Thomas

Rawls

Rawls was vying for a backup role behind entrenched starter Leonard Fournette but obviously didn’t show enough in the preseason, where he averaged a meager 2.6 yards per carry on 13 rushing attempts. Once considered the heir to Marshawn Lynch in Seattle, the 26-year-old plodder has quickly achieved journeyman status.

Rawls spent 20 days on the Bengals’ active roster this season but didn’t carry the ball. It’s been a nightmare for him since breaking his ankle late in his rookie season. Since then, Rawls has rushed 167 times for 506 yards (3.03 YPC) and three touchdowns. Rawls will fight for a job in camp.

Jacksonville is just doing some due diligence. With Corey Grant out, the Jaguars have Jamaal Charles, David Williams, and Bo Scarbrough behind T.J. Yeldon until Leonard Fournette returns.

The ex-Seahawk lasted 20 days in Cincinnati. It could mean the Bengals are optimistic about Giovani Bernard’s (knee) status, but that would be slightly ahead of schedule for the No. 2 back.

Rawls takes the roster spot of RB Tra Carson, who was waived/injured after suffering a hamstring injury in Monday’s practice. Carson was expected to be Giovani Bernard’s backup with Joe Mixon (knee) out, but that’ll likely now be rookie Mark Walton’s job while Rawls catches up. Neither are fantasy options.

The same is true for Jimmy Graham (patellar tendon). The Seahawks haven’t really offered anything new on Rawls in recent months, but it remains notable that they can’t guarantee his Week 1 status. Rawls offers mammoth upside as a potential workhorse in a run-heavy offense, but his health is a major question mark. Third-rounder C.J. Prosise and Christine Michael are the next men up.

The Seahawks have been tight-lipped about Rawls’ recovery from a broken ankle, but they have consistently targeted Week 1 for his return. That suggests he will not see any work in the preseason, and he could be extremely limited deep into training camp. Rawls has RB1 upside, but this injury makes him a very risky pick. Christine Michael and C.J. Prosise could have larger than expected roles.

Carroll stressed Rawls will not be rushed into action after being activated off the active/PUP list. All that really matters for fantasy owners is Rawls’ activation, as it’s the clearest indication yet the Seahawks expect him to be ready for Week 1.

“We’re going to be careful,” coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday. “There’s no need to rush him at all. A very violent football player. He needs time to get ready to play the way he does, so we’re going to take however long that is. I don’t really have a schedule at this point.” Carroll’s caution is an indication Rawls is still in for a major role as the Seahawks’ early-down bell-cow. With his health clarifying, Rawls is quickly shaping up as a potential third- to fourth-round bargain.

Despite Christine Michael’s monster preseason, the Seattle beat writers foresee Rawls as the Week 1 lead back. “He looks really good and I think the signs are very positive that he’s going to be ready in a couple weeks to play,” coach Pete Carroll said Sunday. Kapadia previously projected Rawls to log 15 carries in Week 1 versus Miami, with Michael handling seven rushing attempts.