Zach

Charbonnet

Lucas says, “the offense is going to be based around” the run game. The Seahawks’ old-school mentality is further embodied by their plan to use a fullback this season, something that just 11 teams did last year, including OC Klint Kubiak’s former Saints squad. Pending good health, Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III is evidently in line for a significant rushing workload, and he was encouragingly on the field for voluntary organized team activities this week, after ending the 2024 season on injured reserve. It is unclear whether there will be enough work for No. 2 RB Zach Charbonnet to have standalone value, but at worst, he profiles as an elite bench stash.

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is getting the gang back together, as Dennison worked with his father in Houston before joining Klint’s staff in New Orleans last offseason. Dennison will try to help the Seahawks offensive line gel better than they did in 2024 as the new staff has vowed to try to establish the run.

The vision that Kubiak laid out to reporters about the Seattle 2025 offense on Tuesday looked to be very old-school Shanahan. Outside zone as a base with pin-and-pull, inside zone, and some other concepts sprinkled in as they look to establish the run. Seattle currently doesn’t have a fullback on the roster. If the offensive line can improve in 2025, this could mean big things for Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Given how Seattle’s line played last year, they could improve quite a bit and still be below-average.

Charbonnet once again operated as the Seahawks’ No. 1 back with Ken Walker sidelined. He was mostly bottled up by the Rams defense in what was a pass-heavy game plan for the Seahawks. Charbonnet ends the 2024 season with 569 rushing yards and eight rushing scores along with 42 catches on 54 targets and another touchdown. Charbonnet will finish in the top ten in running back catches on the season. He proved explosive as the team’s lead back, though his 4.2 yards per carry was slightly below his rookie year mark. Charbonnet will enter 2025 as the RB2 behind Walker, most likely.

Charbonnet was one of the most effective offensive players during Thursday’s game. Not a compliment. The 23-year-old did have a 25-yard burst, but outside of that was mostly held in check in one of the worst offensive games you’ll (hopefully) ever see. Charbonnet runs hard and has shown some flashes of brilliance, but there’s only so much he can do behind this offensive line. The next chance for success comes in Week 18 against the Rams.

Walker did not practice this week and even the Seahawks, known for their injury optimism, couldn’t give him a token questionable tag. Zach Charbonnet, who was on the injury report with an elbow issue but is good to go, will draw the start this week. Walker missed Week 15 with a calf issue and Charbonnet made good on an RB1 workload with 22 carries for 134 yards and two scores. He also totaled 59 yards on seven receptions. Walker is an unquestioned RB1 for the final week of the fantasy season.

Charbonnet was dealing with an oblique injury the past week and played in Week 16, though he was limited to just three touches. This week, he pops up on the injury report with an elbow injury, listed as limited on Monday, but a full participant Tuesday. With Kenneth Walker (ankle) not practicing, Charbonnet is in line to be the starter Thursday against the Bears. Fire him up as an RB2 if Walker cannot go for Week 17.

Far from the backfield split many expected with Ken Walker’s return from injury, Charbonnet had next to no role in the Seattle backfield until Walker left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. Charbonnet didn’t record his first touch until late in the third quarter; he ran just ten pass routes on the day while Walker caught all eight of his targets for 28 yards. Charbonnet, who has averaged 4.3 yards per carry this season, could return to the lead back role next week against a weak Chicago rush defense if Walker is once again sidelined.

Walker injured his ankle in the fourth quarter after dominating the Seattle backfield in his return from a multi-week calf injury. He had eight rushing attempts for 31 yards and eight receptions for 28 yards before exiting. Zach Charbonnet, meanwhile, was relegated to just one touch before Walker sustained his ankle injury. Charbonnet could be in position to once again function as the Seahawks’ lead back in Week 17 if Walker misses more time.

Charbonnet’s Friday practice participation is currently unknown but he logged a DNP on Wednesday before being moderately upgraded to an LP on Thursday. If he managed to practice in full on Friday, he is likely healthy enough to handle his typical sidekick workload alongside starter Kenneth Walker III (calf), who returns after a two-week absence. If Charbonnet remained limited, the Seahawks could choose to lean heavily on Walker against the Vikings.