Tag: D.K. Metcalf

D.K. Metcalf clearly got Ja’Marr Chase’s attention when he predicted Devon Witherspoon would shut him down

Word travels fast.

If you believe in the power of bulletin-board material, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase could be in for a big game come Sunday. And he’ll have Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf to thank for that.

During Thursday’s media availability, Metcalf was asked about Chase. And to give Metcalf credit here, he started his remarks by offering tons of praise for the Bengals receiver. He mentioned all the things that Chase does well and added that he came away impressed with his touchdown against the Cardinals. But you just know that Metcalf couldn’t stop there — he had to play up his own teammate.

That was when he predicted that rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon would get the better of Chase on Sunday.

But in today’s NFL, world travels fast. And it doesn’t matter if you spend 20 seconds praising an opponent, the four seconds of predicting a bad game for Chase was all that Chase needed to hear.

He let everyone know about it too because shortly after the remarks, Chase retweeted the video.

Again, Metcalf didn’t say anything wrong here, but players will find anything they can for some extra motivation (just look at the Phillies-Braves series). Fans still had plenty of thoughts on Chase’s retweet. If anything, Metcalf put extra pressure on Witherspoon to perform with those comments.

Dan Campbell’s 4th down gambles become costly in Lions loss to Seahawks

“Dan Campbell got in Dan Campbell’s way,” writes Russell Brown. Is he right?

I’ll be the first to say that I love Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. I love the way he’s turned this Lions team around and has every player buying into what he’s preaching. Regardless of the outcome for the Lions games, they’re going to play tough and make life difficult for the opposition.

Playing tough and being aggressive has its perks. We see it weekly with this Lions team. However, being overly aggressive is costly and in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, Dan Campbell proved just how costly it can be.

Some fans will blame the referees and the penalties. News flash: the Seahawks had more penalties called on them than the Lions. The Seahawks had 9 penalties called on them for 80 yards. Meanwhile, the Lions only had 4 penalties called on them for 24 yards. Sure, there were missed calls in some key spots, but the Lions had chances to put points on the board and they didn’t.

For example, the second drive of the game for the Lions offense. They ran 12 plays and gained 57 yards while eating up over six minutes of the game clock. But the drive stalled on 3rd and 1 with David Montgomery losing 3 yards due to a missed block from Sam LaPorta and it set up a long 4th-and-4 on the 31-yard line.

Most teams would have taken the points and attempted the field goal. That wasn’t the case for Dan Campbell. Rather than potentially going up 10-to-7 against a Seattle team that has won 5 straight games against them, they went for it and didn’t convert.

In hindsight, Campbell looks like a legend if the Lions convert on 4th down but instead, he looks like a fool. We know he’s not a fool but the aggressiveness is foolish when you need to win these types of games. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only 4th down attempt that occurred for Detroit.

Near the end of the 3rd quarter, the Lions were at their own 45-yard line and went for it on 4th-and-2. Sure, we can drool over another gutsy call but this one put the defense in a tough spot. It’s a spot that they shouldn’t have to be in as they showed all game that they were struggling in stopping the Geno Smith led passing attack.

At that point, there was a chance to pin the Seahawks near their own end zone with a ruckus crowd at Ford Field behind them. Instead, it felt like the wind was taken out of the Lions sail after not converting another 4th down despite being up 21-17 at this point in the game.

To make matters worse, the aggressiveness started to wear off at the end of the game. During the Lions final possession of the game, they had 1:44 on the clock with their timeouts in their back pocket and the ball at midfield.

But all of that aggressiveness we’ve seen from Dan Campbell over the years went astray. He got conservative, ran five offensive plays and stalled their own drive by not taking a timeout until there were 26 seconds left on the clock. There were no shots to the end zone despite Josh Reynolds already hauling in two touchdowns.

Sure, injuries started to catch up to the Lions. The team went into the game down Taylor Decker, and they lost David Montgomery and James Houston during it. Despite Amon-Ra St. Brown getting dinged up, he made his way back onto the field and was on the field for the Lions final offensive possession.

None of that should matter though.

The offense was still making plays with contributions from Reynolds, Raymond, LaPorta and Gibbs. They were driving and headed toward the end zone. But the aggressive head coach that we’ve known since his arrival in Detroit suddenly got conservative. Penalty flags and challenge flags didn’t get in Dan Campbell’s way.

Dan Campbell got in Dan Campbell’s way.

We can eat humble pie and move on to the Atlanta Falcons. That’s fine. But this feels like a loss that we’ll be talking about again at some point this winter. Certainly, I hope I’m wrong, but this type of loss feels all too familiar here in Detroit.

The question that will linger from this loss to the Seahawks won’t be about what happens if the Lions don’t turn the football over. Instead, it’ll be about why is it acceptable for Dan Campbell to be aggressive on the 2nd and 7th drive of the game but not the last one?

If Campbell wants to be known as the guy who puts it all out on the table and is always swinging for the fences, that’s fine. However, his team and we fans are owed the consistency of him being that guy. Not the one that sits on the fence of being aggressive and conservative.

5 Lions who need to play well against the Seahawks

The Detroit Lions host the Seattle Seahawks at home for their Week 2 matchup. Here are 5 players who need to play well against the Seahawks

The Detroit Lions are looking to continue their momentum into Week 2 when they face off against the Seattle Seahawks, who lost their first game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Lions made a statement in their season opener and are expected to bring the same energy to Ford Field. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are dealing with some injuries that the Lions can capitalize on to secure their second win in as many weeks. After reviewing their performance in the Kansas City game, the coaches and players have had time to prepare for the tough Seattle opponent during the mini-bye.

To secure their victory, the Lions will need to rely on the performance of several key players. Here are five Lions players who need to play well against the Seahawks.

Fantasy football: Where to draft Seattle Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf

Analyzing Seattle Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf’s 2023 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

Seattle Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf has been impressive throughout his 1st 4 NFL seasons. Selected 64th in the 2019 NFL Draft out o,f Ole Miss Metcalf has been to 1 Pro Bowl. Below, we look at D.K. Metcalf‘s 2023 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Metcalf enters 2023 with  the skill set to be among the top-5 receivers in the NFL, but usage and rivaling competition will be major factors. The high-caliber receiver will be intriguing in terms of fantasy value.

WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE!
The Huddle has been turning players like you into winners for over 25 years. This season, it’s your turn. Custom fantasy football rankings, sleepers and tools are just a click away. Save 25% off the Internet’s best-kept secret. Subscribe now!

D.K. Metcalf’s ADP: 31.25

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Metcalf has an ADP of 31.25 in redraft leagues, which puts him in the range of the 3rd to 4th round, depending on the size of the league. He has the highest ADP on the Seahawks, just in front of Kenneth Walker III (42.85).

Among wide receivers, Metcalf’s ADP puts him 15th at the position, behind the likes DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles, 31.08) and Calvin Ridley (Jacksonville Jaguars, 30.92) and slightly ahead of Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals, 34.05) and Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers, 34.52).

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

D.K. Metcalf’s 2022 stats

Games: 17

Receptions | targets: 90 | 141

Receiving yards: 1,048

Receiving touchdowns: 6

FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS
Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+

Where should you draft Metcalf?

Metcalf’s fantasy value may get a ding this year with the Seahawks taking WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the 1st round. Metcalf will still be the top option, but will now be sharing targets with Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett.

Metcalf is a lethal downfield options. At 6-foot-4, he has the frame to go and get the ball, and he will have a full season under his belt with QB Geno Smith which should only aid Seattle’s passing offense.

The addition of JSN does hurt Metcalf, but the floor for the star is also high. He has hit 900 yards in each season and has seen his targets increase from 100 to 129 (129 in 2 straight seasons) to 141. The comfort level with Smith should help his high usage rate. He should be out there the bulk of the time and is still the team’s top option.

Draft Metcalf ahead of players like Higgins, who is the 2nd option on the Bengals. Don’t let Metcalf fall out of the third round in any league. When healthy, he should hit 1,000-plus yards and 80-plus receptions. If you’re in need of a receiver, he should be a consistent option.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Access more NFL coverage:

SportsbookWire.com | BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=3472]

Tyler Lockett is the highest rated Seahawks player on Madden 24

Electronic Arts released Madden 24 this week, giving Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett an overall rating of 89, the highest on the team.

Electronic Arts released Madden 24 this week, giving Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett an overall rating of 89, the highest on the team. Lockett’s 87-reception, 1,033 yard, nine touchdown 2022 output was deemed most prevalent for game developers who do diligence in producing NFL player likeness with relative accuracy.

The Seahawks team rating ranks No. 15 amongst the 32 NFL clubs on the game but with live updates provided by XBOX Live and PlayStation Network (PSN) weekly, we may see this team rating improve (or decline) throughout the season.

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Lockett has been with the Seahawks since 2015 and will be a huge mentor to rookie wide-receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Njigba’s Madden rating sits at 78, likely due to his awareness (AWR) attribute being slighted at 70 according to EA.

Contrarily, Lockett’s AWR rating yields a 90. With wide receiver DK Metcalf’s 88 player rating on the game, EA like many NFL analysts believe that the Seahawks are well-equipped at the wideout position. Perhaps adolescents gaming this fall will choose the Seahawks more frequently after they gather intel on how much improved their roster has become.

Whatever the case, below is a “15 things to know before buying” NFL Madden 24 review provided by GamingBolt that will give gamers an idea on what to expect from this years’ release. Check it out below.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seahawks complete player ratings for Madden 24

Madden got Seattle safety Julian Love right this year

How to buy 2023 Seahawks throwback jersey

Be the first to get the new Seattle Seahawks throwback jerseys for the 2023 NFL season.

Multiple NFL teams were set to release brand new alternate jerseys ahead of the 2023 season. Most of them kept things under wraps regarding how the new threads would look.

The Seattle Seahawks and Quandre Diggs did not.

Diggs and the team have been recently teasing that the new jersey is coming. Not only that, what to expect. Seattle is going to wear 90s-era inspired throwbacks and they’ve finally arrived.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Seattle Seahawks 90s Throwback Jersey” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/0ZPYNM”]

Check out the classic look the Seahawks will use next season:

DK Metcalf Seattle Seahawks Nike Throwback Vapor F.U.S.E. Limited Jersey
DK Metcalf Seattle Seahawks Nike Throwback Vapor F.U.S.E. Limited Jersey (Fanatics)

Seattle is set to wear their new alternates during their Week 8 matchup with the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field.

But why wait?

Visit Fanatics now and be the first person you know in the 12th man to get your hands on the Seahawks’ new 90s throwback jersey:

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Seattle Seahawks 90s Throwback Jersey” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/0ZPYNM”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop DK Metcalf Seahawks 90s Throwback Jersey” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/6eEGNK”]

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Seahawks Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Does the Seahawks offense have room for Jaxon Smith-Njigba?

Does the Seahawks offense has room for JSN to produce for fantasy football in 2023.

Despite having a solid wide receiver tandem in the form of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Seattle Seahawks decided to use the No. 20 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Ohio State product Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Arguably the top receiving prospect in this rookie class, Smith-Njigba will be competing for targets with a strong duo ahead of him on the depth chart. His arrival raises the question: Is there enough room in the Seahawks offense for the rookie to be fantasy relevant?

First, we must look at the depth chart. Metcalf is still right in his prime at 25 years old, while Lockett turns 31 years old in September. They’ve become one of the most consistent tandems in the league since 2019, recording at least 900 yards during that span — Lockett has surpassed 1,000 in each of those seasons.

What’s more, they have a stranglehold on the target share within the offense. In 2022, they posted a combined target share of 48.2% with Metcalf at 25.5% and Lockett at 22.7%. The next closest player was tight end Noah Fant (11.4%).

[lawrence-related id=477525]

So, while Metcalf and Lockett are dominating the targets, an argument can be made that a first-round talent like Smith-Njigba easily slides into third in the pecking order. Having Geno Smith at quarterback offers stability, but his lack of high-end weekly fantasy finishes may limit the rookie’s ceiling.

Next, we need to look at Smith-Njigba himself. He’s a crafty route runner with reliable hands and exceptional change-of-direction skills. He may not be a true burner, but he understands the nuances of route running and still provides enough juice after the catch.

It’s likely Smith-Njigba’s role will begin as a slot receiver, provided he fends off competition from Dee Eskridge. That’s where he played the majority of his snaps at Ohio State. However, it’s not outlandish to believe his polish as a route runner can lead to a role as a flanker type in the future. But with Metcalf and Lockett fully entrenched ahead of him on the depth chart, it’s difficult to imagine all three wideouts being on the field together all the time.

Draft capital is important to note here as well. Since 2011, there have been 42 wide receivers drafted in the first round who appeared in at least 10 games during their rookie seasons. Of those 42, there were 15 rookies who averaged at least 12.5 PPR points per game, which is right around the WR2 (top-24) mark for fantasy purposes. Only seven of those 42 have averaged more than 15.0 PPR points per game in Year 1.

Fantasy football outlook

Smith-Njigba is an electric talent who does possess some upside in Year 1. He’s NFL-ready as a slot receiver, but the tandem of Metcalf and Lockett will likely limit his playing time and production early on. However, if one of them suffers an injury, it opens the door for a much higher ceiling.

Considering his draft capital, talent and the Seahawks depth chart, Smith-Njigba should have a role right away. It may be slow to start the season, but the rookie can be viewed as a WR3 option in fantasy with some upside if an injury befalls Metcalf or Lockett.

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: How Jaxon Smith-Njigba changes Seattle’s passing game

The Seattle Seahawks made a first-round commitment to receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar discuss what that means for their offense.

The Seahawks ran a lot of two-tight end sets last season, so they weren’t running a ton of three-receiver sets in context of the modern NFL. 447 dropbacks with three receivers last season, which ranked 21st in the league,, and in those dropbacks, Geno Smith completed 260 of 387 passes for 2,790 yards, 1,866 air yards, 20 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 97.8, which was the fourth-best in the league behind the efforts of the Lions, Dolphins, and Bengals. 

So given that, and given the fact that the 20th overall selection of Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, what does this tell us about the progression of Seattle’s passing game, and how does Smith-Njigba fit into that with his specific attributes, and those of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett? 

Here, in this week’s episode of “The Xs and Os,” Greg Cosell (of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup) and Doug (of Touchdown Wire) get into how the Seahawks could totally redefine their passing game with their new top receiver.

[mm-video type=video id=01h0jp03twfh0xp1sgq4 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01h0jp03twfh0xp1sgq4/01h0jp03twfh0xp1sgq4-1c6cd3681a8de01d0d0b4ae9f6e58ad3.jpg]

What could a Justin Jefferson contract extension look like?

The star receiver is up for a contract extension soon and there are a wide range of opinions on what that should look like

The Minnesota Vikings are enjoying the most success they have had since 2017 this season with an 8-1 start and there are already questions coming about an extension for Justin Jefferson.

While it is a bit premature, we are only two months away from Jefferson being able to negotiate his first extension as a professional football player.

With all of the recent extensions that players have signed, it is important to understand what the market is telling us so we can make an informed opinion on what the extension could look like.

I also went to Twitter to see what others thought it could look like and we got some interesting results. Let’s take a look at the history of wide receiver extensions and some different proposed contract extensions.

 

NFL player props: 5 best bets for Week 18

NFL expert John Holler looks at the NFL Week 18 slate and tabs the 5 best NFL player props to cash in on.

With so many open questions about how teams are going to approach Week 18 – will playoff-bound teams find more value in resting players even if it costs them a higher seed or will teams near the bottom of the standings look to improve their draft stock?

There are very few games even on the prop board at the time of this publishing, so we’re focusing on the star players of those teams fighting to get into the playoffs.

Below, we break down Tipico Sportsbook’s NFL odds and lines, and tab the best NFL Week 18 player prop bets to cash in on among SportbookWire’s NFL expert picks and predictions.

FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS
Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+

NFL week 18 prop bet picks and predictions

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:29 p.m. ET. All games ET and Sunday unless noted.

Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams SCORES A TD (-105)

– Host Chiefs, Saturday 4:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

Any time you get the league leader in receiving touchdowns as essentially money, you step up to the window and say, “Yes, please.”

Adams has 14 touchdowns this season, including 2 at the Chiefs in their 1st meeting this season. I don’t believe the Raiders have an answer for Kansas City defensively, so they’re going to be throwing a lot in the second half.

All throwing does is make Adams more deadly.

Catch the excitement and bet with Tipico

Double Down, Ohio! Deposit $200, Get $250. Bet now!

In Colorado and New Jersey, claim your 100% Deposit Match up to $250 now. Bet now! 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers OVER 252.5 passing yards (-115)

– Host Lions, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

The Packers control their own fate to make the playoffs after sitting at 4-8 a month ago. Rodgers has only hit this number twice this season, but these are the Lions.

The Packers lost 15-9 in their 1st meeting vs. the Lions with Rodgers throwing for 291 yards. He has topped this number in 3 of his last 4 games against Detroit and 5 of his last 7.

With the Packers’ playoff life on the line, Rodgers is going to take things into his own hands, whether that is the result of the plays that are called or the ones he opts to audible out of.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry UNDER 89.5 rushing yards (-105)

– At Jaguars, Saturday 8:15 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

I’ve loved winning prop bets on Henry when the books can only make the O/U so high. This bet is one the hedge is making the Over (at -125) too pricey. Unfortunately, the Jaguars have a chance to improbably win the AFC South and the Titans pass offense is a mess. All they have is Henry.

Therein lies the problem. The Jaguars are going to put 8 in the box on every play other than 3rd-and-longs and Henry will likely be out on those plays. I expect Henry to get 20 carries. I don’t expect those 20 carries to net 90 yards.

He literally may need closer to 30 carries because running lanes won’t be there when so many defenders are running downhill at him at the snap.

Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase OVER 80.5 receiving yards (-115)

– Host Ravens, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

The Bengals did the right thing by not re-starting Monday’s game with the Bills, but it came with a price.

The NFL has devised bizarre rules for the missed game, including that if the Ravens beat the Bengals — which would be a 2nd time this season — and they meet in the playoffs, home field will be determined by a coin flip. What?

The Bengals have a ton to play for here and Chase is the most dangerous downfield weapon they have. All it will take is one big splash play and 4 or 5 shorter route catches to hit this number.

Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf OVER 66.5 receiving yards (-115)

– Host Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)

For the Seahawks to make the playoffs, they need to win and the Packers need to lose to the Lions in the Sunday night game. The Rams are limping to the finish line with little to play for and less to risk.

Metcalf is a face of the franchise-type player and it’s in big games that those types of guys step up. The Rams play a lot of press-man coverage and it only takes one misstep for Metcalf to make that a bad decision and a big play. The rest will take care itself if he catches 3 or 4 more the rest of the game.

More NFL Week 18 picks and predictions

Want action on any of these NFL props or other matchups? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in OH, CO and NJ. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Access more NFL coverage:

BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]