Kenneth Walker is coming off a rookie year that solidified him as the go-to running back for the Seattle Seahawks. With a lingering groin issue that has held him out of the majority of camp, how does Walker’s injury affect his fantasy football potential?
Let’s discuss the latest regarding the talented RB and how fantasy managers should value him heading into 2023.
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What Happened to Kenneth Walker?
Walker played in 15 of 17 games last year, rushing for 1,050 yards and nine TDs, helping lead the team to the playoffs. He ended the season rushing for at least 107 yards in each of the last three regular-season games, and after he became the full-time starter in Week 6, he finished as the RB8 in fantasy.
Walker was sidelined with a groin injury very early in camp and has slowly been doing a little more at practice over the past 7-10 days.
Lead RB Kenneth Walker ramping back into full go after July 27 groin injury, stretching with a friend for Seahawks training camp practice 16 @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/PDbJA30xZi
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 16, 2023
What Are Seattle’s Options if Walker Misses Time?
If Walker is not ready to go in the regular season, then the only two healthy running backs on the depth chart are Zach Charbonnet and DeeJay Dallas. Rookie running back Kenny McIntosh is still dealing with a knee issue he suffered on Aug. 6.
Charbonnet showed he can handle a significant workload during his time at UCLA, and Dallas has proven to be a capable fill-in option in the past.
What Does This Mean for Walker’s Fantasy Ranking?
Walker currently sits at RB16 in the PFN consensus rankings and is looked at as an end-of-Round 4/top-of-Round 5 type of player. A groin injury is the type of injury that can disrupt an entire season if you rush back early, so look for the Seahawks to be very cautious with bringing Walker back.
In the meantime, Dallas and Charbonnet will lead the committee until Walker is fully good to go. Charbonnet, a rookie from UCLA, is a 6-foot-1, 215-pound physical running back that even Walker has complimented for having a “mad, aggressive running style.”
One area for Walker that is of concern is the lack of catching the ball from the running back position, which both Charbonnet and Dallas do better. Walker is still going to be a valuable fantasy RB2 when he returns, but the lack of pass-catching upside and the lingering groin issue keep him a notch below the top running backs.
If you are in on Walker, getting Charbonnet as a handcuff is definitely something to consider.