Latest Seahawks running back outlook

By: Jake Rajala

The Seattle Seahawks have an exciting RB tandem with Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Walker, but their RB group still doesn’t have the best experience. It should be noted that they will not have the dual-threat magic from Russell Wilson and Chris Carson, who ran for 1,151 rushing yds in 2018 and 1,230 rushing yds in 2019, recently retired. Their likely lead RB Rashaad Penny registered 749 rushing yds, 6 rushing TDs, and averaged a personal best 6.3 YPC in 10 games last season. He was quite efficient, but he hasn’t recorded a top-end season (such as 1,000+ rushing yards) in his four-year career. Penny re-signed with the Hawks on a one-year deal worth $5.75 million dollars this off-season.

Pete Carroll brought in the Michigan State stud Kenneth Walker to be the RB2 and his fresh legs should be helpful for the long season. The questions surrounding him are: how quickly can he adapt to the scheme? Will he be a three-down RB? Can he be consistently effective behind the Seahawks OL?

Walker honestly has impressive power, but it’s unclear how dangerous he will be in his first season. I expect him to be at least a modest RB (around 600 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs), but I’m not sure if he will have a rookie season similar to Javonte Williams’s rookie campaign (903 rushing yds).

After the fascinating top two RBs in Seattle, the Hawks carry Deejay Dallas and Travis Homer. Dallas has registered 246 rushing yds and 4 rushing TDs in his two-year career. Homer had 338 total yds last season, but he may not be involved enough in 2022 to match his 2021 output.

The Seahawks had the 11th most rushing yds and the 10th most rushing TDs in 2021. I expect them to be a middle-of-the-pack rushing offense next season (with a 1,000+ rushing yard season from Carson), but there will likely be growing pains with Walker. With that enunciated, the Hawks RB tandem can improve w/ an improved OL in the 2023 off-season — which could spell a Top-10 rushing offense in the 2023 season.