The Seattle Seahawks have lacked stability at the running back position this season, with Kenneth Walker III missing four games due to injuries at various points. While Zach Charbonnet has filled in quite admirably when called upon, his status may be in question for Week 16.
Neither halfback practiced on Wednesday, with Walker battling a calf issue and Charbonnet’s oblique keeping him out. If they aren’t able to suit up against the Vikings on Sunday, Kenny McIntosh would be the next man up.
A shrewd waiver-wire pickup can be the difference between raising a trophy and a playoff exit, and they become all the more crucial at this point in the season — if his teammates miss time, is McIntosh a potential league-winner in fantasy football?
Who is Kenny McIntosh?
McIntosh is a second-year back out of Georgia whom the Seahawks selected with their seventh-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s only taken 14 carries at the NFL level, so the sample size on his play against pros is quite limited, but he’s rushed for 63 yards on the limited volume.
His largest workload came two weeks ago against the Arizona Cardinals, against whom McIntosh toted the rock seven times for 38 yards and caught both of his targets for seven more yards. Was it an impressive performance on the box score? Not particularly, but he played a season-high 23% of snaps and totaled 6.5 fantasy points. At over five yards per carry, he was efficient on the ground, though.
For an idea of what he can do on a larger workload, look at his college production. The 6-foot, 204-pound back tallied 1,582 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons with the Bulldogs, with an average carry of 5.7 yards. He played a role on back-to-back championship squads, and in his senior year, accounted for 1,334 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns. Notably, he caught 43 passes for 505 yards and two scores that year, so he brings some receiving chops to the table, too.
Is he a star? No, but that’s why he’s most likely available via the waiver wire in a vast majority of fantasy leagues. If his college production in the SEC is any indication, he’s no slouch, either.
Week 16 outlook
Here’s the bad news: the Vikings defense is still among the NFL’s elite, so it’s a tough matchup for any halfback. Minnesota’s run D allows the second-fewest yards per game and is tied for the second-fewest rushing touchdowns allowed, too. To top it off, they’re fourth-best in points conceded and 14th in total yards allowed per contest.
It’s a tough outlook for the Seahawks’ run game. However, the Vikings are 29th in passing yards allowed, likely because they tend to operate while ahead on the scoreboard, forcing opponents to air it out to catch up. That’s where McIntosh’s receiving ability becomes crucial, especially since the Seahawks love to throw the ball in the first place.
Walker missed the prior two games, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he misses Week 16 as well. Charbonnet hasn’t missed a contest yet, but his lack of participation in practice is concerning.
Both backs are questionable for Sunday’s afternoon meeting, but if neither can go, McIntosh would likely become a solid volume-based play as a FLEX with RB2 upside. Is there some risk involved? Yes, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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