Kenneth Walker III burst onto the scene in his rookie year with explosive production, quickly turning him into a de facto fantasy darling. Drafted early by the Seattle Seahawks, his combination of breakaway speed and agility instantly won over the hearts of fantasy football fanatics. While many see him as a cornerstone running back, the unfortunate reality in the case of Walker is that his production is not as pretty as it appears at first glance.
Kenneth Walker’s efficiency as a runner has dropped every year he’s been in the league. There could be a variety of reasons this is the case, but it would be foolish to assume it will improve with a new questionable coordinator hire in Klint Kubiak and alongside Sam Darnold, QB.
The running back is injury-prone beyond what the game log portrays. Alongside the fact that he’s never played a full season, he’s the kind of player who will be on the injury chart week in and week out, torturing managers until the clock strikes noon.
Does he have a top-tier upside? Yes. Does he pass the eye test? Yes. Is he worth the risk where he’s currently being drafted, at RB15? No! Not once in his career has he finished as the RB15, there is no reason to indicate this season will be any different.
If team managers are looking to avoid anxiety this season, look at another position in the third round of the draft this year. Top-tier quarterbacks and high-end receivers are plentiful in this range. Names like Courtland Sutton, WR; Jalen Hurts, QB; and George Kittle, TE; offer the same positional upside while providing a far safer floor.
While Walker undeniably could solidify himself as a top-tier running back this year, a more cautious strategy would be to invest the draft capital elsewhere. Considering the players available near the middle of the third round in this year’s draft, the chances of getting a better ROI elsewhere present a much more cost-effective method of shooting for upside.
*The statistics used in this article are based on the Half-PPR scoring format provided by Fantasy Pros
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