Seattle Seahawks Doug Baldwin leads NFL in yards per target

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) participates in pre game warmups against the Jacksonville Jaguars at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin isn’t a viable fantasy play, but he could become a real fantasy asset if the Seahawks decide to send the ball his way more often as the season wears on. The Seattle Seahawks have been spreading the ball around an awful lot this season, and their most targeted receiver, Golden Tate with 22 looks through four games, is only 67th (!) on the target “leaderboard”. Sidney Rice? He’s second with 20. Rounding things out among the “top four” targets are Doug Baldwin and tight end Zach Miller with 15 and 14 targets.

Doug Baldwin is somebody to watch for closely, because he has been incredibly efficient so far this season. Despite only receiving 15 targets, Baldwin has turned that into 12 catches for 216 yards. In fact, Baldwin has been the league’s most efficient wide receiver this season, as he is averaging 14.4 yards per target. The only other wideout with an average yards per target above 12 is Green Bay Packers star receiver Jordy Nelson.

Russell Wilson should consider throwing the ball to Baldwin more often, and the Seahawks should consider using Baldwin more often in their gameplan. While the Seahawks like their identity to be as a running team with Marshawn Lynch in the backfield and prefer to spread the ball around, I can’t help but feel that Baldwin is getting lost in the shuffle a bit. Golden Tate has been as solid as expected with eight yards per target, but Sidney Rice is averaging just 6.9 yards per target and Zach Miller is averaging a horrendous 5.4 yards per target. It’s time for the Seahawks to take a few targets away from Rice- and a number of targets away from Miller- and give those looks to Doug Baldwin instead.

The former Stanford Cardinal is hauling in 80% of all passes thrown at him, and what makes that more impressive is the fact that Baldwin is averaging a whopping 18 yards per reception and has gone beyond 15 yards about a third of the time. He is having a ridiculously efficient season, and it’s time the Seattle Seahawks reward the quietly producing WR with some more opportunities. He has been one of the top ten receivers in yards per reception as well, and he’s consistently found ways to help this offense when given the chance.

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