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.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
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.
Frank Ammirante’s Zach Charbonnet Projection
Zach Charbonnet is one of the most appealing handcuff running backs in fantasy football. Whenever Kenneth Walker misses time, Charbonnet produces at a top-12 level. That makes the former UCLA standout an appealing bench stash.
The issue is that the market recognizes Charbonnet’s contingent upside, so he’s a bit expensive for a player who has limited standalone value.Â
MORE:Â Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
Whenever Walker has been healthy, the Seahawks have fed him the ball, making it unlikely that we’ll see a committee here. Considering these factors, you just have to decide if Charbonnet is worth the opportunity cost of missing out on a value at other positions. Build your roster to account for the risk that you won’t get much contribution from Charbonnet if Walker remains healthy all year long.
That said, Walker hasn’t exactly been the picture of good health throughout his career, so there’s a reasonable chance that you’ll get at least one start from Charbonnet this season.
