The Arizona Cardinals are playing the Seattle Seahawks to kick off the Week 4 of the NFL on Thursday Night Football. The question for the home team fans or fantasy players around the world is: Will running back Zach Charbonnet play tonight?

Charbonnet is usually the RB2 of the Seahawks behind Kenneth Walker III. However, he is very important and gets plenty of snaps. For instance, in the two games he’s played this season, he’s had 27 rushing attempts, 57 yards and one touchdown.

For Charbonnet fantasy owners, he missed Week 3 but now Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that he has a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of tonight’s game against the Cardinals. He did log full practices during the week, and Rapoport’s report indicates he will be a part of the game.

What does this mean for Kenneth Walker III?

While Charbonnet owners are happy, Fantasy players that have Kenneth Walker III on their rosters might be weary. Unless Charbonnet’s snaps are limited, and we have no signs of that, Walker’s snaps will be less than last week’s.

Walker had 10 and 13 carries when Charbonnet was playing this season, meaning he has less rushing attempts than Charbonnet. Walker does have the ability to create big plays over nothing and has much more explosiveness. On a yards per attempt comparison, Walker doubles Charbonnet with a 4.2 yards per carry.

The biggest weapon Seattle has is a receiver

With the arrival of Sam Darnold, the Seahawks got a nice pocket passer. He has a special connection with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Ohio State product has 22 receptions already with 323 yards and one touchdown to his name. As of now, JSN leads the NFL in yards per touch with 14.7.

However, the running game is still important for the Seahawks. Whether is Charbonnet or Walker, the fact that the team can run the ball opens up lanes for Smith-Njigba and Darnold to connect. Not to mention, there’s also Cooper Kupp in the lineup as WR2. Hence, Darnold has two great route runners to reap the benefits of having an established running game.

“Seahawks QB Geno Smith and RB Kenneth Walker III are off the injury report and good to go for Sunday’s game versus the Vikings,” affirmed Adam Schefter on X. Quarterback Geno Smith, who left in the third quarter during the game against the Packers, has been practicing with the team all week and is expected to start on Sunday. Smith’s leadership has been vital to the Seahawks’ success throughout the season.

Also returning is running back Kenneth Walker III, who had been sidelined with a calf injury. Walker has been a crucial part of the Seahawks’ offense, known for his ability to break tackles and pick up significant yardage. The Seahawks will need both of them at their best, as they face one of the league’s top teams, the Vikings, who are in red-hot form. If the Seahawks don’t bring their best game, they could risk falling out of contention for the NFC West title.

The return of Smith and Walker has energized the team and fans alike, as the duo has been key to the offense’s success, providing a potent combination to pressure opposing defenses. Geno’s recovery, in particular, is a huge relief for fans, especially after Sam Howell struggled to fill the void when Smith was out. Undoubtedly, the return of this dynamic duo provides a much-needed boost to a team that must play near-perfect football in the coming weeks if they want to make a playoff run.

Kenneth Walker III’s absence boosted Zach Charbonnet’s performance

Not all absences are detrimental, some can serve as opportunities for players to step up and prove their worth. This was the case for Zach Charbonnet, who rose to the occasion in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, averaging 91 rushing yards. His physicality and run-blocking performance were instrumental in securing that victory.

“Zach did a great job, we gave him a game ball. Just ran really physical, and it’s tough to tackle that guy in the open field. He’s got speed and power, so I’m excited for him,” affirmed Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.

There is no better motivator than healthy competition, and Kenneth Walker III is well aware of the challenge ahead. He knows that underperforming could allow Charbonnet to claim the starting role. Still, as second choice, Charbonnet’s ability to make a difference is vital to the Seahawks’ game plan, thanks to his knack for gaining tough yards. His recent performance has likely earned him more snaps in the coming games.

Carroll had a decent 2022 season with the Seahawks, as they went 9-8-0 and reached the postseason. However, they lost the Wild Card game against the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 23-41.

The good news for the Seahawks is that Geno Smith was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year last season. This means that he could play much better than he did last season, especially with an improved offensive and defensive line.

What happened to two of the Seahawks’ running backs?

According to Pete Carroll, two running backs did not practice on July 30, 2023, due to injuries. Kenneth Walker is dealing with a groin injury that will keep him out of action for a while. And Zach Charbonnet is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.

Kenneth Walker was with the Seattle Seahawks last season but Zach Charbonnet, from UCLA, recently joined the team after he was selected during the 2023 NFL Draft.