After the Seattle Seahawks placed WR Tyler Lockett on the reserve/COVID-19 list last Thursday, is he set to return in time for the team’s delayed Week 15 matchup with the Rams? What is the latest regarding Lockett’s availability this week, and what options do fantasy football managers have if Lockett is out?
Update: Tyler Lockett was not activated from the COVID-19 list ahead of the Seahawks Week 15 game against the Rams.
Is Tyler Lockett playing today against the Rams?
The constantly shifting parameters of COVID protocols in the 2021 NFL season makes it tough to know what to do with Lockett until we get official confirmation. This game being moved from Sunday to Tuesday increases the chance Lockett plays, but he still needs to clear the protocol ahead of 4 PM ET.
The problem with the COVID protocol is that it is close to impossible to predict when a player will return. Unless we know that a player is symptomatic or unvaccinated, predicting his return is tough to do. Therefore, until we hear for certain, Lockett’s status remains up in the air.
It has been an inconsistent season for the Seahawks WR
Lockett is always an intriguing player to judge for fantasy managers. He has a tendency to be quite a streaky fantasy producer, and his inconsistency can be maddening. This season highlights that perfectly. In the first two weeks, Lockett had 278 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. He then had just 159 yards in the next five weeks combined.
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In the last six weeks, Lockett has had mixed success. During that time, he has three games with over 100 yards receiving and two games below 70. In total, he has 586 receiving yards on 33 receptions from 48 targets. Additionally, Lockett scored a touchdown in both Week 13 and 14.
What should fantasy managers do with Lockett in Week 15?
Chances are that you have already had to make your decision when it comes to starting Lockett or not this week. However, with the game between the Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles also having been moved, there are options if Seattle rules Lockett out today.
If Lockett is active, he should start in your lineup. We have not heard anything about Lockett suffering symptoms or struggling with the virus. Of course, we don’t know whether Lockett will struggle when he returns to the field, and that is key. What we do know is that he has been the primary target for QB Russell Wilson recently, and it will likely remain that way if he is active.
If Lockett is not active, DK Metcalf gets a huge boost from a fantasy perspective. It has been a tough few weeks for Metcalf. In the last five weeks, he has had 17 receptions for 173 yards and no touchdowns. In half-PPR formats, he has averaged just 5.16 fantasy points per game. If Lockett is out, he should see a boost in that value.
If you gambled on Lockett being available, who could fantasy managers turn to? Washington WR Cam Sims was activated off the COVID list and is rostered in just 3% of Fleaflicker leagues heading into Tuesday. Freddie Swain is rostered in 9% of leagues and could see an uptick in value if Lockett is out. In shallower leagues, Rams WR Van Jefferson could also be available (73% rostered).
