Marshawn Lynch Fantasy Value Trending in Positive Direction Ahead of NFC Wild Card Game Against Eagles

After returning from retirement to the injury-riddled Seattle Seahawks in Week 17, Marshawn Lynch is now ready to take a larger role in the offense, according to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

Lynch has now had another week to get accustomed to the team's game plan and should have a strong fantasy upside going into the Seahawks' NFC Wild Card Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Expect Marshawn Lynch to be a bigger part of the Seahawks' gameplan against Philadelphia. And Pete Carroll might have the 1-2 punch at running back he's looking for. https://t.co/sWL4pWwZPW
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) January 4, 2020

Lynch rushed for 32 yards on 12 carries in Week 17, but he looked better than expected after sitting out the entire season. He scored a touchdown and showed impressive burst on some of his carries too. With Rashaad Penny and Chris Carson out for the season, Lynch is expected to play a full role in the Seahawks' offense heading into the first round of the 2019-20 NFL Playoffs.

Marshawn Lynch Fantasy Outlook

In Seattle's last meeting with the Eagles, the Seahawks were able to rely on Penny's ground game to get key yardage in a 17-9 win over Philly. Penny had 129 yards in that game and scored a long touchdown. However, the Eagles have been much stouter against the run in recent weeks, rising to No. 4 in run defense, per Football Outsiders' DVOA.

Last week, it was hard to project what Lynch could bring, but it's clear that he hasn't lost everything after coming out of retirement. While the vintage Lynch from the early 2010s likely won't make an appearance, he should still get the kind of volume as a trusted offensive option.

Full Beast Mode for Philadelphia: Marshawn Lynch has rapidly progressed in a week’s time. Now he is in the #Seahawks’ entire game plan for Sunday’s wild-card game. ⁦@thenewstribune⁩ https://t.co/GfiTjthWSJ
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 4, 2020

The Seahawks are probably going to throw the ball more against the Eagles this time around too, who have a weaker secondary that has cost them this season. Travis Homer was used in pass-catching situations last week, but Lynch could also stand to benefit now that he's more fully integrated into the scheme.

The Seahawks also used Lynch for one short-yardage TD last week, which could hopefully lead to more a presence in their red zone strategy this Sunday. The experts are all taking Seattle, and Lynch's improved outlook could play a big role in that result.

Join FanDuel Sportsbook Today. New users get a risk-free bet up to $500. Join Now.

Tristan Jung is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Tristan Jung also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username tristan1117. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.