Despite not being 100%, Kenneth Walker III was able to play the entire game last week. Reportedly, he didn’t really start to feel his injuries until after the game. Now, Walker’s status for Sunday is in legitimate question. What is the latest information on the Seattle Seahawks RB? Will Walker be able to go on Sunday?
What Is Kenneth Walker III’s Injury?
Last week, Walker played 61% of the snaps and carried the ball 16 times while also seeing three targets. His 19 opportunities were right in line with his usual volume.
The issue for Walker this season has been efficiency. He’s only averaging 3.7 yards per carry, which is a sizable drop from last year’s 4.1 and his rookie season of 4.6. One can’t help but wonder if injuries are playing a substantial role in Walker’s struggles.
Walker is listed as dealing with both ankle and calf issues. That only adds to the concern, as it does not sound as though it’s one combined issue. Rather, it sounds like Walker is dealing with two separate injuries, which only makes playing through them that much more difficult.
Will Kenneth Walker III Play in Week 14?
Update: Kenneth Walker has been downgraded as out for their Week 14 content. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided some good news, reporting that the Seahawks RB did not suffer any setbacks and is in line to play next week.
RB Kenneth Walker III, who was ruled out on Saturday due to ankle and calf injuries, did not suffer a setback this weekend and has a chance to return next Sunday vs. the Packers.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 8, 2024
Although Walker completed the game, he was pretty banged up. He didn’t realize the extent of his injuries until he tried to practice on Wednesday, only getting in a limited session.
Typically, a limited practice on a Wednesday would put a player on track to play. In this case, it seems like Walker or the team (perhaps both) only were able to ascertain the severity of his injuries after his attempt to practice.
As a reminder, a limited designation covers a wide range of participation levels. All it means is Walker did not handle his usual complement of reps. That could mean he had a couple plays off or barely participated at all.
After the limited practice on Wednesday, Walker did not practice at all on Thursday and Friday. That gives even more credence to the theory that Walker gave it a shot on Wednesday and quickly realized he was too hurt to continue.
If a player is only going to get in one limited session, we want it to be on Friday. Walker’s pattern is an ominous sign for his availability.
When asked about Walker’s status, head coach Mike Macdonald did not sound as though he was offering coachspeak with his uncertainty — he sounded genuinely unsure.
On Saturday, the Seahawks elevated rookie UDFA RB George Holani from the practice squad, which is something Macdonald mentioned was a possibility at Friday’s media conference. He specifically mentioned this in connection with the potential for Walker to not be available.
Sure enough, shortly after elevating the running back, the Seahawks ruled out Walker. He will not play this week.
Fantasy Implications of Walker’s Week 14 Status
The timing couldn’t be worse (or better, depending on your perspective) for Walker’s injury issues to creep up. On a week where six teams are on bye, fantasy managers are starved for startable running backs.
If you have Walker, this is the worst possible time to lose him, with playoff positioning on the line. If you have Zach Charbonnet, this could end up saving your season.
Walker missed two games earlier in the year in Weeks 2 and 3. In those games, Charbonnet played 96% and 84% of the snaps. His running back rush shares were 100% and 86%.
Without Walker, Charbonnet is a true three-down back. The Cardinals have been an average run defense, allowing the 16th-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
While Charbonnet managers would certainly prefer an easier opponent, the most important factor in his performance is volume, and there should be plenty of it. Charbonnet is a must-start RB2, at worst.