Trust the Prosise? Assessing the Seattle rookie's fantasy value

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While he had just four games and 17 touches under his belt prior to Week 10, the Seahawks fully unleashed rookie RB C.J. Prosise in their 31-24 win over the Patriots.

Prosise carried 17 times for 66 yards, while catching seven passes for 87 yards. He relegated since-waived veteran Christine Michael, Seattle's season leader in rushing yards, to the bench, playing 54 snaps to Michael's 11.

Both Prosise and the soon-to-return Thomas Rawls will undoubtedly be popular waiver-wire pickups this week, so even in a likely timeshare, can the rookie be fantasy-relevant down the stretch?

A pass-happy offense favors Prosise

Seattle has thrown the ball on nearly 61 percent of its plays this season, compared to 53.29 percent in 2015. QB Russell Wilson's diminished mobility is a reason why, as Wilson has only gained 60 yards on his 31 rushes. Through nine games, here's how Wilson's pass and rush attempts compare to the same point in 2015:

At 6-foot-1 and 220 lbs, Prosise has a similar build to the Steelers' Le'Veon Bell and was a receiver at Notre Dame for two seasons until switching to running back as a senior.

So far, he has been an extremely efficient pass-catcher, hauling in 15 of 16 targets, including a perfect 7-for-7 showing against New England.

Seattle is one of the least effective teams at running the ball, ranking 30th in both yards per game (77.7) and yards per carry (3.3). If the team's offensive line struggles to open running lanes for Rawls, then a pass-heavy approach with Prosise serving as an outlet for Wilson may be its best course of action.

Injuries, role are concerns

Prosise has played in five of nine games, missing time in September and October with a broken bone in his hand. A training camp hamstring injury also sidelined him for Seattle's first two preseason outings.

While he's healthy now, the injury specter could easily reappear at an inopportune time. His NFL draft scouting report revealed that he suffered a concussion and a sprained ankle in his senior season. His upright running style can also make him prone to big hits.

Prosise was stuffed on two attempts from inside New England's two-yard line, so while that's not necessarily a reason to assume he'll never get a goal-line attempt again, the compact, powerful Rawls may be the preferred option in short-yardage situations. With 15 receptions in as many games, Rawls shouldn't be a threat to Prosise as a pass-catcher.

The verdict

The Seahawks have historically been a strong second-half team in the Wilson era, going no worse than 6-2 over their final eight games every season since 2012. Wilson threw 25 touchdowns to just two interceptions in the second half of 2015, and he showed that same strong form against New England and in Week 9 versus Buffalo.

Prosise may not regularly see the same 24-touch workload he received in what was a high-profile, "measuring stick" game against the Patriots, but his usage should be heavier than a typical passing-down back's, at least until Rawls can get himself in game shape after not having played since Week 2.

Prosise looks like a strong fantasy asset in PPR formats, and he's worthy of consideration in standard-scoring leagues as well. He should pile up enough yards to be of use as a FLEX option, and as long as Seattle's offense can keep firing on all cylinders, he should have ample chances to score.