Zach Charbonnet had some moments as a rookie, but his fantasy football stock leveled up last season, showing a nose for the end zone and strong versatility.
You know by now to put his name atop the insurance running back rankings, but could he be more? Could Seattle opt for a more committee-based approach and create an opportunity for extreme value, given its current price tag?
Zach Charbonnet’s Fantasy Outlook
We certainly could see a new distribution of work in 2025. Seattle’s offense looks significantly different today than it did at the end of last season, and that naturally brings in some potential for change, something that can really only help Charbonnet’s prospects.
Zach Charbonnet on Outside Wide Zone runs
2023: 16 carries, 5.8 ypc
2024: 12 carries, 3.0 ypcKenneth Walker has missed average of 3 games per season since 2022
Charbonnet = 90.9 total yards, 17.3 PPR pts per game in 8 career games w/o Walker
Easier investment at cost in 2025 https://t.co/Yl8aGkFS1e
— Colin McTamany (@Colin_McT) June 14, 2025
Through two seasons, Charbonnet has 14 opportunities (routes-plus-rush attempts) with Walker on the field. We’ve seen him thrive when given elite volume, which is valuable, but we lack tangible evidence that anyone on the Seattle staff is willing to make a dramatic change in terms of responsibilities when active.
The good news for you is that the industry is well aware of this. Our Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator has Charbonnet coming off the board 50+ picks after Walker, settling in around both Giant running backs and ahead of pure handcuffs like Isaac Guerendo and Tyler Allgeier.
You’re not going to have a scorching hot take for every player, and I think Charbonnet is priced perfectly right now. He’s entering his age-24 season and has shown signs of promise, production that very much needs to be acknowledged. He scored on nine of 177 touches last season after punching in just one of 141 as a rookie, which fielded a 41.3% spike in PPR points per touch.
There is certainly something there, but as long as Walker is rostered, it’s hard to create a non-injury-based case. His yards per carry gained before contact crashed by 33.6% in 2024, something that raises red flags in terms of not only the supporting cast, but also the field vision of Charbonnet.
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In the middle third of the draft, I think it’s less a matter of secondary backs you like and more which starters you want to bet against. If you’re out on Walker, by all means, scoop Charbonnet at cost and hope that he assumes the lead role down the stretch to take advantage of what looks like a favorable close to the fantasy season, schedule-wise (Falcons, Colts, Rams, and Panthers). If you’d rather bet against RJ Harvey, James Cook, or Christian McCaffrey, then act accordingly.
I like handcuffing a running back on my roster, but I wouldn’t go overboard. They all have varying levels of upside, and if 2025 swings back after the unusually healthy 2024 season for running backs, some could offer huge value. Still, remember you need to stay competitive early in the year — and most RB2s won’t see more than a handful of touches out of the gate.
Dan Fornek’s Zach Charbonnet Projection
Zach Charbonnet has been a classic handcuff running back through his first two seasons. In 25 games with Kenneth Walker healthy, Charbonnet averages just 4.8 rushing attempts, 2.5 targets, and 32.2 yards per game. He averaged just 6.0 PPR points per game when Walker plays.
However, we have also seen eight games of Charbonnet as the lead back with Walker injured. In those contests, he averages 15.5 carries, 67.5 rushing yards, and 0.9 touchdowns per game. His work in the passing game also increases to 3.6 targets, 3.0 receptions, and 23.4 receiving yards. Charbonnet averages 17.3 PPR PPG when Walker misses time.
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There is no indication that the dynamic will change in 2025. Walker will once again lead the backfield with Charbonnet waiting in the wings for carries. The Seahawks also overhauled their offense this season, exchanging Geno Smith for Sam Darnold in free agency and getting rid of D.K. Metcalf (trade) and Tyler Lockett (cut). This looks to be a run-heavy unit in 2025.
The offensive line is bad, but new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s run game (Shanahan style wide zone) will be able to offset their lack of talent in a lot of ways. Charbonnet is a handcuff running back behind a starter who has a lengthy injury history. He’s an ideal bench stash in 2025, but his weekly fantasy impact will be minimal unless Walker goes down.
