The one Seattle Seahawks player you need to start in Week 1 on DraftKings isn’t exactly a player. It’s the Seahawks D/ST.
There might not be a better bang for your buck than the Seahawks defense in Week 1 DFS formats. They’re not quite the powerhouse they once were back when they were known as “The Legion of Boom” but this is a respectable unit heading into a favorable matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta has dealt with a shaky offensive line over the past two seasons, leading to a sub .500 record each year. They added Todd Gurley and Hayden Hurst this past offseason, hoping to spice up the offense. On just over 250 touches in 2019, Gurley averaged his lowest career yards per carry (3.8) and yards per reception (6.7). Hurst was traded away for a fourth-round pick just two seasons after the Ravens selected him with the No. 25 overall pick.
Seattle’s defense averaged 7.6 fantasy points per game in 2019, but they’re bound for improvement in 2020 after recent additions of Quinton Dunbar and Jamal Adams. Dunbar, in particular, boasted the second-highest coverage grade in 2019 according to PFF. That’s exactly the type of talent that could help make this unit that much better in 2020.
The one area of concern for the Seahawks defense, it’s their pass rush, with just 12.5 sacks last season between projected starters Bruce Irvin and Rasheem Green. With the Falcons coming off the worst pass-blocking season of the Matt Ryan era, I’m not sure this moves the needle much on this specific matchup.
At $2,400, you should feel confident buying and starting this squad.