The Seattle Seahawks RB situation has been strange recently, with both Alex Collins and Adrian Peterson getting starts in recent weeks. However, with the emergence of Rashaad Penny, will either Collins or Peterson be active today, and should fantasy football managers consider starting them if they are?
Update: Alex Collins has not been activated from the COVID-19 reserve list ahead of the Seahawks Week 15 matchup with the Rams. Additionally, the Seahawks elevated RB Josh Johnson instead of Adrian Peterson from the practice squad.
Will Alex Collins or Adrian Peterson play tonight against the Rams?
It feels like the answer to one part of this question will give us the answer to the other. Collins was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week and has yet to be removed. The Seahawks have until 4 PM ET to activate Collins, assuming he tests out of the COVID protocol.
If Collins does not test out of the protocol, the Seahawks could turn to Peterson as part of their backfield. The Seahawks’ RB depth chart consists of Collins, Penny, DeeJay Dallas, and Travis Homer. Both Collins and Homer are currently on the COVID list, meaning we could see Peterson on the field in Week 15 in some role. Seattle also has until 4 PM ET to activate Peterson if he is to play this week.
Could either Collins or Peterson be fantasy-relevant this week?
The Seahawks’ RB situation has been tough to decipher this season, and this week will likely be no different. Penny impressed in Week 14 with 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 62 total yards in Week 13 on 11 touches, including a 27-yard reception. However, Penny has struggled to have consistency in his NFL career, largely due to injuries.
Therefore, it is not inconceivable to think that either Collins or Peterson could have fantasy value. When Peterson was active in Week 13, he saw the majority of touches inside the 10-yard line and could reprise that goal-line role if he is active. Anytime an RB could get multiple touches around the goal line, he instantly becomes interesting from a fantasy perspective.
Collins is tougher to judge. If he is active, his role could be messy in terms of being mixed in with Penny and Dallas. He presumably won’t lead in red-zone touches, as he has just 7 rush attempts inside the 10 in 13 games this season. That is not a convincing number compared to Peterson having 4 rush attempts inside the 10 in his one game for the Seahawks.
At this point, fantasy managers are unlikely to be seeking out Peterson or Collins as a fantasy starter. Yet, had you pinned your hopes on J.D. McKissic, you may be scrambling for an option on Tuesday. If that is the case, or if you are looking for a sneaky DFS option, Peterson or Collins could provide fantasy value by falling into the end zone. That’s hardly a ringing endorsement, but it could pay off in a pinch.