Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Seattle went 5-11 in 2009, but even that might be a bit misleading. Three of their five wins came against the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions, who combined to go 3-29 on the year. Those five wins couldn’t save head coach Jim Mora Jr., who was jettisoned after the season and replaced by longtime USC head coach Pete Carroll.

Carroll inherits a team that was 25th in the league in points per game last season, and also 25th in the league in points allowed per game. The Seahawks had two glaring weaknesses – running the ball (they were one of only seven teams not to average 100 yards per game) and stopping the pass (30th in the league in pass defense). They took steps in the off-season to remedy those situations, but they likely weren’t enough to get them back into playoff contention.

KEY ADDITIONS

Charlie Whitehurst (QB) – Whitehurst was the San Diego Chargers’ third-string quarterback for the last four seasons, but Seattle saw enough out of his zero career pass attempts to trade for him and sign him to a two-year, $10 million contract. Matt Hasselbeck is supposedly still the starter, but he’s aging and has been plagued with injuries of late, so it’s only a matter of time before the ‘Hawks see if they made a worthwhile investment.

Leon Washington (RB) – Washington is still getting healthy after breaking his leg in Week 7 last year while with the New York Jets, but if he can fully recover, he can have an impact as a committee runner and return man. Problem is, we don’t know when Washington will be fully healthy, and as such, is a risky pick-up for fantasy football drafters.

KEY DEPARTURES

Walter Jones (OT) – It certainly doesn’t help to lose a Hall of Fame left tackle to retirement when your offensive line is already unsteady, but then again, Jones didn’t play in 2009 due to injury, and they drafted what they hope to be a valid replacement in Russell Okung with the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Nate Burleson (WR) – The oss of Burelson will be bigger than some might think. Burleson was second on the Seahawks in both catches, with 63, and receiving yards, with 812. He was a true team player and, when healthy, developed a strong rapport with Hasselbeck. He’s headed to the Detroit Lions for a five-year, $25 million contract. There, he reunites with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, under whom he played for with the Minnesota Vikings and caught nine touchdowns in 2004.

ROOKIE TO WATCH

Russell Okung (OT) – Okung was thought by many to be the best offensive lineman in the draft, but he was the second taken, after the Washington Redskins selected Oklahoma’s Trent Williams. Okung, from Oklahoma State, is a bit more advanced as a pass-blocker than run-blocker at this point, but isn’t thought to have any real weaknesses.

Golden Tate (WR) – Tate, a former Notre Dame star, was selected in the second round, and adds to a massive (for now, anyway) receiving corps that also includes T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch, Deon Carter, and former first-round busts Mike Williams and Reggie Williams, among others. Tate does not possess exceptional size or speed, but does have good hands and is a bull after catching the ball. He should see plenty of plays in the slot for Seattle and could make the biggest rookie fantasy football impact at the wide out position..

Need help organizing your fantasy draft? We’ve got you covered….

NFC WEST:  ARI  |  STL  |  SF  |  SEA

NFC SOUTH:  ATL  |  CAR  |  NO  |  TB

NFC NORTH:  CHI  |  DET  |  GB  |  MIN

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GET YOUR COMMISH KIT DRAFT BOARD NOW

The Bruno Boys have once again teamed up with Commish Kit to sell fantasy football draft boards. The 2010 draft boards are available for purchase and you can pick one up here… DRAFT BOARDS

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