Back in May, we were touting Kenneth Walker as a top-12 fantasy running back, and today’s fantasy outlook will be no different. Last season, despite injury, Walker finished the season as a top-12 fantasy running back in points per game. As we looked at the broader scope of Walker, he was a high-end producer at the running back position. Discover why Walker is a top target of ours in early 2025 best ball drafts, and is poised to be a league winner in redraft leagues.
Kenneth Walker Fantasy Football Outlook: A Top-12 Running Back
2025 Fantasy Football Profile: Kenneth Walker
2024 Year in Review
Walker ended last season as the overall PPR RB27, rushing for 573 yards and seven touchdowns. In addition, Walker garnered 53 targets in the passing game, resulting in 44 catches, for 299 receiving yards and one touchdown. However, as we look at the bigger picture, Walker was somewhat elite in his production last season. He averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game in the 11 games he played; that output was ranked 12th, just behind Buffalo’s James Cook.
Walker’s running back metrics further accentuate how good he was last season. Walker’s ability as a pure runner was on full display last season. Among qualified running backs, he led all runners in missed tackles forced per rush attempt and was in the top ten in yards after contact per attempt. In his 11 games played, Walker averaged 13.9 rush attempts per game. To put that in perspective, Jahmyr Gibbs, the overall RB1, was at 14.7, and De’Von Achane, the overall RB5, was at 11.9.
2025 Projection
Kenneth Walker
Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) rushes against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Kenneth Walker’s 2025 projections are as follows: 212 fantasy points, 226 rush attempts, for 938 yards and nine touchdowns. Walker also profiles as a three-down running back, which is not always the case. Among qualified fantasy running backs in 2024, Walker was ranked in the top three in first downs per route run. In addition, he was top six in both targets per route run and receiving yards per game.
In his 11 games, Walker compiled 53 targets, which was good for the top 14 amongst fantasy running backs. He averaged just under 5 targets per game, which was better than the aforementioned Gibbs. To further our point, the top two running back target leaders last season, Alvin Kamara and Achane, averaged 6.3 and 5.1, respectively.
Kenneth Walker Fantasy Football ADP
In May, Walker’s best ball ADP was in the middle of the third round at pick 43. Since then, he has held steady as the overall RB15 in consensus rankings. Walker is in good company. His running back data points compare favorably with the fantasy community’s best in 2024. For those who like to start their fantasy drafts WR-WR, he is a terrific option in the fourth round.
We will be investing in Walker this season, because he is set up in an offensive system that is tailor-made for fantasy running backs. Seattle wants to run the football in 2025, and we need to be invested in this fantasy backfield. One final point, as with Christian McCaffrey, we know the immediate handcuff to Walker is Zach Charbonnet. Do not leave your fantasy draft without him!
Main Image: Stephen Brashear – Imagn Images