Seattle already handed Emanuel Wilson an afternoon’s worth of carries when Jadarian Price hurt his chest against Arizona. Now Price heads to injured reserve, Zach Charbonnet remains ineligible to return against the Chargers, and Wilson gets another chance to persuade the Seahawks to keep feeding him. For fantasy managers patching an injured backfield, there’s plenty to like about that prospect—and a consequential distinction between who takes the handoffs and who catches Sam Darnold’s passes.
Emanuel Wilson Start or Sit Advice for Week 4
I’d start Wilson at FLEX, with room for him at RB2 if injuries have thinned your options. Seattle entrusted him with a hefty 21 carries against Arizona, and he ground out 92 yards as the Seahawks pulled away. They have already asked him to carry that much of the offense. With Price unavailable, another afternoon of substantial rushing work makes sense.
Wilson led Seattle with 40% of their rushing attempts even while sharing the backfield with Price. He should inherit additional carries, although George Holani will take his turns, particularly when Seattle throws. I’d happily accept that arrangement in a depleted lineup; finding a back whose coaches have already fed him repeatedly carries some appeal after another miserable week of running back injuries.
The Biggest Fantasy Risk for Emanuel Wilson in Week 4
Washington barely let Wilson move last Sunday: nine carries, a paltry 14 yards, and little resemblance to his productive afternoon in Arizona. Against Los Angeles, he’ll need considerably better blocking. The Chargers have conceded the fourth-lowest rushing success rate through three weeks, repeatedly forcing offenses to try something else on the next down.
Wilson can make dudes miss—his encouraging 22% missed-tackle rate supports that much—but he has still managed only 1.97 yards after contact per attempt. Those evasions have yielded disappointingly little extra yardage. Against a defense surrendering the 11th-fewest yards before contact per rush, I’m concerned about how often he’ll have to salvage a carry.
And Holani has a meaningful advantage when Darnold drops back. He has run routes on 29.7% of Seattle’s passing plays, well ahead of Wilson’s sparse 17.8% participation. Full-PPR managers should feel that limitation most acutely if the Seahawks fall behind and turn increasingly to their passing game.
Fantasy Outlook for Emanuel Wilson in Week 4
Start Wilson at FLEX or as an injury-replacement RB2. I prefer him in standard and half-PPR formats, where his limited receiving work hurts less.
Seattle’s willingness to give him repeated carries outweighs the difficult matchup for me, though I’d keep an established back with regular targets ahead of him in full PPR. Expect some frustrating possessions against this front. I’m starting Wilson for the chance to keep running through them, with Seattle’s performance against Arizona supplying a concrete example of how extensively they might use him.
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