass for at least 317 yards and two scores. Four of the six had three-plus touchdown passes and two cleared the 400-yard mark.

Arizona's defense ranks dead last in passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed. Mayfield must be salivating during his film sessions.

                       

Running Back

1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks

2. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers

3. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans

4. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins

5. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams

6. Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

7. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals

8. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys

9. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

10. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

                   

Top Matchup: Chris Carson at Carolina Panthers

You might think Carolina's run defense would be improved just by battling against Christian McCaffrey every week. That couldn't be further from the case.

Maybe he's just wearing them out?

The Panthers allow more fantasy points to the position than anyone, per Yahoo Sports; no one else comes within a point per game. Carolina is 29th in rushing yards per game, tied for 31st in rushing yards per carry and 32nd in rushing touchdowns allowed. The Panthers have surrendered 24 rushing scores; the Jaguars are the next most generous at 19.

All of this is great news for Chris Carson, who was already looking at a massive workload with Rashaad Penny lost for the season. Penny had been cutting into Carson's carries of late, but Seattle's top rusher should return to weekly allotments of 20-plus rushing attempts.

               

Wide Receiver

1. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

2. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

3. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans

4. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals

5. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys

6. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

7. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

8. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers

9. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams

10. D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks

                    

Top Matchup: Kenny Golladay vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Detroit Lions are hurting.

Matthew Stafford hasn't suited up since the first week of November. His replacement, Jeff Driskel, landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. That's also the home of running back Kerryon Johnson, tight end T.J. Hockenson and wide receiver Marvin Jones.

The Lions could really use a break, and the football gods scheduled them one with Tampa Bay's porous pass defense coming to town.

The Bucs have allowed the league's most fantasy production to wideouts, and it isn't close. They've coughed up an average of 38.92 points to wide receivers. No one else has allowed more than 33.69.

The matchup alone gives Kenny Golladay a chance to be special, even if he's catching passes from undrafted rookie David Blough again. He quarterbacked the last two weeks, and Golladay totaled 10 receptions for 216 yards and two touchdowns across them. He might actually up his average against Tampa.

                 

Tight End

1. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons

2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

3. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

4. Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Minnesota Vikings

6. Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers

7. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets

8. Evan Engram, New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins

9. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals

10. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

                

Top Matchup: David Njoku at Arizona Cardinals

It would take a special kind of matchup to restore trust in David Njoku.

Cleveland's talented tight end made his first appearance since mid-September on Sunday (broken wrist), and the rust was evident. The first target to come his way hit him in the hands and still wound up intercepted. He only saw two more on the day, catching one for a whopping four yards.

That was it.

But we still have faith, due almost entirely to Arizona's generosity. The Cardinals are atrocious against tight ends. The gap between the average points they surrender and the team allowing the second-most (3.56) is bigger than the one separating that team allowing the 16th-most (3.5).

Arizona has allowed 13 touchdown receptions to tight ends already. There have only been three weeks in which the opponent's tight end didn't find the end zone. Given Njoku's physical gifts and the fact Mayfield typically looks his direction a lot, Njoku's scoring chances seem as good as anyone's at the position.

                

Defense

1. New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals

2. Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets

3. San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons

4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills

5. Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

6. Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

9. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

10. Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders

                   

Kicker

1. Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

2. Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

3. Greg Zuerlein, Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys

4. Robbie Gould, San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons

5. Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins at New York Giants

6. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

7. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets

8. Matt Gay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

9. Nick Folk, New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals

10. Austin Seibert, Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks' perfect remedy for losing in Week 14 could be facing a team that has not won since Week 9. 

Pete Carroll's squad enters its Week 15 meeting against the Carolina Panthers with the NFC West crown and home-field advantage still within reach. 

Even though Seattle is five games better than the host, the current line is less than a touchdown, which is a spread bettors should hop on before it fluctuates. 

There are plenty of intriguing over/under totals for the third-to-last week of the regular season, and one for a clash between franchises out of the playoff picture may be the easiest to hit. 

                  

NFL Week 15 Schedule

All Times ET

Odds via Caesars and Oddschecker; predictions against the spread in bold

Thursday, December 12

New York Jets at Baltimore (-14.5) (Over/Under: 45.5) (8:20 p.m., Fox/NFL Network)

        

Sunday, December 15

New England (-9.5) at Cincinnati (O/U: 40.5) (1 p.m., CBS) 

Denver at Kansas City (-11) (O/U: 45.5) (1 p.m., CBS) 

Miami at New York Giants (-3) (O/U: 48) (1 p.m., CBS) 

Houston at Tennessee (-3) (O/U: 50 (1 p.m., CBS) 

Seattle (-5.5) at Carolina (O/U: 48) (1 p.m., Fox) 

Tampa Bay (-3.5) at Detroit (O/U: 47.5) (1 p.m., Fox) 

Chicago at Green Bay (-4.5) (O/U: 41) (1 p.m., Fox) 

Philadelphia (-6) at Washington (O/U: 40.5) (1 p.m., Fox) 

Cleveland (-2.5) at Arizona (O/U: 48) (4:05 p.m., CBS) 

Minnesota (-2.5) at Los Angeles Chargers (O/U: 45) (4:05 p.m., CBS) 

Jacksonville at Oakland (-6.5) (O/U: 46) (4:05 p.m., CBS) 

Los Angeles Rams (pick'em) at Dallas (O/U: 49) (4:25 p.m., Fox) 

Atlanta at San Francisco (-11) (O/U: 47.5) (4:25 p.m., Fox) 

Buffalo at Pittsburgh (-2) (O/U: 36.5) (8:20 p.m., NBC) 

        

Monday, December 16

Indianapolis at New Orleans (-9) (O/U: 46) (8:15 p.m., ESPN) 

           

Best Bets

Seattle (-5.5) at Carolina

Simply put, the Seahawks are a much better team than the Panthers and should roll to a double-digit victory at Bank of America Stadium. 

Before falling to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the current NFC No. 5 seed was 6-0 in road games. Four of those six victories occurred in the Eastern time zone, an area of the country in which some West Coast teams struggle in.

The Seahawks eclipsed 300 yards in each of their seven road matchups, and their defense forced 19 turnovers. 

There may be concerns about Rashaad Penny's season-ending injury affecting the offense, but Chris Carson thrived before his backup broke into the rotation on a consistent basis. Carson had four 100-yard outings in the first 10 games and averages 81.3 rushing yards on the road. 

The Panthers have allowed triple digits on the ground in six of their last seven games, and they conceded over 200 rushing yards twice in that stretch to Washington and San Francisco. 

During its five-game slide, the NFC South side has lost once by seven points or fewer and been outscored 156-91. 

To make matters worse, Christian McCaffrey has found the end zone twice in the last four games, and both of those scores occurred versus New Orleans in Week 12. His lack of scoring, combined with Kyle Allen's regression that includes five turnovers in the last two weeks, makes Carolina's offense much less threatening that it was in September and October. 

If Seattle's defense keeps up its road dominance against a turnover-prone quarterback, the contest could be over before the fourth quarter. 

                      

Tampa Bay at Detroit (Over 47.5) 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the most entertaining teams below .500 because of the up-and-down nature of Jameis Winston. 

One moment the quarterback could be throwing an interception, and in another, the 25-year-old could launch the ball downfield for a score. 

That was apparent in Week 14, as Winston threw for 456 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions in a win over Indianapolis. 

Placing faith in him to help an over/under hit can be a scary proposition, but the former No. 1 overall pick has led the NFC South side to three straight 30-point outings. 

Winston is expected to find success versus a Detroit defense that allowed 1,512 yards in its last four defeats. 

The Lions have the third-worst pass defense in the NFL, and Tampa Bay is one of two teams to allow more yards through the air. 

Since Bruce Arians' team is the only one to allow fewer than 1,000 rushing yards and the Lions have struggled to establish a ground game, David Blough could be relied upon more than he has in the last two weeks.  

Despite Detroit producing seven points Sunday, the Purdue product threw for 205 yards and a touchdown. In his two starts, Blough has thrown 78 passes, and that number is expected to grow against the Tampa Bay secondary. 

With little faith in both defenses to consistently make stops, the over feels like one of the easiest Week 15 plays. 

                      

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Pro Football Reference. 

Welcome back, Los Angeles Rams' playoff chances.

Los Angeles defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-12 in Sunday's NFC West showdown at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and improved to 8-5 with its second consecutive win. Jared Goff and Todd Gurley led the way and ensured their team is just one game behind the 9-4 Minnesota Vikings for the final NFC wild-card spot.

As for Seattle, it is 10-3 after its five-game winning streak came to an end and one game behind the 11-2 San Francisco 49ers in the division race.

.@TG3II stiff-arms his way into the end zone! #LARams

📺: #SEAvsLAR on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/jQ30PKCS7y pic.twitter.com/2b8WhVph5l

— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2019

         

Notable Fantasy Stats

• LAR QB Jared Goff: 22-of-31 passing for 293 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions
• LAR RB Todd Gurley: 23 carries for 79 yards and one touchdown; four catches for 34 yards
• LAR TE Tyler Higbee: seven catches for 116 yards
• LAR WR Robert Woods: seven catches for 98 yards and one touchdown
• LAR WR Cooper Kupp: four catches for 45 yards and one touchdown
• SEA QB Russell Wilson: 22-of-36 for 245 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception
• SEA RB Chris Carson: 15 carries for 76 yards; three catches for 15 yards

         

Rams Offense Hitting Its Stride Just in Time

Few offensive units had higher expectations heading into the season than Los Angeles' seeing as how it was coming off a Super Bowl appearance and featured the likes of Goff, Gurley, Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods.

However, the Rams managed just 35 total points during a 1-2 November against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens and appeared well on the way to a lost season.

So much for that.

Robert Woods gets his first TD catch of the season

Rams rolling early 👀

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/dNg9HQ8xGw

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 9, 2019

https://twitter.com/ColinCowherd/status/1203883783356698625

The defending NFC champions exploded for 34 points in a blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals last time out with head coach Sean McVay telling reporters "me not being an idiot" and getting Gurley more involved helped turn things around. It was more of the same out of the gates against the Seahawks with three touchdown drives of more than 70 yards in the first half.

Gurley ran hard between the tackles, Goff spread the ball around and the game appeared over by halftime. It wasn't, though, as Goff threw two interceptions, including a pick-six, to Quandre Diggs on Los Angeles' first two possessions in the third quarter before Seattle blocked a chip-shot Greg Zuerlein field goal to keep momentum.

Goff PICK 6 👀 … but Seahawks miss the XP 🙄

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/JyJPQwgU41

— br_betting (@br_betting) December 9, 2019

The Detroit Lions traded Quandre Diggs for a fifth round pick six weeks ago. Everyone on the Lions defense got mad about it and Diggs is playing great for Seattle. Home run for Detroit.

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) December 9, 2019

Just when it seemed as if Seattle would battle back, the Rams essentially ended the game by marching 95 yards on seven plays. Three of them were wide receiver reverses, as McVay kept Seattle guessing before Gurley punched it in with a powerful stiff arm.

The Rams are back in the playoff picture, and it can largely be traced back to an offensive resurgence.

          

Rashaad Penny Injury Saps Seattle of Explosiveness

Seattle handled the Minnesota Vikings in its last game with the one-two punch of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny out of the backfield.

It was a nearly unstoppable combination with Carson using powerful runs between the tackles and Penny getting out in space on outside carries and screens. It also helped neutralize Seattle's biggest weakness—an offensive line that is a mere 24th in the league in pass protection, per Football Outsiders.

The Seahawks appeared to be well on their way to more success with the same formula against the Rams when they hit Penny for a screen pass and first down on their opening possession, but he was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury he suffered on the play.

Seahawks really down 21-3 to the Rams at halftime pic.twitter.com/oQpPZAF3Nl

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 9, 2019

#Seahawks possessions since an opening drive field goal:

Punt
Downs
Punt
End of half
Punt
Punt
Punt

— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) December 9, 2019

The offense never found the end zone without him.

It had every opportunity to not only get back in the game but also seize control of it in the second half when the Rams stalled with the turnovers and blocked kick, but the offensive line couldn't protect Russell Wilson against Aaron Donald and Co. Los Angeles finished with five sacks and didn't have to worry about Penny capitalizing on pressure by sneaking out of the backfield.

Seattle's offense looked like a completely different unit without its second-year playmaker and left reason for concern moving into the season's stretch run.

            

What's Next?

Both teams are on the road for Week 15. The Seahawks face the Carolina Panthers, while the Rams are at the Dallas Cowboys.

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Stick to Football is live from the SEC Championship! Shaun Alexander joined us on set for a great show from Atlanta.

The Seattle Seahawks have a crowded running back room, although it took a hit Sunday when Rashaad Penny was ruled out for the game against the Los Angeles Rams after suffering a knee injury in the first quarter.

That still leaves the combination of Chris Carson, C.J. Prosise and Travis Homer, who are all capable of carrying more of the load. With that in mind, here is a fantasy reaction for the other members of the backfield following Penny's setback.

          

Chris Carson               

It appeared as if Penny was going to be the running back of the future when Seattle selected him with a first-round pick in 2018, but Carson—a seventh-round pick in 2017—eventually became the primary option last year.

He finished with 247 carries to Penny's 85, posting 1,151 rushing yards, 163 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a fantasy weapon. Carson was already a fantasy starter this season as the team's primary back, and Penny's setback does nothing but bolster his status as someone who should be in lineups on a weekly basis. 

With Penny sidelined and Mike Davis no longer on the roster, Carson is the clear-cut No. 1 option and should see the majority of the team's carries with a committee approach no longer a realistic option.

He entered Sunday's game with 981 rushing yards, 227 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns.

Carson should have an RB2 floor for the rest of the season. 

          

C.J. Prosise and Travis Homer

A blow to Seattle's running back depth chart makes both Prosise and Homer more enticing as waiver-wire options, but fantasy players should operate with a degree of caution.

Prosise had minus-three rushing yards and three catches last year, while Homer was playing collegiately for Miami. There is no established track record to fall back on when taking a flier on either, and Carson's presence means they will be competing with each other for backup work.

Russell Wilson also figures to account for some of the ground production given his ability to make things happen with his legs, and coming into Sunday, Prosise hadn't seen a carry since an Oct. 20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Homer has one carry on the season.

The best course of action for fantasy players is to take a wait-and-see approach to determine whether Prosise or Homer separates as the unquestioned backup behind Carson. Only then would either player be worthy of waiver-wire consideration for those in need of additional running back depth.

Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny suffered a "significant" ACL sprain during Sunday night's 28-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Pete Carroll announced after the game, per NBC Sports Northwest's Joe Fann.

The 23-year-old went down after being tackled on a 16-yard reception during the first quarter. That was his only touch of the night before exiting, and he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Penny sent out a tweet during the third quarter:

https://twitter.com/pennyhendrixx/status/1203875397701492736

The Seattle Times' Adam Jude reported Penny left the locker room on crutches while wearing a large brace on his left knee.

A first-round pick out of San Diego State in the 2018 NFL draft, Penny suffered a broken finger during his first preseason but returned for Week 1. He has missed four games with various ailments during the 2019 season. Chris Carson will likely get the majority of the first-team work with him out of the lineup.

Penny has rushed for 370 yards and three touchdowns this season, with seven receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown through the air heading into Week 14. Penny's setback comes after a 74-yard rushing performance in Week 13 against the Minnesota Vikings.

They are not the Seattle Russell Wilsons.

The MVP candidate might be the Seahawks' best player, and he's certainly their most famous employee. But in Seattle's 37-30 Monday Night Football victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the Seahawks declared to a national audience that they're a top-tier contender for plenty of reasons—only one of which is the fact Wilson is a superstar in his prime.

Seattle overcame an all-time fluky touchdown to beat Minnesota despite the fact banged-up No. 1 wide receiver Tyler Lockett was held without a catch. It was a reminder that the team is experienced, well-coached, resilient and mentally strong, which is scary considering it now leads the NFC West and is on track for a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Seahawks racked up 24 first downs to the Vikings' 17, they were penalized just once, and they registered three-plus takeaways for the fourth time in their last five games.

They now rank behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots with 27 forced turnovers, which might surprise those who still view the post-Legion of Boom defense as a liability. That unit might no longer be as star-studded as it was half a decade ago, but pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney—a Sept. 1 trade acquisition—has emerged, and he's well-supported by Bobby Wagner, Mychal Kendricks and Shaquill Griffin.

Seattle recorded just 10 sacks in its first six games, but it had eight in its last two games before hitting Kirk Cousins seven times Monday night.

With that unit making plays and the running game excelling, Wilson doesn't have to be perfect. And the running game was indeed effective again. The Seahawks have won five consecutive games, all by one score, and backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny have rushed for a combined 684 yards in those five outings.

Chris Carson: 49% snaps, 24 touches, 109 yards, 1 TD

Rashaad Penny: 51% snaps, 19 touches, 107 yards, 2 TDs

— Ben Schragger (@BenSchragg) December 3, 2019

One hundred seventy-six of those yards came against a Vikings run defense that ranked fourth in defense-adjusted value over average at Football Outsiders entering Week 13, and that allowed the Seahawks to control the ball nearly twice as long as Minnesota (Seattle ranks fourth in the NFL in that category).

The Seahawks are the only team in the NFC with eight 140-yard games on the ground, and seven of those performances have come in their last eight games. And what's amazing is they've played three top-five run defenses in that span. Not only did they compile 218 rushing yards to control the Vikings (who rank fifth against the run), but also, Carson averaged 6.6 yards per carry and went for 105 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who rank second) and Penny averaged 9.2 yards per attempt and amassed 129 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles (who rank fourth).

If those guys can keep it up, imagine how much fun they can have against the Carolina Panthers (29th) and Arizona Cardinals (24th) down the stretch. And it's worth noting that fellow NFC playoff-contending foes the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers—Seattle's other two remaining regular-season opponents—have also struggled to slow down opposing running games, ranking 14th and 22nd.

Don't get me wrong: The Seahawks are far from perfect. The defense has yet to consistently generate pressure over a string of games, and they're vulnerable on that side of the ball if they aren't getting to the quarterback or forcing turnovers at what is arguably an unsustainable rate.

But they also keep winning without a top-notch passing game. Lockett hasn't been himself since suffering a scary leg injury in Week 10, and that has seemingly affected Wilson. The 31-year-old is having a career year, but he's no longer the MVP front-runner, and he's now gone three consecutive games without posting a triple-digit passer rating (after doing so in eight of his first nine).

Wilson was just 1-of-5 on deep passing attempts Monday night—though his one completion was for 60 yards and a touchdown to David Moore—and he's completed just five of 20 such attempts during his three-game rut. That's in stark contrast to the first nine weeks, when he compiled 32 completions on 65 attempts and a silly 126.0 passer rating on deep balls.

He'll very likely rebound, and NFC playoff contenders Minnesota, Philadelphia and San Francisco will regret they didn't take advantage against Seattle when Wilson wasn't at his best.

The #Seahawks are now 29-5-1 in primetime games under Pete Carroll.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 3, 2019

It might be too late then, because the Seahawks have only gained stature and confidence of late. They might have always known they're a strong team, and that Wilson didn't need to do as much heavy lifting as it appeared.

Now we all know it.

It's time to start looking at the Seahawks as more than just a quarterback.

   

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney didn't know what he was in for when the Seattle Seahawks acquired him from the Houston Texans via trade in September.

"I knew Russ [Wilson] was good," he said following Monday's 37-30 win over the Minnesota Vikings, per Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune. "I didn't know we were this good."

The Seahawks looked every bit the part of Super Bowl threats during the back-and-forth showdown between playoff contenders and improved to 10-2. They are tied with the San Francisco 49ers atop the NFC West standings, though they have the tiebreaker for now thanks to a head-to-head win.

Wilson came alive late against the Vikings and threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The rushing attack, featuring Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, set the tone with 218 yards.

The defense also sparked Seattle's second-half run with Bradley McDougald's fumble recovery and Tre Flowers' interception, both of which led to scores and a 17-point advantage.

The Seahawks have won five in a row and are in the middle of the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. In addition to the 49ers, the 10-2 New Orleans Saints and 9-3 Green Bay Packers are in the mix, meaning Seattle may have to win its final four games to earn home-field advantage.

In addition to contests against the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals, the Seahawks will face a 7-5 Los Angeles Rams team fighting to remain in the playoff hunt and the 49ers.

If Clowney's assessment of the team is any indication, it will be up for the challenge.

The red-hot Seattle Seahawks are hitting their stride with eyes on a division title entering the season's stretch run.

Seattle won its fifth game in a row and improved to 10-2 with a 37-30 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Monday's showdown between playoff contenders at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks are now tied with the San Francisco 49ers atop the NFC West standings after Russell Wilson and a strong rushing attack led the way in the latest effort.

As for the Vikings, their two-game winning streak came to an end. They are 8-4 on the campaign and one game behind the 9-3 Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.

         

Notable Fantasy Stats

• SEA QB Russell Wilson: 21-of-31 passing for 240 yards, two touchdowns and one interception
• SEA RB Chris Carson: 23 carries for 102 yards and one touchdown
• SEA RB Rashaad Penny: 15 carries for 74 yards and one touchdown; four catches for 33 yards and one touchdown
• SEA WR David Moore: two catches for 65 yards and one touchdown
• MIN QB Kirk Cousins: 22-of-38 passing for 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception
• MIN RB Dalvin Cook: nine carries for 29 yards and one touchdown; three catches for 35 yards
• MIN WR Laquon Treadwell: one catch for 58 yards and one touchdown

          

Seahawks' Balanced Offense Rediscovers Form

Wilson has played like an MVP candidate for much of the year, but he had just two touchdown passes and two interceptions in his previous two games entering Monday's contest. The offense as a whole managed just 17 points last time out, although the windy conditions in Philadelphia were partially to blame.

It appeared as if the Seahawks were in for another day of offensive issues when Wilson threw a pick-six to Anthony Harris in the second quarter. Wilson went to bat it down after the pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage, only for it to fall right into Harris' hands.

Russell Wilson’s throw is deflected…

Russell Wilson tips it to Anthony Harris for a pick six 🤯

Wild.

(via @Vikings)pic.twitter.com/FNS8CFrZ3V

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 3, 2019

Russell Wilson guiding that Pick-6 pic.twitter.com/SMZZ6CH4OL

— Adam Lefkoe (@AdamLefkoe) December 3, 2019

It wasn't a sign of things to come after all.

Seattle pounded Minnesota with a strong rushing attack throughout the game, turning to the combination of power and speed that Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny brought to the table. They combined for three total touchdowns, and Penny's first came after Carson's explosive run put the home team in scoring position.

The Carson-Penny tandem forced additional defenders closer to the line of scrimmage, and Wilson made the Vikings pay with a beautifully placed deep ball for a 60-yard score to David Moore that opened a two-score lead.

WIDE OPEN.@DangeRussWilson to David Moore for a 60-yard @Seahawks touchdown! @DmoeSwagg23 #Seahawks

📺: #MINvsSEA on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/1EyFLelCig pic.twitter.com/DpB539LcIE

— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2019

So nice, Penny did it twice! 💰

Q4: SEA 34, MIN 17 https://t.co/ab3OALBMIO

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 3, 2019

Russell Wilson walking back into the MVP conversation after 2 TD throws in less than 2 minutes pic.twitter.com/lk1QBCDdKD

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 3, 2019

The long connection, along with Penny blowing past multiple defenders on a dump pass, was part of four straight scoring drives to start the second half after Seattle scored just 10 points in the first half. Fittingly, Carson helped put the game away with powerful between-the-tackles runs after the Vikings turned it over on downs in the final minutes.

Perhaps the scariest thing for the rest of the NFC is the fact Tyler Lockett, the team's leading receiver, was a nonfactor while the offense still lit up the scoreboard against a solid defense. If Carson and Penny continue churning out yards with Wilson directing the show, the Lombardi Trophy is Seattle's ceiling.

           

Kirk Cousins Provides Silver Lining Even in Defeat

Monday could have been an absolute disaster for the Vikings.

Cornerback Xavier Rhodes temporarily exited with a back injury and struggled when he returned. Offensive tackle Riley Reiff suffered a concussion. Running back Dalvin Cook suffered a shoulder injury on the same play he lost a fumble. Even wide receiver Stefon Diggs was temporarily down on the play but remained in the game.

A potential game and season changing fumble with @dalvincook going out. So potentially damaging. Hope he’s OK but he’s sitting on the bench watching with this game on the line.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 3, 2019

Xavier Rhodes has done a lot of looking around and wondering what the hell just happened this year.

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) December 3, 2019

Things got worse when Kirk Cousins threw an interception to Tre Flowers that led to a Seattle touchdown and 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

To his credit, the Michigan State product responded with touchdown passes to Laquon Treadwell and Kyle Rudolph to pull within four and gave his team a chance to win at the end. While the Vikings failed to complete their comeback, it was a gutsy performance in one of the league's most daunting environments.

The narrative surrounding Minnesota entering the season was that Cousins would hold it back. After all, its defense entered play sixth in the league in points allowed per game, and the combination of Cook, Diggs and Adam Thielen—when healthy—gives the offense plenty of playmakers.

Still trying to figure out how Kirk Cousins completed this pass 😱

(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/AsWY92B8eX

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 3, 2019

Laquon Treadwell had NOBODY around him 😳

(via @Vikings)pic.twitter.com/w8AfghvVNY

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 3, 2019

We've got ourselves a game.@KirkCousins8 @KyleRudolph82#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/qWomTRJ8c2

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 3, 2019

Cousins' prime-time record took another hit, but he has largely excelled this season with 23 touchdown passes to just four interceptions and nine consecutive games with at least 220 passing yards.

He couldn't fully overcome his team's early hole, the injuries or the defensive struggles on the other side, but he also looked like someone who won't back down from elite competition come January. That's a solid silver lining for now.

            

What's Next?

Both teams face divisional foes in Week 14. Minnesota hosts the Detroit Lions, while the Seahawks are at the Los Angeles Rams.

Week 13 of the 2019 fantasy football season is here.

If you're still taking time to read this, that's a good thing. Chances are you still have a stake in this race and quite possibly a chance to cap this campaign with a league title.

We're here to help get you to the finish line. With all byes out of the way, this could be the perfect time to get creative with your bench spots and try riding a few heat waves.

We'll break down our favorite waiver-wire target—available in 50-plus percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros—at each offensive position below.

               

Top Streaming Options for Week 13

Quarterback: Sam Darnold, New York Jets (39 Percent Owned)

It seems the paranormal activity around Sam Darnold warped perceptions about the Jets signal-caller, and it's now made 2018's No. 3 pick vastly under-owned.

The 22-year-old was the seventh-highest scorer at his position in Weeks 10 and 11, per NFL.com In Week 12, he jumped all the way to third while completing his first career contest with multiple passing touchdowns, a rushing score and zero interceptions.

Some astute observers may note Darnold's heater has come against a pillow-soft portion of the schedule. Over the last three weeks, he has passed and rushed his way through the Raiders, Redskins and Giants for 838 passing yards with seven passing touchdowns, two rushing scores and only a single interception.

Guess what that quality of competition (or lack thereof) means for his numbers—not a thing. There are no bonus points for toppling elite defenses, and points aren't taking away for shredding less-than-stingy ones.

Besides, Darnold's run of favorable matchups is the gift that keeps on giving. He'll draw the Bengals up next (third-most fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, per Yahoo) and then the Dolphins (fifth-most) in Week 14.

                

Running Back: Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks (19 Percent Owned)

While Russell Wilson has thrown himself into the MVP race, the Seahawks are more than willing to ground-and-pound their opponents into submission.

So, if there really has been a changing of the guard in Seattle, it could have massive implications for the waiver wire.

We don't know whether that's the case just yet. But we do know Chris Carson was effectively erased from Sunday's game plan after coughing up his fifth and sixth fumbles of the season, most among all running backs. We also know not coincidentally Penny received a career-high 14 carries, which he turned into 129 yards and a touchdown against a good Philadelphia front seven.

Rashaad Penny goes 58 yards for the @Seahawks TD! #Seahawks #SEAvsPHI @pennyhendrixx

📺: FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/YLI9jW8U5W pic.twitter.com/IwehsMHFmZ

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2019

If the torch changed hands, that's a gigantic development. Carson is the ninth-highest scoring back this season, and the electric Penny would immediately receive RB1 upside if made the starter.

Granted, that isn't guaranteed to happen. Even if it does, this wouldn't necessarily be the week Penny ranks among the running back elites with the stingy Vikings coming to town. But streamers rarely offer an opportunity with this much potential. If he hits the jackpot, you should too.

                  

Wide Receiver: James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers (20 Percent Owned)

If safety is your Week 13 waiver-wire focus, look elsewhere (probably in the direction of Cole Beasley). But if you're OK taking on more risk for the chance to score a greater reward, James Washington is your guy.

The 23-year-old is increasingly becoming more of Pittsburgh's guy here lately, no matter if he's catching passes from college teammate Mason Rudolph or undrafted rookie Devlin Hodges.

Duck!

Devlin Hodges dialed up a big play after taking over for the Steelers at QB.

(Via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/5wcFvaFjs9

— USA TODAY NFL (@usatodaynfl) November 24, 2019

Washington is a home run waiting to happen. His average reception this season has spanned 18.0 yards. He's had at least one reception of 21-plus yards in seven of his 10 games.

The Oklahoma State product is also seeing the kind of volume increase that could yield some monster numbers in the near future. He's been targeted at least seven times in two of the last three weeks, and he finished both contests with 90-plus receiving yards and a score. He hasn't had fewer than four targets in any of his last six games, and he had six or more in four of them.

                    

Tight End: Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts (33 Percent Owned)

If you're a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, then surely you're appreciative of the opportunities that injuries will create.

While you always hate to see a player go down, there's no denying Jack Doyle's fantasy value is going way up with Eric Ebron landing on injured reserve.

The two talented tight ends effectively cancelled each other out up to this point. Neither enjoyed more than five receptions of 70 receiving yards in a game this season; Doyle never hit either mark, topping out at four for 61.

But just last season, when injuries limited Doyle to six games, Ebron was the fourth-highest scorer at the position. Doyle could offer similar upside now that he'll be on his own, starting this week when he gets a Titans defense allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to tight ends.