Seahawks rookie TE Elijah Arroyo turned a season-high five targets into a season-high 4 receptions in Sunday night's win over the Texans. He ranked second on the team in each of those categories for the game, along with receiving yards (42). WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the only other Seahawk to catch more than two passes, and no other teammate exceeded three targets.
Arroyo's action included this 27-yard connection in the first quarter to get Seattle into the red zone. Two plays later, he made an 8-yard catch to set up Zach Charbonnet's 1-yard TD run.
Arroyo made another (1-yard) catch inside the 10-yard line in the third quarter. Unfortunately, we last saw the rookie fumbling after making a 7-yard reception early in the fourth quarter.
That's (probably) not the problem, though. His 15 pass routes tied for just fifth on the team and trailed AJ Barner among Seattle tight ends.
"Problem" might be too strong, given that we're talking about a tight end in the first half of his first season. But that factor is the primary reason you shouldn't be looking to Arroyo as a potential fantasy starter in the near term.
Arroyo entered Week 7 ranked 39th among TEs in route rate and 44th at the position in total routes. He has run exactly 15 routes in three straight games, according to Pro Football Focus.
The rookie looks good, got high-value opportunities against Houston, and garnered plenty of buzz from franchise decision makers after Seattle drafted him. But he'll have to contend with Barner for the foreseeable future, in an offense that ranks just 30th league wide in neutral pass rate.
Arroyo remains an attractive longer-term play -- i.e. dynasty "hold" -- though the Barner factor could hurt him there as well.
Barner's signed through 2027 and has garnered praise from coaches amid his growing role this season.
Both young TEs look worth hanging on to in dynasty, but they could well cannibalize each other's value over the next couple of seasons.
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