
Russell Wilson is a monster. Getty Images
He was 20-of-31 for 227 yards and three touchdowns and that is what the box score will read, but the story was the manner in which Russell Wilson manipulated his mightiest qualities.
According to Pro Football Focus, Russell Wilson was under pressure on 16 of his 36 dropbacks. Although it has improved at times, the offensive line has had issues protecting the slippery play caller. Using football outsiders offense efficiency ratings, Seattle ranks top 10 in weighted DVOA, and much has to do with the ability of Wilson to improvise and create outside of the pocket.
Let's take a look at Seattle's offensive line.
The Seahawks rank 30th in Adjusted line yards (3.43), only leading Miami and Detriot. The Seahawks have received nothing from the running back position where they average a wretched 3.25 yards per carry, well below the league average of 4.03.
The stat that has to stick out is that Wilson is second in the league in rush yards at his position. Wilson averages 6.1 yards per carry on 71 attempts only trailing Cam Newton. Even more fascinating, is his success on first downs. Of his 432 total yards on the ground, 189 have come on first down, while accumulating 22 first downs. In the fantasy world, he leads all Quarterbacks (ESPN Standard) in scoring with 279.4 total points, well ahead of second place Carson Wentz (254.5). Wilson is accounting for over 80% of his team's offense and has been involved in all but 1 of his teams 30 offensive touchdowns this year. The next four weeks will represent what this team will be as they have a tough stretch playing at Jacksonville, vs. LA Rams, at Dallas Cowboys, and the finale at home vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
From the Cashiers Window:
Patriots 87%
Rams 86%
Chargers 85%
Raiders 83%
Packers 82%
3-2 ATS
Although they went 10-6 straight up, favorites came back down to earth and went 7-9 ATS in Week 13. 96-84-8 ATS is where the number sits for 2017. Week 13 was a week for underdogs winning outright; we saw six teams stand up to the task.
Jets +4, ML +170
Seahawks +6, ML +190
Vikings +3, ML +125
49ers +2.5, ML +120
Cowboys+1 ML +110
Dolphins+1 ML +110
The Largest Favorite to cover was the Jaguars, as they beat up on division rival Indianapolis, coasting to a 30-10 victory easily covering the -10 point spread.
Play action or Pass went 8-2 in Week 13. We are 30-23-4 ATS in 2017.
Saints-4 WIN
Seahawks+6 WIN
Panthers/Saints over 48 WIN
Falcons-3 LOSS
Packers PK WIN
Browns/Chargers over 43 LOSS
Teasers
7 Point
Chargers-7/Patriots-2 WIN
Chargers-7/Oakland-1.5 WIN
10 point
Chargers-4/Saints over38/Seattle+16 WIN
Chargers-4/Jaguars PK/Patriots+1 WIN
New England Patriots +250
Pittsburgh Steelers +550
Philadelphia Eagles +600
Minnesota Vikings +800
New Orleans Saints +900
Los Angeles Rams +1200
Atlanta Falcons +2500
Carolina Panthers +2500
Seattle Seahawks +2500
Los Angeles Chargers +2500
1: Patriots
2: Eagles
3: Vikings
4: Rams
5: Steelers
6: Seahawks
For any questions or comments reach me at @JerryBoKnowz on twitter.
It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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