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Analyst labels Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III 'uninspiring' play vs. Texans

Houston has a strong defense this year, especially against the run.
Sep 21, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) looks on from the sideline during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Lumen Field.
Sep 21, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) looks on from the sideline during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Lumen Field. | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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The Seattle Seahawks are doing just about everything well on the field this season. They get after the opponent's quarterback, they stop the run, they excel on special teams and they have an early MVP candidate starting at quarterback.

One exception to the rule is their rushing attack, which was supposed to be what this team's identity was all about coming into the 2025 season.

You can't say they haven't tried. Coming into Week 7 the Seahawks have the second-highest run rate of any team the league, but they only rank 24th in rushing yards per game.

Odds are that number isn't going to get any better this week when they face a tough Houston Texans defense, which ranks seventh against the run. That's one reason why Gary Davenport at Bleacher Report has Kenneth Walker III on his sit list for fantasy football this week.

B/R fading Ken Walker in Week 7

"Despite the fact that Walker has been better than Zach Charbonnet on a per-touch basis, Walker remains mired in a full-blown committee backfield. The Texans defense has quietly surrendered just 90.6 rushing yards per game, making him no more than an uninspiring flex play."

Ken Walker
Sep 25, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) reacts in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

It's a fair enough assessment given the situation.

While calls are growing for Walker to get a larger share of the rushing offense, head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters earlier this week that the plan is continue to use both Walker and Zach Charbonnet, despite the latter's struggles.

Macdonald's excuse was that the Seahawks want to get Walker through the full 17-game season - meaning he's still concerned about the mysterious foot injury Walker had at the start of the year, but has yet to really show any signs of actually slowing him down.

There's something to be said for load management at a position with a really high injury rate, but the fact is right now every carry for Charbonnet is a wasted opportunity.

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Tim Weaver
TIM WEAVER

Tim Weaver has been writing about the NFL since the 2013 season for multiple teams and outlets, including USA Today and The Sporting News. He currently covers the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers for On SI.