Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett has given fantasy football managers a Sunday morning headache a few times this season due to an ongoing hamstring injury. However, the optimism for fantasy managers is that he has played through this injury a few times already this season. And Lockett has a history of playing through injuries.
So, despite his questionable status, will Lockett play today against the Los Angeles Rams? What is the latest update with regard to his hamstring injury? And, if he does play, what is his fantasy outlook for today?
Is Tyler Lockett Going To Play in Week 11?
Lockett has been dealing with an ongoing hamstring injury that has left him questionable heading into game day Sunday for the third or fourth time already this season. The concern this time around is that he did not practice on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday this week. Normally, Lockett logs a practice late in the week, making it easier to predict that he will play.
However, as reported by Underdog Fantasy, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll provided an update on Lockett after practice on Friday. They reported, “Lockett ran, but didn’t practice on Friday and is considered day-to-day, according to HC Pete Carroll.”
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter posted two useful updates this morning on X. The first was “Seahawks’ WR Tyler Lockett, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a hamstring injury, is expected to play vs. the Rams, per source.”
Editor’s note: Lockett is active and will play for the Seahawks in Week 11.
However, three hours later, he posted an additional update. He posted on X, in reply to the above post, “Some further context: Another source has said the Seahawks still want to work out Tyler Lockett pregame before deciding he will play because it is a hamstring injury and he didn’t practice last week.
But Lockett has a history of playing with and through injury, and the Seahawks didn’t elevate a WR from their practice squad as insurance while they are already going to be without WR Dareke Young. So, final decision pregame.”
This will leave fantasy managers with a bit of a selection dilemma. However, reading between the lines, I would expect Lockett to play through the injury and suit up today. However, what impact will this injury, and facing the Rams, have on Lockett’s fantasy outlook today?
What Is Lockett’s Potential Fantasy Outlook for Today?
Lockett comes into Week 11 as the WR24 in fantasy football. He also recorded his second-best stat line of the season in the walk-off 29-26 victory over the Washington Commanders last week, posting 8-92-1.
This shows Lockett doesn’t need to practice to be effective and that he can play through this injury. He is an experienced wide receiver and can be trusted to produce despite being restricted.
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This week, Lockett is up against the Rams, who come into Week 11 as the 11th-strongest defense against wide receivers, restricting them to 25.1 fantasy points so far this season.
However, Lockett comes into this game ranked second on his team in target share, garnering 23.4% of his team’s targets. He is also ranked second on the team in red-zone target share, with 32.4%. He trails DK Metcalf in both categories.
According to our PFN Consensus Rankings, Lockett is currently ranked as the WR25. Metcalf is ranked as the WR14. And both receivers had tough WR/CB matchups against Ahkello Witherspoon and Derion Kendrick, respectively.
However, the Seahawks need to use their aerial attack and get vertical down the field. When they cannot get this going, like they couldn’t against the Baltimore Ravens, they struggle to score points and keep in games.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Seahawks are 2-point underdogs in this game, with an over/under of 46.5 set in this game. Therefore, I think fantasy managers can see strong usage in both Lockett and Metcalf today. Lockett should be considered a must-start today in all fantasy formats due to his ability to play through the pain and his record when he does. Not to mention, the game script will suit Lockett’s usage.
However, should Lockett fail his pregame workout for whatever reason, fantasy managers can turn to Diontae Johnson, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, or even Rashee Rice as adequate coverage this week. Rice, in particular, has a nice matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, who are ranked No. 1 in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers.
The Eagles are currently allowing 38.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers so far this season. Expect Rice, who leads the Chiefs wide receivers in targets and receiving yards, to shine this week.
Fantasy managers can also look to start Quentin Johnston of the Los Angeles Chargers, who have both Jalen Guyton and Gerald Everett inactive today against the Green Bay Packers. This limits the amount of options at quarterback Justin Herbert’s disposal. It could mean an increased role and volume for Johnston today, as a result.
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