The Seahawks gave Tyler Lockett a four-year, $69 million extension yesterday. Securing his services for years to come makes some sense, with Lockett performing among the best players at his position the last three years. Even if it doesn't always feel like it.
Three years in a row, Lockett has been a top-20 fantasy wideout (PPR scoring). He was 8th last season, a career-best performance. But while it's hard to find fault with that, those who have started him over that period know that there are also frequent letdowns.
Lockett is capable of some monster performances, in the right matchup and in games where the team lets Russ cook. Five times in those three seasons he's caught at least 10 passes, and in three of those games he went over 150 receiving yards. Those are the kind of huge games that can win fantasy matchups.
But in a third (16) of those 48 regular-season games, he's caught 3 or fewer passes. Nine times he's caught exactly 4 balls. That puts him at 4 or fewer catches in more than half (25) of his games the last three years. He's finished under 60 receiving yards in 25 of 48 games, as well.
Last year, when the team went with a more conservative offense the second half of the season, Lockett was particularly disappointing. He reached 70 yards just once in his final 10 contests, and that didn't do most fantasy teams any good -- it game in Week 17. He had 2 of his 3 touchdown catches in the second half of last year in that contest, as well.
Bottom line is that Lockett blew up with three monster games last season: 30-plus fantasy points in those contests (one of those in Week 17). But he was under 12 PPR points in more than half (9) of his games. A fantasy star in some weeks, but a dud in many others.
| TYLER LOCKETT GAME LOG (2020) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | PPR |
| at Atl. | 8 | 8 | 92 | 0 | 17.2 |
| N.E. | 8 | 7 | 67 | 1 | 19.7 |
| Dall. | 13 | 9 | 100 | 3 | 37.0 |
| at Mia. | 4 | 2 | 39 | 0 | 5.9 |
| Minn. | 5 | 4 | 44 | 0 | 8.4 |
| at Ari. | 20 | 15 | 200 | 3 | 53.0 |
| S.F. | 5 | 4 | 33 | 0 | 7.3 |
| at Buf. | 7 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 8.0 |
| at LAR | 9 | 5 | 66 | 0 | 11.6 |
| Ari. | 9 | 9 | 67 | 1 | 21.7 |
| at Phi. | 4 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 5.3 |
| NYG | 9 | 6 | 63 | 0 | 12.3 |
| NYJ | 5 | 5 | 52 | 0 | 10.2 |
| at Was. | 7 | 4 | 34 | 0 | 7.4 |
| LAR | 5 | 3 | 44 | 0 | 7.4 |
| at S.F. | 14 | 12 | 90 | 2 | 33.0 |
Lockett finished last season as a top-1o wideout. You can't take that away from him, nor can he be allowed to fall too far in drafts. Those week-winning games can't be underestimated.
But it's fair to be frustrated with the consistency. Seattle's offense carries with it some uncertainty for 2021, with it seeming like the coaching staff wants one thing and Russell Wilson another. If it's like it was for most of the second half of last season, Lockett will probably be a disappointment.
--Andy Richardson