Kenneth Walker III had a great rookie season, rewarding the Seattle Seahawks for taking him No. 41 in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was everything the Seahawks could have hoped for when they took the former Michigan State star.
While Walker had to deal with a groin injury for much of the off-season, signs are starting to show that he will be back and ready to roll in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Let’s discuss the latest regarding the talented RB and how fantasy football managers should value him heading into 2023.
Behind in research? Get a trade offer in your dynasty or redraft league? Not sure who to start or sit this week? Leverage PFN’s FREE fantasy tools — our Fantasy Football Draft Kit, Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Calculator, and Start/Sit Optimizer! Put the finishing touch on your A+ draft with 1 of our 425+ fantasy football team names.
What Happened to Kenneth Walker III?
Walker missed only two games last year because of an ankle issue, and he was terrific in the 15 games he played. He rushed for 1,050 yards and nine TDs, helping the team make a run to the playoffs that few expected entering the season.
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 missed much of training camp with a groin injury, but he has continued to get better and do more each day.
The #Seahawks' initial 53-man roster for the regular season: pic.twitter.com/6UmVOmyhiZ
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 29, 2023
What Are Seattle’s Options if Walker Misses Time?
While it appears that Walker is going to be ready to go in Week 1, the Seahawks do have an intriguing rookie running back in Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet, who played his college football at both Michigan and UCLA, is a physical running back who is going to fight for every single yard. Walker himself has complimented the rookie, saying he loves his “mad, aggressive style.”
Even with Walker being healthy, there is an expectation that Charbonnet is going to get some carries. In his last two years at UCLA, he rushed for 1,137 yards in 2021 and 1,359 yards in 2022.
He is a scoring machine as he rushed for 13 and 14 touchdowns during his two seasons at UCLA. Additionally, he has gotten better at catching passes, as his receptions increased in each of his two seasons at UCLA. He is a complete running back, and playing in the passing game isn’t quite yet a strength of Walker’s.
What Does This Mean for Walker’s Fantasy Ranking?
Walker currently sits at RB15 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 don’t be surprised if the first couple of weeks he doesn’t have his normal workload and Charbonnet takes some of those carries.