The Ageless Wonder (Likely) Strikes Again
The Washington Redskins went from 17 players on their injury report in Week 8 to 21 coming into Week 9. That list includes notable offensive standouts such as Jamison Crowder (team-high 13 targets last week), Jordan Reed (14.85% target share this season), and Terrelle Pryor (he exists).
Needless to say, the path has been paved for Vernon Davis to continue his streak of production. Davis has only started one game in place of Reed this year, recording 5 receptions for 58 yards and a score. In four games without Reed in 2016, though, Davis averaged 4.5 targets and 46.7 receiving yards (via Rotoviz Game Splits). It's also worth noting only Crowder (79.68%) has averaged a higher offensive snap rate than Davis (69.89%) in Washington's last five games.
With both Crowder and Reed expected to be inactive this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, Davis will likely run additional routes and partake even more offensively -- perhaps surpassing his season-high 83.05% snap rate from last week.
Seattle still ranks fifth overall in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP, so it's admittedly not the juiciest of matchups. However, the uptick in opportunity is comforting in a week without Hunter Henry, Rob Gronkowski, Kyle Rudolph, and Reed at tight end, just to name a few.
And did I mention Earl Thomas has yet to practice this week?
#Seahawks Pass Defense Splits — Pass YPA Allowed (2016-17; Includes Playoffs):
With Earl Thomas: 6.77 YPA
Without Earl Thomas: 8.21 YPA
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) November 3, 2017
You know what to do.