Fantasy Football: 10 Veterans Who Benefited From the NFL Draft
Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Doug Baldwin commanded 116 targets in the Seattle Seahawks' offense in 2017, and the team has released tight end Jimmy Graham and lost wide receiver Paul Richardson in free agency.
The Seahawks did not draft a wide receiver among their nine draft picks and added only Jaron Brown in free agency on a modest two-year $5.5 million deal.
These moves further entrench Baldwin as the supreme pass catcher in Seattle. Coming off four straight years of at least a 22.0% target market share, we know what Doug Baldwin's floor is. However, with the subtraction of Richardson and Graham, Baldwin could push for an even bigger percentage of team's targets in 2018.
The loss of Graham -- who had 10 scores on 57 catches a year ago -- is particularly interesting because now Baldwin ostensibly takes over as the premiere red zone threat in the offense. Baldwin has posted gaudy touchdown rates of 13.6%, 5.6%, and 6.9% over the previous three seasons. Despite performing well above the position's mean of 4.7%, Baldwin could actually improve on those numbers if he gets more red zone targets.
For Lockett, he appears to be penciled in as a starting receiver. After seeing no more than 71 targets in any of his first three seasons, Lockett's fantasy value is set for a boost if he lands an every-snap role.