Is Zach Charbonnet A Good Fantasy Football Pickup for Week 4? Waiver Wire Outlook

The Seattle Seahawks caught everyone by surprise in the 2023 NFL Draft when they selected running back Zach Charbonnet with the 52nd overall pick. The team was thought to have found its solution at running back after Kenneth Walker III racked up 1,050 rushing yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie in 2022. 

Speculation about how the Seahawks would divide the workload amongst their running backs was an ongoing theme up to the start of the regular season. Injuries to both players during the preseason affected their availability to practice and see game action, making it harder to gauge how the young backs would be utilized. So far in 2023, Walker has gotten the most work out of the backfield, but in Week 3 Charbonnet had a big jump in his snap share and turned it into his most productive game yet.

Is this a sign that the tide is turning in Charbonnet’s favor? Should you pick him up in fantasy leagues after his Week 3 performance? 

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What Did Zach Charbonnet Do In Week 3?

Charbonnet was on the field for 44 percent of offensive snaps in Week 3, a great leap from the 24% and 28% shares he had in the first two contests of the season. The boost to the time he was on the field naturally translated to an increase in opportunities and productivity. Charbonnet carried the ball nine times (versus the seven he had between Weeks 1 and 2) for 46 yards in Seattle’s 37-27 victory over the Carolina Panthers. 

The rookie also showed defenders to not underestimate his strength. On a run down the sidelines in the fourth quarter, Charbonnet kept linebacker Deion Jones at bay with a stiff arm and then lowered his shoulder into safety Sam Franklin Jr. head-on, knocking the safety of his feet as they fell out of bounds.

Were There Any Worrying Signs With Zach Charbonnet In Week 3?

Charbonnet getting the extra touches in Week 3 was encouraging, but he was still playing second fiddle to Walker. Charbonnet’s work came mostly in the last two minutes of the second half and in the fourth quarter after the Seahawks were already up nine points. He also lost out on most of the red zone work to Walker, including the all-important opportunities near the goal line, following the precedent set in the first two weeks of the season.

Walker also had a rushing touchdown from seven yards out that was set up by three consecutive Charbonnet runs. The running back’s one rushing attempt from inside the five-yard line ended in a loss of three yards and on the ensuing play Seattle threw to wide receiver Jake Bobo for a touchdown from Carolina’s five-yard line. 

While Charbonnet’s increased workload was a great step forward. The usage is more indicative of Seattle’s increased trust in their second-round pick and not a changing of the guard. Walker has simply been too effective to lose his role. 

Should I Pick Up Zach Charbonnet Off the Waiver Wire in Fantasy Football?

Charbonnet is absolutely worth adding if he is still on your league‘s wire. He holds upside as Walker’s handcuff, and the Seahawks are likely invested enough in the rookie to grow his role as the season progresses. In Week 4, Seattle faces a New York Giants defense that is allowing opposing running backs 4.6 yards per attempt and at least one rushing touchdown per game. Even if you aren’t looking for running back help this week, Charbonnet has the upside worthy of a bench stash while his role and usage stabilize.

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