For years, the Seahawks have ranked near the bottom of the league in rush attempts. There was plenty of discussion this offseason about a new-look, run-first Seattle offense. That was the case on Sunday, with Zach Charbonnet handling most of the carries out of the backfield. Longtime starter Kenneth Walker was still involved, but he was ineffective against the 49ers.
Both of these running backs have shown flashes of greatness throughout their careers. However, is Sunday’s workload a sign of things to come? Let’s break down Charbonnet and Walker’s season-long fantasy football outlook after Week 1.
Charbonnet over Walker in fantasy football?
Fantasy football is a fickle beast. What we think we know one week can get flipped on its head by the next. For that reason it’s important not to overreact following early season results. On the flip side, failure to act now could haunt managers later in the year.
Against the 49ers, Charbonnet gained 47 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries (10.7 PPR). In comparison, Walker only accumulated 20 yards on ten attempts. However, he did snag three catches for four yards en route to a 5.4-point PPR performance. The former of the two commanded 58% of Seattle’s snaps, while the latter was on the field for 40%.
The case for Zach Charbonnet
As previously mentioned, Charbonnet had a far more impressive Week 1 than Walker. It’s not the most surprising development, especially for those who kept tabs with the Seahawks last season. The UCLA alum ran for 569 yards on the ground and hauled in 42 catches for 340 yards. In addition, he scored a team-leading nine total touchdowns.
That level of production in the red zone is crucial for most clubs, especially the Seahawks. Sam Darnold isn’t a slouch at quarterback, but this team isn’t looking to beat opponents through the air. It’s worth noting that Seattle’s offensive line looked rough on Sunday. That’s not a shock, either; this unit has been subpar for most of the last decade. A bigger, ‘grittier’ running back such as Charbonnet is a more ideal fit to power through opposing defenses.
Another factor to consider is Walker’s health. The Michigan State alum hasn’t played a full season over his three years in the NFL. A less injury prone rusher that’s better in goal line situations? There’s a lot to like about Charbonnet going forward.
The case for Kenneth Walker
It’s important to remember that we’ve seen Walker perform as a borderline RB1 in fantasy football before. During his first two seasons in the NFL, the 25-year-old gained an average of 65.2 yards per game. In addition, he tallied 18 total touchdowns during that time. Charbonnet, while more efficient, has had the benefit of fresh legs on the sidelines.
At this point, it’s difficult to envision a massive share of this backfield for Walker. However, he’s still a valued part of Seattle’s offensive game plan. After all, the veteran actually ended Week 1 with more touches (13 to 12). Interestingly enough, head coach Mike Macdonald utilized K9 as a pass catcher. Despite gaining only four receiving yards, Walker was was the only Seahawks running back to catch any passes. Besides, it’s not as if this was an offensive outburst for anyone. Other than Jaxxon Smith-Njigba, no Seattle player had more than 15 receiving yards.
The verdict
I’m not sure there’s an immediate move to be made for season-long fantasy managers at the moment. Walker is maybe a buy-low, but I doubt anyone is selling him for dirt cheap just yet. Charbonnet is trending upwards, but opposing managers will want to see things play out. We should have a better understanding of this backfield when the Seahawks face the Steelers in Week 2.
Walker’s potential role as a receiving back is nothing to ignore, especially in PPR formats. Still, I trust Macdonald to continue riding the hot hand. Based off of Sunday and the 2024 season, the choice here is Charbonnet.
