Fantasy spin: Seahawks land WR Houshmandzadeh
Michael Fabiano | Tags: Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, T.J. Houshmandzadeh

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The Seattle Seahawks have signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a five-year, $40 million deal. The move gives them a solid and reliable wideout and causes a domino effect of sorts in fantasy football.
Houshmandzadeh has been a PPR dream since 2006, averaging a solid 98 receptions over the last three seasons. He was even able to reach 92 catches with backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, not Carson Palmer, under center for the Bengals in 2008.
With Houshmandzadeh on the roster, the Seahawks are less likely to re-sign both Bobby Engram and Koren Robinson. That leaves Deion Branch, whose value takes a hit as a result of this move, and Nate Burleson, as the team’s top three receivers.
With John Carlson also in the mix, Matt Hasselbeck now has a nice set of targets in the pass attack.
The Seahawks will look to run a more balanced offense than Houshmandzadeh was used to in Cincinnati, so his reception totals could take a hit in 2009. Still, it will be hard to pass on him as a No. 2 fantasy wideout in most drafts.
The loss of Houshmandzadeh hurts the value of Palmer, who now has Chad Johnson, Andre Caldwell and Chris Henry as his top three options in the Bengals pass attack.
Johnson will also see much more defensive attention without a solid complement, so his value and production could suffer as well. Caldwell and Henry will compete for a chance to start opposite Johnson, but only Henry would be draftable in 2009.


