Sep 14, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Kenneth Walker III Posts Career-High Explosive Run Rate as Zach Charbonnet Snaps Stir Committee Questions
Kenneth Walker III has become fantasy football’s most polarizing running back through two weeks, generating more start/sit anxiety than any other top-50 ADP player heading into Week 2. After a disastrous opener that saw him traded away more than any other player, Walker delivered his best performance in one crucial metric, creating a fascinating case study in player volatility.
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Is Kenneth Walker III’s Week 2 Bounce-Back Sustainable?
Walker’s dramatic turnaround from Week 1 to Week 2 tells a compelling story about rushing efficiency. After posting the league’s worst gain rate at just 50% in the season opener, Walker exploded in Week 2 with 30.8% of his carries going for 10+ yards. This represents the best single-game performance of his career in this metric, based on games with at least 10 carries.
The improvement wasn’t just marginal. Walker transformed from the least effective rusher in football to posting elite explosive play numbers in the span of one week. This dramatic swing explains why fantasy managers found themselves torn between benching the running back after Week 1 and riding the upside after Week 2.
The Committee Reality for the Seattle Seahawks
Despite Walker’s impressive efficiency bounce-back, the snap count distribution paints a concerning picture for fantasy purposes. Zach Charbonnet has out-snapped Walker in both games, holding a 29-20 advantage in Week 1 and extending it to 35-23 in Week 2. These numbers point to Seattle operating a true hot-hand committee rather than establishing a clear lead back.
The trend suggests neither player has locked down the primary role. When Walker struggled in Week 1, Charbonnet maintained his snap advantage. When Walker found success in Week 2, the coaching staff still leaned toward Charbonnet for overall usage. This dynamic creates weekly uncertainty that makes Walker a difficult player to confidently deploy.
While the rushing workload remains split, Walker holds a decisive edge in the passing game that could separate him from Charbonnet in fantasy scoring. Walker has drawn four targets on 15 routes run through two games, establishing himself as the preferred option when Seattle needs a receiving back. Charbonnet, meanwhile, has been completely shut out in the passing game despite running 22 routes.This stark contrast gives Walker a clear path to additional touches that don’t depend on dominating the ground game.For PPR league managers, this passing game involvement provides a floor that Charbonnet currently lacks. The receiving work becomes even more valuable given the committee nature of the rushing attack.Walker can remain fantasy relevant even when splitting carries if he continues commanding the majority of backfield targets, representing the quintessential boom-or-bust fantasy option.His Week 2 explosion in explosive plays demonstrates the ceiling that made him a popular draft target, while the snap count reality and Week 1 struggles show the floor that has managers questioning his reliability. The passing game edge provides the tiebreaker that should keep Walker active in lineups, especially in PPR formats where those extra touches carry additional weight.
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