Sep 8th 2008 7:00PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, Fantasy Football, NFL InjuriesThe one bright offensive spot for the Seattle Seahawks during Sunday’s beatdown at the hands of the Bills was Nate Burleson. And how could he not be? After his star rose briefly in the absence of Randy Moss in Minnesota, he fell just as quickly, becoming a great punt returner (not a compliment) in Seattle. But this year … this year was different. After all, with Bobby Engram and Deion Branch both out, Nate was set to become Matt Hasselbeck’s next great target.

Until he got hurt for the entire season.
… Burleson suffered a torn knee ligament in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss in Buffalo, and will undergo season-ending surgery. Burleson caught five passes before leaving, including a touchdown. He led the team in scoring receptions last season with nine.
This is the very definition of a devastating blow to a Seahawk team that was struggling already to find an identity and straight up reeling after the loss to Buffalo. This now also makes Courtney Taylor the number one wide receiver on Seattle’s roster.

And it also guarantees that Branch, who may or may not have any business coming back seven months after ACL surgery, will be playing in Week 2. It’s Holmgren’s last season and this is a team that had serious Super Bowl aspirations with a stout defense and a revamped running game, so seeing Branch continue to sit would be surprising.

Drop Burleson, obviously. And I’d go grab Branch, because honestly, I think he’ll be back next week. Taylor is a pretty nice add at this point too, because someone’s gotta catch the passes.