Fantasy Football Player Profile-Matt Hasselbeck

QB Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks

2005 Stats: 3459 passing yards, 25 total TDs, 9 INTs
Projected 2006 Stats: 3550 passing yards, 27 total TDs, 11 INTs
Projected Fantasy Round: 4th round
Quarterbacks to be Picked ahead of Matt Hasselbeck: Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer

Fantasy Outlook:

Why should you draft Matt Hasselbeck: Hasselbeck figures to be a smart play as an ideal fantasy quarterback. He will likely still be available in the third round, which allows you to draft a running back in each of the first two rounds and still have the chance to draft Hasselbeck. He has only missed two games in the last four seasons and both of them were in 2004. Over the last three seasons, he has averaged 3560 passing yards, 25 total TDs, and 13 INTs. The addition of Nate Burleson will give Hasselbeck another target at his disposal. The table is set for Hasselbeck to have an outstanding season, he has the rushing champion in Shaun Alexander, arguably the best left tackle in football in Walter Jones to protect his blind side, and has two wideouts that can stretch the field in Burleson and Darrell Jackson.   

Why you may want to stay away from drafting Matt Hasselbeck: Even though Hasselbeck has been durable to this point in his career, he is still a risk to be injured. I realize it is a contact sport and every player is at risk, but Hasselbeck over the last three years has averaged 33 carries and has been sacked an average of 32 times. Last season, he had three games where he had multiple turnovers, including in Week 1 where he had threw two interceptions and coughed the ball up twice in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hasselbeck also plays in a soft division, which could mean that if the Seahawks have a huge lead in the standings, Seattle might elect to give him some rest down the stretch.

Bottom Line: Since Carson Palmer is coming off a major injury, Hasselbeck may be the leading candidate to be the second quarterback to be taken after Peyton Manning. He certainly has the talent to be drafted in that spot, and if he is still available in the third round or beyond, he is well worth the pick as one of the top No.1 Quarterbacks in fantasy.

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