What It Means:

An awakened Michael now has 24 rushes for 157 yards this preseason, good for a stellar 6.5 yards per attempt. He's put it all on display for the Seahawks in three contests, grinding out tough yards in the trenches and also flashing big-play ability. Most importantly, he has earned the trust of Seattle's coaching staff, receiving universal praise all offseason. After dominating first-team work with Russell Wilson, Michael will have a meaningful role in the offense early-on, even if it's not as the starter over Thomas Rawls. Rookie third-round pick C.J. Prosise operated primarily as the third-down back with the first-team.

Our models still expect Michael to be the third option in his own backfield, behind both Thomas Rawls and rookie third-round pick C.J. Prosise. We currently project him to carry the ball 20 times for 89 yards and 1.09 touchdowns this season, adding 10 catches for 69 yards and 0.31 scores through the air.