Price and Charbonnet to the Rescue? Seattle's Backfield Stats
Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet combined for 18.9 fantasy points against the Cardinals in Week 9. Before they returned to the lineup, the Seahawks backs have only scored 18 fantasy points against the Chargers, 49ers, and Chiefs.
Based on the rest of the league's output at running back, an average fantasy total of 18 points from Seattle's backfield would rank them 20th in the league. Seattle's backfield is currently 24th in the NFL with 16.7 points per game.
In these games where Seattle outscored that 18-point mark, it was Emanuel Wilson delivering 25.5 fantasy points against the Chargers; 14.2 of the backfield's 19.3 points against the 49ers; and 18 of the team's 20.8 of the backfield's points against the Chiefs.
The Chargers are 16th in the league in generosity to running backs based on fantasy points -- the league average -- but the 49ers (3rd) and Chiefs (1st) are among the most generous.
This has not been a good rushing attack despite ranking fourth in the NFL in rushing attempts. The Seahawks' total rushing yardage (1,002) is 12th in the league, and they only have 3 touches with gains of 20-plus yards, ranking them 25th.
Breaking it down further, Seattle ranks 3rd in the league in first-down attempts, but 22nd overall with a 44 percent success rate. This is a good reason why Seattle's second-and-short attempt totals rank 21st.
When the Seahawks earn a second-and-short attempt, their 81.3 success percentage is ranked sixth in the league, but opponents have closed off Seattle's playbook too easily on first down when Seattle runs the ball. On second-and-medium (4-6 yards to go), Seattle is tied for 11th in attempts, but their 50 percent success rate ties them for 28th.
It's clear Seattle wants to run and needs to run on early downs. Even on second down with at least seven yards to go, the Seahawks run the 5th-most in this situation, but they are ranked 22nd in the league at converting these scenarios.
Seattle is also among the bottom-dwellers in third-and-short attempts and success rate. This is not a good rushing team, but the addition of Quenton Nelson opposite second-year guard Grey Zabel is promising long-term. Short-term? Nelson is week-to-week after knee surgery.
The line is not healthy, and that's one strike against this backfield delivering strong value despite the names of Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price returning to the marquee. Let's examine what he can expect from this duo in the short term and long term.
Jadarian Price's Rookie Scouting Portfolio Pre-Draft Thoughts
Price earned a pre-draft grade as an immediate rotational starter -- a player who can execute at a starter level in a role that plays to their strengths. Here's the elevator pitch I delivered in Price's complete scouting report in the 2026 Rookie Scouting Portfolio:
The Elevator Pitch: Price is a scheme-versatile runner who doesn’t take creative liberties that could hurt the offensive game script, but he is adept at finding cutback lanes, and he’s creative in space.
Jadarian Price #seahawks Patient work on Duo and reads leverage well on 2nd and 1. https://t.co/bmHCnE8h9S
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 10, 2026
Price has mobile hips; he adjusts stride length and pace to set up rushing lanes, he keeps his knees and feet high as he runs past low shots, and he drops his weight deep enough for strong deceleration. Price also possesses curvilinear speed, so he doesn’t have to make hard cuts with every run.
Price must keep his feet tighter when setting up moves while tight to the line otherwise, he doesn’t operate from a place of balance, and it limits his skills.
Jadarian Price #seahawks Definitely sees the defenders well in the box. As (or if...) he improves how he anticipates them and the creases that should open, he'll be very good. https://t.co/p8Vy5odyl5
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 10, 2026
You can see here how a better feel/anticipation for where the best cutback line will likely be based on the development of the double team as designed could have prevented Jardrian Price from overrunning the crease with the best leverage. https://t.co/54Fh996bpe
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 10, 2026
Price has the speed, acceleration, power, and ability to bounce off glancing shots like a starting NFL runner.
Other than his occasional lapses with his wide stance, Price has all the tools necessary for him to develop into a high-end contributor. This includes blocking, routes, and catching the ball. All three have minor issues that need refining, but they aren’t fatal flaws on their own.
Jadarian Price with a solid hand counter during his stem and then tracks the ball directly over his head with his back to the QB. #Seahawks Drew Lock with excellent touch on 3rd and 15. https://t.co/yX2paiPjgx
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 10, 2026
If Price can add 10-15 pounds to his frame and either maintain or increase his speed, he’ll eventually start in the NFL. If Price doesn’t add the muscle, he could still deliver as a productive RB2 in an offense.
So far, Price isn't pressing as deep as he did at Notre Dame, and he seems less confident about where cutbacks should be. This is part of his acclimation to a new offense, a lack of continuity with workload due to injury, and likely, a lack of rapport and trust in his offensive line due to its injuries and Price's time away from the field.
Long-term, I'm not worried about Price's lack of patience, but it may continue to hinder his big-play upside when running between the tackles. This is where Zach Charbonnet will prove an asset to fantasy GMs for the rest of the year.
Zach Charbonnet's Rookie Scouting Portfolio Pre-Draft Thoughts
I gave Charbonnet a pre-draft grade of an immediate starter in the 2023 Rookie Scouting Portfolio. The grade was at the very bottom of the starter tier, so it was likely that a more established starter would relegate Charbonnet to a contributing role early in his career, which was the case.
As another frame of reference, Ken Walker III was my No.2 RB the year before in the 2022 RSP. Walker's grade was closer to a franchise-caliber talent than an immediate starter. Here's Charbonnet's elevator pitch:
The Elevator Pitch: A rugged back who has the potential to play heavier and maximize his power, Charbonnet is an Arian Foster starter kit but not as flexible or mobile.
Zach Charbonnet #Seahawks Weaving his way for six yards with good hip mobility and a strong finish. https://t.co/95C3GyIkC8
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 10, 2026
A transfer from Michigan, Chip Kelly’s UCLA offense demanded a wider array of skills from Charbonnet as a runner and receiver and he has been productive
Charbonnet has become a patient zone runner inside and outside the tackle box who can also deliver on gap plays. He’s a tackle-breaker with good contact balance that can get even better if he becomes more vigilant with his pad level in short-yardage scenarios or situations where he’s finishing downhill into an oncoming defender.
Zach Charbonnet #Seahawks They may not be demolition sound effectives at this point, but you can hear percussive sounds when Charbonnet hits a crease and defenders hit him. https://t.co/0OFKfbgCU9
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 10, 2026
Budda Baker called an Uber for a four-yard trip and probably did leave a positive review for Zach Charbonnet's driving. #Seahawks https://t.co/Xt7MrEa7rh
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 10, 2026
His pass-catching techniques require additional refinement because he’s a clap-attack catcher of the football. This is the final frontier of his game because he has a starter grade despite having committee-tier hands in the passing game. His pass protection is on the cusp of the starter tier and could develop quickly because he has promise with delivering his hands and good positioning against larger box defenders.
I can see Charbonnet earning at least a secondary role in a two-back committee until he improves his passing-down skills. If he can come into 2024 training camp as a refined passing-down back, increase his strength, and his mobility, Charbonnet could become the lead back in an offense, especially one that leverages play-action from compressed formations.
Zach Charbonnet missed Halloween but decided to show up in his Marshawn Lynch costume. It wasn't dead accurate, but there were some well-designed elements and he earned some candy. #Seahawks https://t.co/ICYie85Y9u
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 10, 2026
I like Charbonnet’s game, but I don’t love it. Despite his grade, I can see a scenario where his ceiling of potential is lower than I projected above. As a mid-sized back, he might not add more weight or improve his work as a finisher.
If that’s the case, he might have a career as a committee complement and never a lead, which may help NFL teams but frustrate fantasy GMs. It all depends on how much growth potential is actually there with his game.
Based on what we've seen, Charbonnet has become a good finisher, and his hip mobility is effective, although not necessarily dynamic. Although not the flashy runner Ken Walker III was, Charbonnet earned the respect of Seattle's new staff because he was physical, reliable, and fit the heavy alignments well.