Will Dissly

The Seahawks signed Dissly to a three-year, $24 million deal after trading for tight end Noah Fant, causing some amount of confusion in the football world. Dissly is a skilled run blocker, though, and the Seahawks likely will try focusing on the ground game with Russell Wilson out of the picture. Dissly's in-line reps will give the Seahawks more flexibility to line up Fant around the formation, including the slot. But Dissly shouldn't be expected to have much of a fantasy impact, as he hasn't topped 262 receiving yards in any of his four seasons.

Dissly's first two seasons ended prematurely due to a torn patellar tendon and a torn Achilles. The 6-4, 265-pound tight end put up 31 receptions for 418 yards and six touchdowns over 10 games between 2018 and 2019. However, he couldn't sustain that level of production last year, finishing with a 24-251-2 line across 16 games. The underwhelming campaign was the result of multiple factors, including two recent and serious surgeries and the presence of fellow tight ends Greg Olsen and Jacob Hollister. Olsen and Hollister now are gone, but the Seahawks signed Gerald Everett in free agency. Dissly will have a consistent role on offense because of his run-blocking ability, but there's little fantasy value available for receivers not named DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett. Plus, the upcoming positional battle with Everett adds uncertainty to the equation.

Dissly is right in the running for worst injury luck in the NFL. In 2018, he came in as a fourth-round pick and put up 151 yards and two TDs over his first three games before suffering a torn patellar tendon Week 4. It's one of the worst injuries a football player can have, yet Dissly made it back for Week 1 last season and immediately reclaimed the starting job. Sitting on 262 yards and four TDs through five games, he had worked his way into a three-down role and earned Russell Wilson's trust in the red zone (five targets). Then Week 6 brought a torn Achilles. While the Seahawks claim they're optimistic the 24-year-old will be ready for Week 1, their offseason moves - signing Greg Olsen, drafting Colby Parkinson in the fourth round, giving Jacob Hollister a second-round RFA tender - hint at some level of doubt. The Olsen signing, in particular, appears problematic for Dissly's short-term workload.

A fourth-round pick last year, Dissly quickly emerged as the cream of the crop in Seattle's timeshare at TE, ripping off gains of 66, 34 and 24 yards before a patella tear Week 4 brought his rookie season to a halt. It's a tricky injury for any player to bounce back from, but the young tight end at least has age (23) and the timing of the injury (Sept. 30) working in his favor. While he didn't practice at OTAs or minicamp, Dissly will be about 10 months removed from the injury when Seattle opens training camp in late July. At that point he'll battle for snaps with Nick Vannett, Ed Dickson and Jacob Hollister, a group utterly lacking in upside. Given the questions Seattle faces at wide receiver with Doug Baldwin retiring, Dissly has a chance to emerge as one of Russell Wilson's preferred targets near the goal line.

Dissly is thought to be the top run-blocking tight end of the 2018 NFL Draft. This was a key reason why he was picked by the Seahawks in the fourth round. The 21-year-old only had three touchdown catches in his final two seasons at Washington. However, Ed Dickson isn't making progress on his quad injury, which could make Dissly the No. 2 tight end and give him more opportunities. Dissly's fantasy value remains low still.