Kenneth Walker
#1 RB,
Seahawks
ACTUAL 2022
- FPTS
RANK: -
2023 SEASON
243 FPTS
RANK: 9
AGE
22 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
5'9'' / 211 lbs
COLLEGE
Michigan State
| SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK | RUATT | RUYD | RUTD | RUAVE | RECPT | REYD | RETD |
| 2023 | 16 | 243 | 9th | 291 | 1255 | 9 | 4.3 | 33 | 240 | 1 |
Challenged by Charbonnet
Latest Headline: Published 2023-05-02
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Walker and rookie Zach Charbonnet "will be battling", Seattle Sports 770 reports. "We're gonna find out how far [Charbonnet] can take it in terms of the receiving part of it," Carroll said. "We know he's really good at it. But so is Kenneth, so those guys will be battling."
It isn't quite clear from Carroll's comment if he's referring to competing for playing time in general or specifically on passing downs. Charbonnet, an incoming second-round pick, caught 61 passes in two seasons at UCLA, whereas Walker (a 2022 second-rounder) had only 19 receptions in three seasons between Wake Forest and MSU. Walker did catch 27 balls as a rookie, though for only 165 yards (6.1 per catch, 4.7 YPT) while doing nearly all of his damage on the ground to the tune of a 228-1,050-9 rushing line. The impressive running makes him a strong favorite to keep the starting job and lead role, but there's no question a prospect of Charbonnet's caliber poses a threat to the size of Walker's workload. A split between the two could be problematic for fantasy managers, especially if the Seahawks settle on DeeJay Dallas or seventh-round rookie Kenny McIntosh as their third-down/hurry-up specialist ahead of Walker/Charbonnet.
Weekly Stats 2022
Stats not availablePerformance Splits 2020 to 2022
Stats not availableCareer Stats
Stats not availableJoined by Day 2 rookie
Latest Headline: Published 2023-04-30
Walker will be joined in the backfield by 2023 second-round running back Zach Charbonnet, Gregg Bell of The News Tribune reports.
A second-round pick in 2022, Walker started the season injured and didn't take over as the starter until Rashaad Penny went down with a broken leg in Week 5. Walker never looked back once being handed the reins, as he finished the regular season with 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns on 228 carries (4.6 YPC) and 27 catches (35 targets) for 165 yards. Notably, he posted 100-plus rushing yards in each of the final three games. Despite the dominant effort, it's not surprising that the Seahawks added to the backfield on Day 2. In fact, adding depth was necessary at some point during the draft. Head coach Pete Carroll's offense requires a heavy run game, and Walker frequented the injury report last year despite missing just two games. Charbonnet is an excellent prospect that should do well when he's on the field. However, head coach Pete Carroll will almost certainly make Walker the clear starter as long as he continues last year's effort.
Finds end zone against Niners
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-14
Walker carried the ball 15 times for 63 yards and a touchdown and caught his only target for three yards in Saturday's 41-23 wild-card loss to the 49ers.
Facing perhaps the best run defense in the league, Walker held his own and ran in a seven-yard score early in the second quarter for Seattle's first points of the day. The running back's playoff effort capped a rookie season that saw him compile 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground in the regular season despite not taking over the starting role until Week 6. Walker should begin the 2023 campaign as the unquestioned No. 1 back for Seattle even if Rashaad Penny (ankle) gets re-signed.
Ready for wild-card round
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-12
Walker (ankle) doesn't have a designation for Saturday's wild-card game at San Francisco, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Walker avoided Seattle's first injury report of the week entirely Tuesday before showing up one day later as a non-participant due to the ankle injury that has lingered since early December. With his status cleared up ahead of the weekend, though, Wednesday's absence clearly was maintenance-based, likely to keep the rookie second-round pick as healthy as possible. Walker thus is set to lead the team's backfield Saturday, which has resulted in 98 touches for 450 yards from scrimmage and no TDs over the last four contests.
No practice Wednesday
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-11
Walker (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Walker wasn't listed on Tuesday's estimated injury report, so his absence one day later likely is maintenance-based due to the ankle issue that he's dealt with since early December. Whether he's able to rid himself of a designation ahead of Saturday's wild-card game at San Francisco won't be confirmed one way or another until after Seattle releases its final injury report of the week Thursday. Since getting hurt Week 13 at the Rams, Walker sat out Week 14 but has proceeded to real off 98 touches for 450 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns while suiting up for the last four contests.
Extensive workload in overtime win
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-08
Walker carried the ball 29 times for 114 yards in Sunday's 19-16 overtime win over the Rams. He added one catch for 10 yards.
Walker saw a career-high 29 rushing attempts, his third consecutive game with at least 20 carries. He wasn't particularly efficient -- he averaged 3.9 yards per carry -- though he did manage a couple long gains of 20 and 15 yards. Walker closed an impressive rookie campaign with 1,050 rushing yards, which is made even more notable due to the fact that he had only 58 yards through Week 4. The Seahawks await their postseason fate, but Walker will be a key to any potential playoff run for the team.
Cleared to play
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-06
Walker (ankle/illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Rams, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.
Walker topped 20 carries and 100 rushing yards while playing through the same ankle injury the past two weeks, and he'll be out there Sunday despite missing some practice time because of an illness. The Seahawks may ride the rookie hard again, as they need a win plus a Packers loss to qualify for the playoffs.
No practice yet this week
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-05
Walker (ankle/illness) was held out of Thursday's practice, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
It's uncertain whether a lingering ankle concern, an illness or a combination of the two are keeping Walker sidelined this week, but he has yet to log any activity after two sessions. The same can be said for fellow running backs Travis Homer (ankle) and DeeJay Dallas (ankle), so the situation in the Seahawks backfield remains in flux with just one more chance to practice during Week 18 prep. Friday's injury report will unveil if any of the trio sidestep a designation ahead of Sunday's game versus the Rams. However, if Walker is able to suit up for the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, he's the likely candidate to handle the majority of RB reps after posting back-to-back 100-yard performances on the ground.
No practice Wednesday
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-04
Walker didn't practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury and an illness, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.
The Seahawks have been especially cautious with Walker since he sustained an ankle injury Week 13 at the Rams. He sat out Week 14 against the Panthers, but he's played in each of the last three games despite not logging many, if any, practice reps before those kickoffs. Overall, the rookie second-round pick has racked up 68 touches for 326 yards from scrimmage during that stretch, including back-to-back 100-yard efforts on the ground. Fellow running backs Travis Homer (ankle) and DeeJay Dallas (ankle) also sat out Wednesday's session, so the trio will be watched as the weekend approaches to see how Seattle's backfield may break down Sunday versus the Rams.
Runs all over Jets
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-01
Walker carried the ball 23 times for 133 yards and caught his only target for nine yards in Sunday's 23-6 win over the Jets.
The rookie running back posted his second straight 100-yard game and the second-biggest rushing total of his young career to help keep the Seahawks' playoff chances alive. Walker needs just 64 more rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season heading into a Week 18 clash with a Rams defense that just got torched for 122 yards and two touchdowns by Austin Ekeler.
Playing Sunday
Latest Headline: Published 2023-01-01
Walker (ankle) is listed as active Sunday versus the Jets.
Walker has been tending to an ankle injury for most of the last month, sitting out Week 14 against the Panthers but playing both of the last two games. During that span, he tallied 44 touches for 184 yards from scrimmage, so he should be good to handle his typical majority share of the backfield work for the Seahawks.
Expected to play
Latest Headline: Published 2022-12-30
Coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Walker (ankle) is expected to play and should have "fresh legs" for Sunday's game against the Jets, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
The rookie officially is listed as questionable after not practicing Wednesday and being limited Thursday and Friday. It sounds like his availability won't actually come down to the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, though cautious fantasy managers may want to keep a distant eye on the situation anyway given some of the injury shenanigans that have come out of Seattle the past few years. Walker played through the same ankle injury last week and took 28 touches for 105 yards in a loss to the Chiefs after being listed as questionable on the final injury report.
Listed as questionable
Latest Headline: Published 2022-12-30
Walker (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune suggests Walker and WR Tyler Lockett (questionable, hand) both are likely to play with the Seahawks battling for a wild-card spot, though it is possible neither is at his best. Walker played through the same ankle injury last week and took 28 touches for 105 yards from scrimmage in a loss to the Chiefs, so he figures to give it another go ahead of Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday.
Limited practice Thursday
Latest Headline: Published 2022-12-29
Walker (ankle) was limited in practice Thursday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Walker didn't practice last week due to a lingering ankle injury, but he was able to suit up for Saturday's eventual loss at Kansas City and turn 53 percent of the snaps into 105 yards from scrimmage on 28 touches. With an increase in activity Thursday from Wednesday's DNP, he appears to be getting healthier, while reserve running backs DeeJay Dallas (ankle) and Travis Homer (ankle) were limited and non-participants, respectively. If Walker again is able to handle the No. 1 role out of Seattle's backfield Sunday versus the Jets, Dallas seems like a better bet than Homer to earn the team's complementary reps at running back.