The Seattle Seahawks are off to a 3-0 start this season, one of five remaining unbeaten teams. They will prepare to face off with the Detroit Lions in the final game of the Monday Night doubleheader.
Seattle got some positive news leading up to the matchup as starting running back Kenneth Walker III is off of the injury report and set to return to the field. After tallying 103 rushing yards and a touchdown in the opening game, Walker has missed the past two matchups due to an oblique injury. He will be important in providing balance to the Seahawks’ offense moving forward.
The Seahawks enter as +154 underdogs in the matchup while the Lions will be 3.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 46 for the matchup.
Expectations for Kenneth Walker III
After being selected with the 41st overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Kenneth Walker III has held down the starting running back spot in Seattle. He has recorded 1,955 rushing yards, 424 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns in his previous two years in the NFL.
The expectation was for Walker III to take another step forward in his third year. The 20 carries he received in the opening week are more than all but one of the 15 games he played last season. His 19 career touchdowns in 31 games are also a strong indicator of his ability to get in the end zone.
Looking at the touchdown odds, Walker III holds +105 for an anytime touchdown. He also is +800 to score the first touchdown and +700 to score two touchdowns in this Week 4 matchup on DraftKings Sportsbook.
This trails both David Montgomery (-150) and Jahmyr Gibbs (-120) for the shortest touchdown odds in the game. Walker is tied with his Seahawks backfield mate Zach Charbonnet at +105 odds for an anytime touchdown.
The biggest concern regarding Walker’s production would be Charbonnet eating into his opportunity. Charbonnet has held things down without Walker, recording 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his two-week absence. While Walker is the perceived RB1, Charbonnet still had eight carries as well as a receiving touchdown in the opening week.
Expectations should remain high in the long run, but don’t be bullish in expecting Walker III to get in the end zone in his first game back. Charbonnet deserves credit for his ability in the red zone and may get these opportunities this week as well. Especially considering the Lions have a chance at controlling the game script, don’t expect the Seahawks to have an abundance of scoring opportunities.
In season-long fantasy leagues and even some DFS lineups, you should absolutely get Walker III back in your lineups. Expect him to receive double-digit touches and to put some production in the box score. But, be a little patient in his first week back as Charbonnet continues to loom over the starter for these red zone opportunities. Take the week to evaluate his level of health and opportunity and expect there to be a bit of a committee approach in this matchup.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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