Marshawn Lynch remains the top running back on the Seattle Seahawks, but the No. 2 role is up for grabs in preseason. Robert Turbin filled that role last year while Christine Michael took a "redshirt" rookie year. This year, Michael is poised to run away with the job.
Christine Michael can cement fantasy handcuff role with strong preseason
Marshawn Lynch is not expected to get many reps in preseason, leaving the Seahawks No. 2 job wide open for Christine Michael to take. We break down the fantasy implications.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Lynch missed part of training camp while holding out and is unlikely to see much playing time this month. Head coach Pete Carroll says he’s getting more reps in camp, but “he needs a lot of work to get back.”
Fantasy impact: Lynch will probably get the veteran treatment and sit out most, if not all, of the preseason. That gives Michael a big chance to earn valuable reps and beat out Turbin for the No. 2 job. Michael is a popular sleeper in fantasy circles and is worth a late-round pick as Lynch’s handcuff. He has legitimate RB1 upside in Seattle’s run-first offense if Lynch goes down.
Of course, Turbin is still around and was a worthy backup last year, so it's worth watching to see how the two split carries in preseason. The Seahawks kick things off against the Denver Broncos on Thursday.
