The fantasy football playoffs are fast approaching and every matchup just means more. With just three weeks to go before the postseason begins in season-long leagues, finding steady talent is key. After all, one start/sit decision could be the difference between a deep playoff run and a soul-crushing defeat.
All season long, the Seattle Seahawks’ backfield has caused headaches for fantasy managers. Entering a Week 12 matchup against the lowly Tennessee Titans though, things may begin to shift slightly in favor of one of the two running back talents, Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Which one of these RBs is worth playing in lineups with the pressure mounting?
Evaluating the Seahawks’ backfield
The Titans are 25th in fantasy points allowed to running backs this year, which means fantasy managers should salivate ahead of Week 12. While ranked 20th in defensive EPA/rush, this soft Tennessee run defense has allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per game (134.7) and second-most rushing touchdowns (15) to opponents on the year. Plus, the efficiency allowed via the ground at 4.7 yards per carry bodes even more well for Seattle’s halfback tandem.
Through 10 games, the Seahawks’ backfield remains something of a 1A/1B situation with Kenneth Walker operating as the primary option ahead of Zach Charbonnet. Here’s a look at how the stats stack up:
| Kenneth Walker III | Zach Charbonnet | |
| 11.1 | FPPG | 9.6 |
| 45% | Snap Percentage | 49% |
| 136 | Rush Attempts | 105 |
| 606 | Rushing Yards | 350 |
| 4 | Touchdowns | 6 |
| 14 | Receptions | 9 |
| 127 | Receiving Yards | 67 |
As the numbers show, this is about as split a backfield as you get in the NFL. Both players hover around the same snap count, and while Walker’s out-carried Charbonnet 136-105, the former actually played all 10 games compared to nine for the latter. You’ve likely heard the role distribution for each player by this point as well — Walker does much of the work between the 20-yard lines and helps move the chains for the Seahawks before Charbonnet comes in to steal the touchdown at the end of drives.
It’s been a rather frustrating situation for fantasy managers thus far; an entirely reasonable feeling given the upside Walker has shown in the past as more of a bell-cow back. After all, he averages 4.5 YPC to Charbonnet’s 3.3, as well as a 2.8 yards before contact to just 1.6. Plus, Walker frequently rattles off big gains with 19 rushes of 10+ yards and seven explosive runs of 20+ yards — Charbonnet has just four runs of 10+ yards and only one which went over 20. By all means, Walker is the more efficient player, even with the context of many of his counterpart’s attempts coming in short-yardage scenarios. The saving grace for Charbonnet has been an edge in the red zone, out-carrying his teammate 28 to 23 inside the 20-yard line, 16 to nine inside the 10, and 10 to seven inside the five. Those high-value touches have nearly single-handedly kept Charbonnet in the mix as a touchdown-dependent fantasy FLEX.
However, the winds of change may begin to blow as soon as this week. Following a performance for Walker with 111 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in Week 11 against a strong Los Angeles Rams defense, head coach Mike Macdonald suggested to the media that the running back may deserve additional touches. If the distribution of touches in this backfield starts to shift, could this be the week Walker finally pops?
That feels like a distinct possibility. In a featured role last season, the 25-year-old averaged 16.5 FPPG in PPR formats, borderline RB1 production. While Klint Kubiak’s offense doesn’t prioritize throwing to the halfback like last year’s scheme (the total RB target share in Seattle sits at a league-low 10.3%), Walker is a talented runner who can hit the big play to make up for a lack of passing work. If he sees just a few additional carries per contest — even just 16-18 rather than the 13.6 he currently averages — it’s almost a given that he could tack on an extra couple of fantasy points as well. With a more sizable role to approach 13+ FPPG, Walker could turn into a more palatable starter in lineups as a steady FLEX at worst with RB2-worthy upside.
Charbonnet, meanwhile, would see his value decrease a smidge if he does indeed lose out on a little bit of his own rushing workload. However, the touchdown potential would keep him in play as a low-end FLEX option, particularly in deeper leagues.
Either way, both players deserve of consideration for Week 12 lineups. The soft matchup against the Titans coupled with the positive game script the Seahawks will likely operate in against a 1-9 opponent means plenty of touches for the backfield as their team nurses a lead throughout. Fantasy players can comfortably slot Walker into their plans, while Charbonnet remains a low-ceiling option to use in a pinch if you believe Seattle plays from ahead in a blowout.
