The Monday night football matchup on schedule for Week 13 is a big matchup of NFC teams and both the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints have a ton on the line and so do fantasy owners, which is why names like Marshawn Lynch, Jimmy Graham, Drew Brees, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Golden Tate, Russell Wilson and Steven Hauschka are the ones to watch heading into game time.
The Saints and Seahawks come into the matchup as two of the best offensive teams in the NFL and that makes fantasy owners happy, but both sides also play solid defense in the secondary and that could limit quarterbacks Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. Either way, both quarterbacks are START options for Monday night and so is Jimmy Graham, as he has been like a video game player with the way Drew Brees has connected with him.
Graham comes into the game with 65 catches for 946 yards and 11 touchdowns and that is second in the league and he is not on the injury report heading into the game. He has had two 100 yards games in the past four weeks, including against the Falcons and he has also scored five touchdowns in the past five games, including two against the Jets and two against the Bills. Brees is in the top ranks of passers this season with Peyton Manning and this game could get him over 30 touchdowns to the season.
Percy Harvin would have been a solid START option, but he will be on the BENCH as a SIT on Monday night after his hip injury flared up. The Seahawks are gearing up for the second stretch of the season and after dealing with Percy Harvin being absent following his trade this offseason, the star wide receiver returned after undergoing surgery earlier this year and he came back to make one catch against the Minnesota Vikings, his former team, before heading into the bye week.
From previously about Harvin and his return: According to ESPN.com and NFL.com, Harvin was practicing with the team and was back after being placed on the PUP list earlier in the year after knowing he would be out for some time. Head coach Pete Carroll said the team is excited about his return and the offense could use the extra jolt even though they are playing well this season and his near return means that he is beating expectations for his injury. The team signed him to a six-year, $67 million contract that had $25 million guaranteed money and they would like that investment on the field.
Harvin was expected to be a huge offensive asset to the team and for quarterback Russell Wilson, but his return may not come until late in the season even though he was eligible from the Arizona Cardinals game in Week 7. Harvin was eligible to come off the PUP list in Week 7 and after that he was allowed to start practicing with the team and eventually he will get back on the field. Harvin put up some explosive numbers last season despite being injured, making 62 catches for 677 yards and scoring three touchdowns and he could be an explosive element for Russell Wilson.