Kenneth Walker III Shows Out in Seahawks’ Playoff-Clinching Win - But the Touches Still Don’t Match the Talent
Kenneth Walker III doesn’t need a heavy workload to make a heavy impact - he just proved that again on Thursday Night Football. In a game that sent the Seattle Seahawks to the playoffs, Walker was the offensive spark plug, the game-breaker, and the closer all rolled into one. Yet somehow, he still found himself splitting touches like a committee back instead of the clear-cut RB1 he’s shown he can be.
Let’s talk about what Walker did with the ball in his hands: 13 carries, 162 total yards, and a touchdown. That’s not just efficiency - that’s explosive, game-changing production.
He ripped off a 55-yard touchdown run and added a 46-yard reception for good measure. In total, he averaged over 10 yards every time he touched the ball.
That’s the kind of stat line that usually gets a running back fed until the defense proves it can stop him. But in Seattle’s backfield, things haven’t worked that way all season.
Despite being the starter and a former Doak Walker Award winner out of Michigan State, Walker has often found himself in a timeshare - especially in critical red-zone situations. Zach Charbonnet, the physical back from Michigan and UCLA, continues to get a near-even split in touches.
On Thursday, Charbonnet had 13 touches for 54 yards. Solid, but not spectacular.
Meanwhile, Walker was out there flipping the field with every touch.
And this isn’t a one-off. Walker’s had games like this before - games where he breaks off chunk plays, puts the offense in scoring position, and then gets rotated out.
It’s a trend that’s frustrated Seahawks fans and left analysts scratching their heads. When your lead back is averaging over 10 yards per touch and has already burned the defense for multiple plays of 40-plus yards, why go away from him?
That’s the question Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks coaching staff will have to answer heading into the postseason. Because while Charbonnet brings value as a change-of-pace back, Walker is the guy who can take a game over - and in a playoff environment, that kind of weapon needs to be unleashed.
To be clear, this isn’t a knock on Charbonnet. He’s tough, reliable, and brings a different style to the backfield.
But Walker is the home-run hitter. And in a league where explosive plays are king, it’s rare to see a player putting up numbers like his and still not getting featured like a true bell-cow.
Thursday night’s performance wasn’t just about stats - it was about impact. The Seahawks were down 16 in the second half, and it was Walker who helped swing the momentum.
His big plays didn’t just move the chains; they changed the game. It’s not the first time he’s done it, either.
So now, with the postseason looming, the question becomes: will Seattle finally ride the hot hand? Because if Kenneth Walker III keeps getting chances, he might just run them deeper into January than anyone expects.