Just a day after he was released by the Buffalo Bills following a tremendous eight-year stint with the team, it appears that Fred Jackson is headed to Seattle to be Marshawn Lynch's primary backup with the Seahawks:
There are a lot of moving parts to this story.
First off, signing Jackson would seem to indicate that Seattle has given up on Christine Michael and Robert Turbin as legitimate running back options behind Lynch. Both entered the NFL with rather high expectations, but have failed to impress the brass in Seattle. As it relates to Michael, he was the prince of the draft and fantasy football communities coming out of Texas A&M back in 2013. Being passed up on the depth chart by a 34-year-old running back (they do exist), isn't a good sign for Michael's future in Seattle.
Secondly, this signing was as much about pass protection as running the ball. Both Michael and Turbin continue to struggle in this aspect of the game, while Jackson is among the best in the NFL.
There isn't a whole lot to see here from a fantasy perspective. If you are intent on handcuffing Seahawks' running backs, Jackson is a much better bet than the two youngsters listed above. Though, it's important to note that he averaged just 3.7 yards per attempt last year and has missed 14 games over the past four years. Where Jackson does come in handy for the Seahawks and from a fantasy perspective is catching the ball out of the backfield. He put up a career-high 66 receptions for the Bills last season.
It's just hard to imagine Jackson getting a ton of touches in the same backfield as Lynch. Some indicate Seattle will look to limit Lynch's carries this season. But considering this is likely his last year in the Pacific Northwest, there's no real reason to preserve him other than for later in the regular year and the postseason.