The NFL season is quickly approaching, and fantasy drafts are in full swing. At DraftKings, you can play an array of different season-long fantasy contests.
Below, I take a look at the fantasy value of all the players in the Seattle Seahawks’ backfield.
Seattle Seahawks Backfield
The Seahawks will have a different look on offense this season. Klint Kubiak has replaced Ryan Grubb as offensive coordinator, Sam Darnold has replaced Geno Smith as starting quarterback and DK Metcalf has moved on to Pittsburgh. At wide receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is now the definite WR1, and Cooper Kupp has come in as the veteran at wide receiver. They also have two rookies, wide receiver Tory Horton and tight end Elijah Arroyo, who could play big roles in the offense. However, in the backfield, not much has changed from last season. Kenneth Walker III is still the main man for now, but Zach Charbonnet should see plenty of action, as he did last season. Behind them are two young backs, George Holani and Damien Martinez.
The Seahawks struggled to run the ball last season. They were a pass-heavy offense, throwing at the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. Even when they did run the ball, they didn’t do so efficiently. They ranked 25th in EPA/rush and 22nd in rushing success rate. The combination of those two factors saw them rank 28th in the NFL in rushing yards. However, with a new offensive coordinator and quarterback, that could change. This will be the third season of the Walker and Charbonnet duo in the backfield, and Kubiak might lean more heavily on them rather than the new quarterback and young receiving talent.
Running Back Handcuffs: Zach Charbonnet
Zach Charbonnet has been one of the best backup running backs in football over the past two seasons. During the 2024-25 season, Kenneth Walker III only played 12 games due to injury. When he was healthy, he still took a bulk of the carries, but Charbonnet thrived when given the RB1 role while Walker was out. The two finished with nearly identical stats last season. Walker rushed for 573 yards and seven touchdowns, while Charbonnet rushed for 569 yards and eight touchdowns. If Walker can stay healthy, he will likely remain the primary down-to-down back. However, Charbonnet is an explosive change-of-pace back who is also a threat in the receiving game. He should play a big role in the offense once again, even if Walker remains healthy.
This is the final year of Kenneth Walker III’s contract in Seattle. The Seahawks will look to the future and give Charbonnet a bigger portion of the touches. There is a small chance that Walker could even be traded or cut, like the Commanders did with Brian Robinson Jr. heading into the final year of his contract. Even if Walker stays on the team, his health was an issue last season. Regardless of the circumstances, as long as he stays healthy, Charbonnet will get a big dose of the carries and is a must-handcuff for Kenneth Walker III owners.
