June 21, 2025

When everyone is healthy in Seattle and all is according to plan, Zach Charbonnet is the team's second running back behind teammate Kenneth Walker III. However, there's an argument to be made that the roughly 50/40 split they shared should lean in favor of Charbonnet. Kenneth Walker III is a dynamic playmaker at the position, whose athletic profile is shared by few and far between. Still, his all-or-nothing running style makes him prone to negative yardage, evidenced by the 20 times he was tackled for a loss over his 153 carries – one of the highest rates in the league. Conversely, Charbonnet lost just 17 yards on his 15 negative plays – 35 fewer yards than his teammate. Not only was the UCLA alum more efficient on a yards-per-carry basis (4.21), he was better per-target, too, averaging nearly a full yard more than the former Michigan State Spartan's 5.64 (6.54). Walker III should remain the starter in 2025, but with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak at the helm, precisely how they'll scheme is unknown. Seattle's offense looks revamped with new additions, such as quarterback Sam Darnold and veteran wideout Cooper Kupp. They should be in good shape, too, if Darnold's gains from last season stick. Despite Walker III's standing as the lead back, Charbonnet is a premier handcuff and should offer some standalone value with massive upside if the former were to miss any time. He ranks as RotoBaller's PPR RB35 – ten spots lower than his 2024 fantasy finish.--Alex Ciulla