Watching the Las Vegas Raiders’ run defense this season has been rough enough, and Week 10 could make it even uglier.
Rob Leonard’s group enters the matchup with the Seattle Seahawks dead last in the NFL in total rushing yards allowed and 31st in yards per attempt allowed. On paper, Seattle’s ground game doesn’t jump off the page either - the Seahawks rank 18th in total rushing yards and 25th in yards per attempt - but that number doesn’t tell the full story. Their backfield has been banged up all year, and now that it’s healthy again, the Raiders may be staring at a much bigger problem than the raw season stats suggest.
That problem is Zach Charbonnet.
While Kenneth Walker III drew the spotlight last season and Jadarian Price has been the name many expected to matter in 2026, Charbonnet is the one who could give Las Vegas the most trouble at Allegiant Stadium. He’s been the steady force in Seattle’s backfield, and he’s starting to separate himself from Price after both returned in Week 8 following Charbonnet’s ACL tear late last season.
The split has already started to tilt. In their first game back together, Price carried 10 times for 29 yards, while Charbonnet ran six times for 23 yards.
The next week, Charbonnet got 16 carries to Price’s nine and turned them into 77 yards. Price managed just 24.
Charbonnet is averaging 4.5 yards per attempt this season. Price is at 3.7, and his recent numbers have trended the wrong way, with his last three games producing averages of 3.0, 2.9 and 2.7 yards per carry. His yards per carry has dropped in each of his five games this season.
The Raiders may have a hard time with both backs, but Charbonnet is the one who fits the matchup best. Price can make defenders miss and work around traffic.
Charbonnet is built to run through it. Las Vegas may not be a disaster in missed tackles, but the bigger issue has been getting shoved back and dragged for extra yards.
That’s exactly the kind of punishment Charbonnet brings.
He’s a north-south runner who lowers his shoulder, keeps his feet churning and attacks the hole without hesitation. He also forced five missed tackles on 22 carries this season, after forcing 46 a year ago.
In short-yardage situations, Seattle can lean on him. Near the goal line, that becomes even more dangerous for the Raiders.
There is at least one edge Las Vegas can try to use: Klint Kubiak knows Charbonnet well. Charbonnet had the best season of his career under Kubiak, so the Raiders’ coach has a real feel for what the back does best and where he can be attacked. If Leonard can use that information to expose some Seattle weakness while Charbonnet is on the field, maybe the Seahawks won’t be able to feature him as much.
But that’s a big if.
A more realistic answer may be to crowd the box and make backup quarterback Drew Lock beat them. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a problem, but the rest of Seattle’s pass-catching group shouldn’t force the Raiders to back off.
The Raiders also need help from their own offense. Kubiak and company have to get the run game moving and start fast. If Las Vegas can get ahead and chew clock, Seattle’s offense would be pushed into a tougher script and forced to throw more.
Even then, there’s no guarantee any of it works. Charbonnet, Price, or both could still run wild. But if the Raiders are going to have any chance of slowing Charbonnet down, it starts with Kubiak’s intel, a loaded box and an offense that can control the pace.
Easier said than done.
In Other News...
Raiders Rookies Are Suddenly Creating A Real Roster Debate
The Raiders rookie class has started to shape the conversation around the back end of the roster, and not just because of the usual growing pains. In the wake of a loss to the 49ers and a win over the Jets, the first-year group has produced a mix of encouraging flashes and uneven production, with some young players drawing strong marks for how they handled their opportunities while others struggled to make the same kind of case.
Treydan Stukes and Jermod McCoy stood out on the positive side of the ledger, giving Las Vegas something to think about as it sorts out who deserves more run down the stretch. On the other end, Mike Washington Jr. and Zeke Masses did not help their standing, and with a few rookies either inactive or on injured reserve, the Raiders are left weighing not just who has played well, but who is actually forcing the issue when the team starts making tougher decisions. [Read more 🡒]
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Mendoza has also made clear he appreciated the time he spent alongside Cousins, crediting the veteran for his support during their overlap. Now the focus shifts quickly to game week and a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, where the Raiders will get their first real look at how Mendoza handles the pressure and pace of being the guy. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Put Fernando Mendoza In A Spot That Will Test Everything
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Head coach Klint Kubiak said the Raiders will stick with their offensive approach with Mendoza under center, which says plenty about how they want to handle the transition. It also sets up a revealing first test for the rookie, because the team is not easing him in with a scaled-back plan, and the matchup waiting for him should tell a lot about how ready he is for the speed and demands of the league. [Read more 🡒]