Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett saw four targets in Week 18, catching two passes for 71 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 21-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Late-game heroics were once again necessary to give the Seahawks the win and this time it was Lockett's turn to be the star. At the two-minute warning quarterback Geno Smith dropped a 34-yard pass over Lockett's shoulder just as he made it to the end zone to bring the Seahawks within a point of Cardinals. Lockett was also on the receiving end of Smith's throw to secure the ensuing two-point conversion which put Seattle ahead and eventually gave them the win. Lockett appeared in all 17 Seahawks games in 2023 and finishes the season with 79 catches for 894 yards and five touchdowns. The nine-year veteran has spent his entire career in a Seahawks uniform. While he does have outs in his contract, it would be a surprise to see him playing anywhere but Seattle in 2024.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf saw a team-high six targets in Week 18 but had just one catch for 10 yards in Sunday's win, making it his least productive game of the year. Most of the balls that went Metcalf's way were well off-target as quarterback Geno Smith was under intense pressure and hurrying throws for most of the game. Metcalf was denied two additional receptions as well. The first was denied by a pass interference penalty that Seattle accepted to gain a first down and the other was overturned upon official review. It was a disappointing end to the season for Metcalf, who had just two top-12 finishes in 2023. Despite the down year, he still had his third 1,000-yard season in his five-year career, ending with 66 catches for 1,114 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Metcalf, under contract through 2025, will return to Seattle next season as their top receiving threat.

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet had his most productive game in weeks in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. The rookie took five rushing attempts 32 yards and caught both of his targets for 28 receiving yards. His receptions late in the fourth quarter advanced the Seahawks into Cardinals' territory, setting up Geno Smith's 34-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett. The selection of Charbonnet in the second round of the 2023 draft sparked a debate that he might contend for the starting role but he was firmly in the backseat behind second-year running back Kenneth Walker III. It will be hard to predict what the depth chart will look like in 2024, but Charbonnet can be expected to hang on to his role as the passing down back at the least. Charbonnet's first season ends with 462 rushing yards and one touchdown gained on 108 carries and 209 receiving yards on 33 catches.

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III took 17 carries for 78 yards in Week 18. He also caught his only target for three yards in the win over the Arizona Cardinals. Ten of Walker's attempts were for three yards or less but his stat line was bailed out with four rushes that resulted in gains of at least 11 yards. Coming into the season his status as the starter was threatened after the Seahawks drafted Zach Charbonnet in the second round of the 2023 draft. Injuries aside, Walker held onto his role all year but Charbonnet's efficiency makes depth chart projections murky for 2024. Playing in 15 games in 2023, Walker had 219 carries for 905 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 29 catches for 259 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith went 16-for-28 for 189 passing yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 21-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Smith also gained 28 rushing yards on three carries in the game. Smith was under heavy pressure throughout the contest and had difficulty syncing up with his receivers. Still, Smith once again led a game-winning drive on the Seahawks' last drive of the game, the fifth time this season he has done so. Smith connected with wide receiver Tyler Lockett for a 34-yard touchdown with 1:54 left on the clock. Smith then went back to Lockett to secure the go-ahead two-point conversion. Even with the win, the Seahawks will not advance to the playoffs as their chances were dependent also on a Green Bay Packers loss. Having signed a three-year contract with the Seahawks in March, Smith will likely return as the starter in 2024 and will end the season with 3,624 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 15 games.