The Seattle Seahawks are not expected to place the franchise tag on impending free agent running back Kenneth Walker III, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Walker capitalized on a contract year and put together a very impressive 2025 campaign. For the first time in his career, he was healthy for all 17 regular-season games. He tallied 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns while splitting work with Zach Charbonnet during the regular season, and he put the rushing workload on his back after Charbonnet tore his ACL during Seattle's first playoff game. Ultimately, Walker won Super Bowl MVP and could now fetch the largest contract among this year's free agent running backs. Schefter doesn't totally rule out a return to Seattle for Walker, but he does note that the team has other plans for its spending, including a Jaxon Smith-Njigba extension and re-signing other free agents.
Feb 17, 2026 4:24 AM EST
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that the Seattle Seahawks could use the franchise or transition tag on impending free-agent running back Kenneth Walker III this offseason, even though the franchise tag would pay Walker around $14 million in 2026. The 25-year-old went Beast Mode in Seattle's three postseason games this year, carrying the ball 65 times for 313 yards and four touchdowns while adding nine catches for an additional 104 yards. The former second-rounder had 27 carries for 135 yards in the Super Bowl LX win over the New England Patriots and was named MVP. Walker made himself a lot of money for the 2026 season with his playoff exploits. It sounds like the Seahawks want to keep him around. He has been solid in his four years with Seattle, but lower-body injuries have been an issue. With Zach Charbonnet (knee) returning in 2026, there will be bust potential for Walker coming off the high of his postseason performance.
Feb 12, 2026 4:17 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries during Sunday's Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots. He also caught two of four targets for an additional 26 receiving yards. Walker's spectacular postseason culminated in a terrific showing on the world's biggest stage. He averaged five yards per carry and broke off several big runs that helped the Seahawks clinch a Super Bowl title. For his efforts, he was also named Super Bowl MVP. Walker had a very impressive 2025 campaign, and it came during a contract year. For the first time in his career, he was healthy for all 17 regular-season games. He tallied 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns while splitting work with Zach Charbonnet during the regular season, and he put the rushing workload on his back after Charbonnet tore his ACL during Seattle's first playoff game. Walker will now enter free agency as arguably the top running back available, alongside players like Travis Etienne Jr. and Breece Hall. Walker's landing spot will paint a better picture of his fantasy value in 2026 drafts, but for now, he's a solid top-12 running back in all redraft formats, especially if he ends up back in Seattle.
Feb 9, 2026 12:32 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has had an excellent postseason so far, recording 256 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 45 touches across two games played. The 25-year-old spent most of the 2025 regular season splitting work with fellow Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet (knee). However, Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in Seattle's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, ending his postseason early and leading to an increased workload for Walker III. Walker III didn't fully dominate backfield time in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, as Seahawks RB2 George Holani played 34% of the team's offensive snaps. However, Holani earned just six touches, compared to 23 for Walker III. In Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots, Walker III should remain a heavy feature of the Seahawks' offensive game plan. Walker III is one of the NFL's most explosive running backs, which makes him a high-upside DFS play on Sunday even at an elevated price.
Feb 7, 2026 5:59 AM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III, who is in the final year of the four-year, $8.44 million deal he signed in July of 2022, said he is interested in re-signing with the team in the offseason, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I've been here four years, so you know I've gotten to know a lot of stuff about Seattle, and you know a lot of the city, and I feel like they feel good about me as well," Walker said. "So if it was my choice, though, I'd definitely stay." The 25-year-old has been key to the Seahawks' run to the Super Bowl this year, recording his second career 1,000-yard season and generating 100-plus scrimmage yards in three straight games, including the playoffs. Walker has 38 carries for 178 yards and four rushing touchdowns in two playoff games, tying for the most TDS in a single postseason in Seattle history. He matched his career high of 4.6 yards per carry while playing all 17 regular-season games for the first time in his four-year career. Walker is an explosive runner who will look to score for the third straight game in the Super Bowl against the Patriots on Sunday.
Feb 6, 2026 6:12 AM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III blew up for a season-high 116 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 19 carries in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers last weekend. While Walker didn't have that big of a game in the NFC Championship win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, he did score his fourth rushing touchdown in the last two weeks. The 25-year-old continued to be a catalyst for Seattle's high-scoring offense and finished with 19 carries for the second straight week for 62 yards and the score. He also caught all four of his targets for 49 yards. Walker was the clear workhorse for Seattle -- with no other RB seeing more than three carries -- after Zach Charbonnet's (knee) season-ending tore ACL last week. He'll be the clear workhorse again in the Super Bowl in two weeks against the Patriots.
Jan 26, 2026 1:11 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III should be considered one of the top RB options in fantasy football playoff leagues heading into Sunday's NFC Championship game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Walker had season-highs in carries (19), rushing yards (116), and rushing touchdowns (three) in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, and he should see heavy volume again as the unquestioned lead back now that Zach Charbonnet (knee) is out with a torn ACL. Walker excelled in two regular-season games versus the Rams, too, carrying the ball 27 times for a combined 167 yards (6.19 yards per carry) and two touchdowns while adding six receptions for another 108 yards. L.A.'s defense hasn't been as great late in the year, either, and they've allowed the 11th-most half-PPR points to RBs in the last five weeks.
Jan 23, 2026 7:59 PM EST
The loss of Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee), who tore his ACL in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, is a significant one, but ESPN's Brady Henderson writes that it shouldn't matter if Kenneth Walker III "continues his recent tear." Walker had 19 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns last Saturday in the win over the 49ers, and he finished with 100 yards in the big Week 16 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. In the regular-season finale against San Fran, he had 97 yards to put him over 1,000 rushing yards on the season. "I thought this was the most decisive he's ran up to this point, and as expected, you just keep getting better and keep finding ways to improve, especially in the run game. He's done a great job," head coach Mike Macdonald said. With Charbonnet now out, Walker's volume should increase, making him a top-three fantasy RB in the NFC Championship against the Rams.
Jan 21, 2026 1:44 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III posted a monster performance in his team's 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round, recording 145 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 22 touches. Walker III spent most of the 2025 regular season splitting touches with fellow Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee). However, Charbonnet suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his knee against San Francisco and will miss the remainder of Seattle's playoff run. As a result, Walker III projects to dominate his team's backfield touches in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. The 25-year-old is coming off the most efficient regular season of his career to this point, averaging 5.2 yards per touch. The Rams' defense has also been susceptible to the run game so far this postseason, allowing 243 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns across two games. Walker III could be in line for another big game in the NFC Championship.
Jan 20, 2026 6:20 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III finished his fourth NFL season with 221 carries for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns, adding 31 receptions for 282 yards as a pass-catcher. Walker posted a career-high in scrimmage yards (1309) but scored only five touchdowns, while backup Zach Charbonnet scored 12 rushing touchdowns this season. Since Week 4, Walker has scored two touchdowns, which ranks 48th in the NFL during that span. He faces a San Francisco 49ers defense that has given up the tenth-most fantasy points to running backs and the second-most receptions to the position this season. While Walker was productive in the Week 18 contest against the 49ers, totaling 133 scrimmage yards on 20 touches, if he can't find the end zone, his ceiling will be limited.
Jan 15, 2026 10:41 AM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III had an inconsistent 2025 season, but finished the year with 1,027 rushing yards on 221 carries (4.65 YPC) and five touchdowns. He also contributed 282 yards through the air on 31 receptions as well. The inconsistencies came on a week-to-week basis, as he split snaps and lost most of the goal-line work to Zach Charbonnet, the five touchdowns he scored were scattered across four weeks of the season, and his carries per game fluctuated between 10 and 17 weekly, which resulted in him being a risky RB2 start all season long, even with the final numbers being decent. Heading into the NFL playoffs and managers drafting in fantasy playoff formats, Walker will remain a high-risk, high-reward running back option. The Seahawks are locked into the No. 1 seed in the NFC, meaning they will not play in Wild Card Weekend and will likely face a somewhat difficult matchup the rest of the way, as most NFC teams have fairly good run defenses. Combine that with Charbonnet's involvement in the offense and quarterback Sam Darnold's inexperience in the playoffs, and it may be tough sledding for Walker and the Seahawks offense from a fantasy standpoint.
Jan 9, 2026 10:02 AM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is in a great position to exploit a weak Carolina Panthers' rushing defense in Week 17. Carolina's defense has improved overall this year, but the rushing defense remains a problem. The Panthers are 25th against opposing running backs in fantasy. Additionally, Carolina is allowing 4.76 yards per carry to opposing running backs. This matchup is the remedy needed for a struggling Seahawks' rushing game. It could allow Walker to build on his best performance of the season in Week 16 when he scored 25.40 fantasy points against a tough Rams defense. Walker's volume is going to remain in the 12 to 15-touch range, but his potential for a big play will be high in Week 17. He is still a flex consideration considering his low floor, but Walker has RB1 upside this week. If you are a heavy underdog in your matchup, Walker could provide the upside you need to balance the playing field.
Dec 26, 2025 7:42 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III had 11 carries for 100 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 16 win over the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. He also caught all three of his targets for an additional 64 receiving yards. The highlight of Walker's game was a 55-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter that temporarily gave Seattle the lead. The 25-year-old bounced back in a huge way after posting fewer than 4.0 fantasy points in each of his last two games. Walker only played 44% of the snaps on Thursday night, while teammate Zach Charbonnet played 56%. However, Walker was more productive than his backfield-mate, and he also handled more total touches. Managers should expect the fourth-year back to remain in the low-end RB2 tier for fantasy football ahead of a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17.
Dec 19, 2025 12:41 AM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has fallen out of fantasy relevance. Walker does not seem poised to regain his relevance in a Week 16 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Walker has recorded three straight games with 10.40 or fewer fantasy points. His last two games have fallen in single digits. He is single-handedly wrecking your fantasy team if you start him. It does not figure to get better against a Rams defense that allows the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Walker played solidly against the Rams back in Week 11. That game marked the last time Walker scored a touchdown, and he recorded three receptions. Unfortunately, that performance seems to be an outlier. Expect the Rams to enter this week with a great game plan to handle the Seahawks' rushing attack. If Seattle wants to win this game, it will likely be through the air, leaving Walker as a flex option with little upside this week.
Dec 17, 2025 10:41 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is a risky start in Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts. No matter the matchup this season, Walker has been very unpredictable for fantasy purposes. He is hovering around 50-55% of the snaps while splitting time with fellow running back Zach Charbonnet. Despite a low snap count and relatively low volume, Walker has been relatively efficient as a runner, especially over the second half of the season. Additionally, his involvement as a receiver has helped boost him into a flex player with upside. However, Walker cedes just about every touchdown opportunity to Charbonnet. Walker has scored just one touchdown since Week 3 of this season. His lack of touchdown opportunities has resulted in low-end fantasy performances. The Colts are No. 14 against opposing running backs in fantasy. They are also allowing just 3.87 yards per carry to running backs. Walker may be able to buck that trend this week, but he needs to find the end zone to provide any sort of upside. He is a possible flex player this week, but you could very well end up with another 3.8-point dud as we got from Walker in Week 14 against the Falcons.
Dec 12, 2025 5:00 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has been able to rank as an RB2 in fantasy football despite sharing touches with Zach Charbonnet, and that trend should continue in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. Walker has been impressive lately, tallying double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of his last three games. During that three-week span, he has 40 carries, 194 rushing yards, nine catches, 92 receiving yards, and one touchdown. He has consistently played around 55% to 60% of the offensive snaps, leaving roughly 10 touches and a snap share around 40% for Charbonnet. The two have shown that they can co-exist, with Walker still being the preferred option out of the backfield. This week, he can be a strong RB2 option against a Falcons defense that has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to running backs in 2025. Walker ranks as the overall RB18 in RotoBaller's latest rankings for Week 14. He should be started with confidence in most leagues.
Dec 7, 2025 7:55 AM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (glute) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 14 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. As expected, Walker will play through the same injury he had last week. It didn't seem to impact his performance, as he rushed for 56 yards on 13 attempts in the blowout win over the Minnesota Vikings. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried about this glute injury having any impact on his play. Walker remains a solid RB2 for a favorable matchup against the Falcons' rush defense this weekend.
Dec 5, 2025 7:06 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (glute) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. This was the second consecutive day that Walker was limited. Although it's concerning to see him on the injury report once again, fantasy managers should feel optimistic given that he was able to get on the field in some capacity. If he practices in full on Friday, he should be able to enter the weekend without an injury designation. Otherwise, he could end up being labeled as "questionable." Either way, he's trending in the right direction for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Although Walker shares the backfield with Zach Charbonnet, he has posted double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of his last three games and remains a high-end RB2 this week. Atlanta has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to running backs in 2025.
Dec 4, 2025 9:19 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (glute) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice as they prepare to face the Atlanta Falcons. Walker has been on the injury report for the past few weeks with a "glute" injury, but it hasn't affected his game status or role in the Seahawks' offense. Walker has totaled 180 touches for 908 yards in 12 games, but has only added four touchdowns this season, which has generated the majority of the headlines in this backfield. Walker and third-year back Zach Charbonnet have been an RB by committee this season, and while Walker has been far more efficient this season, Charbonnet has scored eight touches. Thursday and Friday's practice reports will be key, but Walker will continue to fight through injury and be the lead back for this Seahawks run game.
Dec 3, 2025 11:02 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (glute) was cleared from the team's injury report and is good to go for Sunday's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Walker separated a bit from Zach Charbonnet in Week 12 against the Titans, posting his highest snap share of the season (63.8%) while Charbonnet had his lowest (31.9%). The 25-year-old Walker has also gone over 100 yards from scrimmage in each of the past two games on 33 combined touches, with Charbonnet staying involved, but with only 19 touches in the past two weeks. Notably, Walker has earned more red-zone carries recently than earlier in the year, but has only found the end zone once. It seems the coaching staff is trending towards using Walker more as the lead back moving forward, which bodes well for his fantasy value as he's always been dynamic with his opportunities. Walker ranks as RotoBaller's RB21 in PPR leagues for Week 13 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Nov 29, 2025 9:50 AM EST
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