Will

Dissly

Dissly was the ultimate coaching staff favorite in Seattle until he was cut loose last week. Now the strong blocker who can catch a pass or five in a pinch is headed to Jim Harbaugh’s re-tooling Chargers. Dissly is no doubt going to be more of a part of Harbaugh’s attitude adjustment than an actual offensive contributor, but we’re sure he will spend plenty of time on the field. His reported $10 million guaranteed also makes it far less likely free agent Gerald Everett returns. Dissly will likely be a streamer, and a low-end one at that, in fantasy.

Dissly burst on the scene in 2018 with the Seahawks when he caught eight passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns in his first four games before suffering a devastating knee injury. He would get off to an equally hot start in 2019, going for 23-262-4 in six games before a torn Achilles ended that season. A former fourth-round pick, Dissly has a career receiving line of 127-1,421-13 and has been a productive player when called upon. That said, his role diminished significantly last season, as he played on a career-low 39 percent of the team’s snaps while seeing his fewest targets since his rookie season. He’ll garner some interest on the open market as a depth option but won’t be looked at as an every-down player wherever he lands.

Dissly’s 2023 season ends with just 20 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns while working in a three-way timeshare with Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson for most of the season. None of the three are recommended fantasy options heading into the offseason for dynasty players.

Dissly has received significant play time over the first two weeks of the season in an offensive scheme that utilizes 12-personnel at one of the highest rates in the league. That could mean more 11-personnel alignments and a subsequent boost to the snap rate of rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Dissly’s likely absence could mean more snaps for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has been leaving the field whenever Seattle moves out of 11-personnel. However, Pete Carroll can still fall back on Colby Parkinson as the team’s TE2 if he wants. It could also mean a few more reps for Noah Fant.

Dissly was placed on IR in late December and his status has gone back-and-forth since then. It’s probably more correct to consider him questionable for training camp than probable, but Seattle’s moves (or lack thereof) at tight end this offseason should help spell out Dissly’s real status.

Pete Carroll said the same thing on New Year’s Eve, but it’s interesting that this has continued to be a question nearly two months later. Dugar believes the team might be forced to add another tight end in the offseason if Dissly undergoes surgery, which sounds like Dissly could potentially be dealing with a serious issue.

This likely rules out Dissly, who was placed on IR this week, returning in the playoffs if Seattle clinches a Wild Card spot. Dissly set career highs in a committee with Noah Fant this year, posting a 34/349/3 line in 15 games before going down. Signed to a three-year, $24 million extension in March, Dissly will return at a $9.2 million cap hit in 2023.

It’s officially a knee contusion, so it doesn’t sound like this will be a long-term injury. Dissly could return after the divisional round if the Seahawks make it that far. It is more likely that this is season-ending. In the first season after a surprising extension, Dissly finished with a 34/349/3 line. He remains wildly efficient when targeted with an 82.1% career catch rate, but the Seahawks don’t prioritize him enough for him to be a real fantasy option. He should enter the 2023 offseason as Seattle’s co-starter at tight end with Noah Fant.

Dissly suited up in the Seahawks’ Week 14 loss to the Panthers after entering the weekend with a questionable tag. The veteran tight end secured two passes for 20 yards and has now caught two or more passes in seven-straight games. Even if he’s active in Week 15 against the 49ers, Dissly is nothing more than a touchdown-dependent fantasy option who last found the end zone since Week 4 against the Lions.