George Holani: A Late-Round League-Winner?
Unlikely.
A contributor to your fantasy lineup? Possible for at least part of the year, but uncertain until we reach August.
What is certain is that George Holani has worked his way up from "monitor from afar" status. A former UDFA, Holani is earning RB1 reps heading into 2026 training camp.
Zach Charbonnet's ACL recovery timetable may have opened the door for George Holani to earn more looks with the offense late last year that carried over to the spring, but it's Holani's skills that have helped him make the most of the opportunity.
Most of us thought Holani had little chance to compete for a regular role with the offense. The Seahawks signed the Packers' RB2, Emanuel Wilson, as a free agent and drafted Jadarian Price in the first round.
Even so, Seahawks' beat writers are reporting that George Holani will enter training camp as a serious contender for extended playing time. Regardless of whether we believe Holani maintains this depth chart position, the news at least makes Holani a conditional pick for your expanded summer rosters in dynasty leagues and a late-round dart-throw in re-draft formats.
The news could also mean Seattle's RB room is not a good fantasy value in 2026 -- and that's the underlying storyline we might be missing. We'll get to that part.
First, who is George Holani? What should we know about his game? How does this news impact my forecast for the Seahawks' backfield, and how should you value him and the rest of the Seattle RB room?
Let's go.
George Holani: The RSP Pre-Draft Scouting Report
A scat back with speed to flip the field, George Holani has gradually improved his game during his career. Entering the NFL, Holani had developed into a capable runner with outside zone in addition to gap blocking. He still had lapses where he was tentative with tight creases.
George Holani has good enough hands and contact balance to generate gains in space if called upon as an outlet receiver. He’s an agile runner who can create efficiently and dynamically with his footwork.
George Holani maintains a strong pad level and body lean as an open-field runner. He gets his feet high enough to work over low shots, and he has functional power.
Like Jeff Wilson Jr., George Holani is a good receiver with potential to become a competent, if not underrated runner. Despite having the dimensions of a complementary runner, Holani has enough size to earn starts as a committee back if the lead back gets hurt.
As we approached the 2024 NFL Draft, I saw George Holani as an intriguing player who could have more success than his NFL Draft capital—and likely lack of it—will initially indicate.
You can read the complete scouting report on George Holani that includes film analysis from his college years at my site.
George Holani: The NFL Film
While the sample size is small, George Holani has shown the same skills I profiled above, and he has improved his tight-crease decision-making.
George Holani #Seahawks
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
The fundamental parts of Holani's game that stand out with most of his clips:
- Low pad level
- A good blend of patience/timing/suddenness wiht attacking interior gaps.
- Combative finisher
- Maturity: Takes the downhill path when at a disadvantage. pic.twitter.com/1B0gBq2JbY
Maturity: An underrated facet of NFL RB play. The Rams string out this RZ run.
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
George Holani makes a good call to press outside just a few steps longer to widen the string. Hopes for the cutback inside.
Nothing there, but attacks to minimize the loss. #seahawks pic.twitter.com/9aQZlyAOcU
George Holani #Seahawks
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
- Good press deep into OL behind puller.
- Gives OL time to reach second level defenders.
- Bounces one gap over
- Pulls through DE's wrap
- Fights forward with CB's tackle
Quick, good press/patience, combative finisher w/good pad level. pic.twitter.com/le7ZoKyqPM
George Holani #Seahawks
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
- IDs penetrating DT during exchange
- Efficient bounce outside
- Presses CB inside on island with him in the flat.
- Flips hips outisde and perfect location of stiff arm on crown of helmet. Scores. pic.twitter.com/oFPLSTUdob
George Holani #Seahawks
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
Combativeness...
The DT closes the inside gap with his push of 67, influences Holani outside. Wraps Holani.
Holani attacks with his pads, delivering a late punch. Initiating the hit helps him keep his feet, buying time for 67 to push him free. pic.twitter.com/GkOQYsZJ2k
George Holani #Seahawks
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
In my experience, starter-caliber agility includes the ability to transition from a perimeter approach to a downhill approach that only requires two quick steps.
Holani does this versus two unblocked defenders in the backfield. pic.twitter.com/nOiPgrZ3Qw
George Holani #Seahawks
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
Good work versus the interior push. Alters stride length, gives time for lead blocker to work around the DE and then squeezes inside to make lemonade out of lemons.
Good tight-crease running. pic.twitter.com/fNo3O0QwCG
Another nice job mitigating an interior push. Good stride change and small jump cut to slide across the face of the DL and find the open gap downhill for five.
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
More lemonade from lemons.
George Holani #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/mBakSx2t9d
Another facet of competence from George Holani #Seahawks is his efficient feet in tight quarters. He not only alters his stride to navigate traffic, but he can flip his hips and generate quick explosion laterally and/or downhill.
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 15, 2026
Keeps plays alive against unblocked pursuit. pic.twitter.com/3LboZkLyqM
There's nothing about this work that tells us George Holani is the next Chris Carson, a former late-round pick who developed into a multi-year NFL starter and stalwart fantasy producer. Like most NFL starters and RB2s on the depth chart, the film displays a competent NFL running back who can earn yardage in the starting lineup when called upon:
- Executes the blocking schemes knowledgeably.
- Doesn't shy away from tight creases.
- Identifies blocked and unblocked penetration.
- Mitigates the disruption of penetration.
- Capability in the short passing game.
None of this tells us if George Holani has special vision, the stamina to move with an intensity and speed late in the game after a high volume of touches, or if he'll improve his existing skills with additional touches.
These improvements are possible. As a back earns enough volume to get comfortable enough to play at the speed of instinct, we have seen lesser-known prospects blossom.
The one area of George Holani's game that could indicate above-average skill is his efficient and quick footwork and hip mobility. This allows him to win in tight spaces. The more experience Holani earns, the more this could translate to high-end production.
George Holani might already be showing signs of this skill in OTAs. Combined with Emanuel Wilson and Jadarian Price getting acclimated to the Seahawks, there could be a significant contrast between the three backs' comfort levels. This might be why the coaching staff is giving George Holani first-team reps in June.
If Holani builds on this momentum and continues gaining comfort and confidence, the greater the likelihood he becomes the Seahawks' co-starter until Zach Charbonnet returns to full health -- if that even happens. More about that later.
Even if George Holani makes enough noise in training camp that he's slated to be the RB1 or RB2 entering the season, it will be hard for the fantasy community to ignore that Seattle paid a free agent RB2 and drafted a first-round running back.
They are hard-wired to bow to past conventions. If you go against the grain, you could profit. There will be two ways to do this: A) Ignore the Seahawks' backfield during the draft; B) Take the cheapest option in the draft or wait to capitalize via free agency during the season.
Past Convention No. 1: NFL Draft Capital
Common sense tells us Jadarian Price will get enough touches early in the year to prove his worth and build on his game. If Price does both, he could finish the year as the 1-A/B to Charbonnet and George Holani returns to the bench.
First-team reps in June, July, and even early August are a sign that the team is giving the player a closer look for a role on offense. Before last year, the team viewed George Holani primarily as a special teams option and a backup unlikely to see extensive playing time.
Considering that Wilson is new to the offense, Price is a rookie, and Charbonnet is rehabbing a serious injury, it's logical Seattle is giving Holani RB1 reps. He's the only healthy veteran with experience in the scheme and with his teammates.
