Seahawks One-Two Punch? Kenneth Walker III & Zach Charbonnet Can Be Deadly RB Duo
The Seattle Seahawks running back room got another body with the addition of UCLA's Zach Charbonnet in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The diminutive back will be a valuable addition to the Seahawks' offense and will likely create a good tandem with Kenneth Walker.
Walker, who was a revelation in his rookie season as he totaled 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns, will now get some much-needed help in the backfield.
Walker rushed 228 times last season (ranked 11th in the NFL). The second-best rusher for Seattle was quarterback Geno Smith with 68 carries, and Rashaad Penny was the next-best running back with 57 carries.
That kind of workload likely spells disaster for Walker, as the running back shelf life in the NFL isn't that long to begin with. But now, with the addition of Charbonnet, Walker gets a superb partner in crime ... and potentially some of the load taken off of his shoulders.
Charbonnet was a beacon of production for UCLA in 2021 and 2022 as he rushed for back-to-back 1,000-plus yards (1,137 & 1,359) and double-digit touchdown (13 & 14) seasons. He also averaged 6.3 yards per clip on the ground for UCLA, making his addition to the Seahawks backfield even better.
With Walker being the bell cow last season, he will get some much-needed help in the form of Charbonnet, who has blazing speed once he gets going. He is a patient runner, and when running lanes open up, the former Bruin dashes through them with ease. His ability as a blitz blocker can also be utilized to help Smith in passing situations.
With the Seahawks finishing 18th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (120.1) last season, expect the addition of Charbonnet to help with that middling number.
Walker and Charbonnet have the potential to be a superb running back duo in the NFL next season, as the Seahawks surely have to be happy with how their draft worked out.
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