Remember last year when we as a football community scoffed at the hubris of Pete Carroll and John Schneider for trading away a franchise quarterback? Carroll committed the cardinal sin of football and somehow, beyond all reason, was absolutely right. The Seahawks were one of the most fun football teams to watch last year with the emergence of Kenneth Walker III and the resurgence of Geno Smith. I cannot wait to see how year two of the Geno era is impacted in fantasy with the shiny new offensive toys the Seahawks got.
FULL SEATTLE DRAFT RESULTS
| Rd. | Pick | Player | Pos. | College |
| 1 | 5 | Devon Witherspoon | CB | Illinois |
| 1 | 20 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | Ohio State |
| 2 | 6 | Derick Hall | EDGE | Auburn |
| 2 | 21 | Zach Charbonnet | RB | UCLA |
| 4 | 6 | Anthony Bradford | G | LSU |
| 4 | 21 | Cameron Young | DT | Mississippi State |
| 5 | 16 | Mike Morris | DE | Michigan |
| 5 | 19 | Olu Oluwatimi | C | Michigan |
| 6 | 21 | Jerrick Reed II | SAF | New Mexico |
| 7 | 20 | Kenny McIntosh | RB | Georgia |
Round 1, Pick 20 Overall: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver, Ohio State (6’1” 196 lbs)
Depth Chart:
WR1: D.K. Metcalf
WR2: Tyler Lockett
WR3: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
TALENT
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is my favorite receiver in this draft class and if Bijan Robinson did not exist, he would be my favorite player. People complaining about JSN’s top-end speed are simply not paying attention. The man is incredibly fast on tape with the quickest feet I have ever seen. The way his hips move is incredible. JSN is just a fluid athlete who creates separation on his routes at will.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a receiver who can absolutely stop on a dime and then explode out of his break like Jaxon Smith-Njigba can. I’ve heard talk that he is just a slot receiver at the next level and I just don’t see it. All his tape is from the slot, but that is because Ohio State also had Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Marvin Harrison, Jr. starting with him. JSN has the build and ability to play the Z at the next level. He plays stronger than some guys who are bigger than he is, although I wouldn’t go so far as to call him strong. His hands are solid. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the best receiver in this draft class and it isn’t even particularly close to me.
2023 OPPORTUNITY
As much as I love Jaxon Smith-Njigba the player, I am not as big a fan of the situation for him. Last year, only two Seahawks receivers cracked 1000 yards – DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The third-best receiver on the team was Noah Fant and he had less than 500 yards receiving. The addition of Zach Charbonnet indicates the team is looking to run the football more and that JSN is more of an investment for the future.
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
When talent and opportunity clash, I always err on the side of talent. Good teams find a way to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an absolute stud. People have short memories. This time last year, we were all talking about how Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be the best receiver of the Ohio State group. Hell, Garrett Wilson was even saying that! JSN missing most of last season has people forgetting how good he is at football. I’m taking as many late-round flyers on him as I can because I absolutely believe in his talent.
TALENT
2023 OPPORTUNITY
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Round 2, Pick 52 Overall: Zach Charbonnet, Running Back, UCLA (6’0” 214 lbs)
Depth Chart:
RB1: Kenneth Walker III
RB2: Zach Charbonnet
RB3: DeeJay Dallas
RB4: Kenny McIntosh
TALENT
If you love big, beefy running backs, then there is a lot of Zach Charbonnet to love. I really wanted to love Charbonnet more than I did, but he lacks the one thing I love the most in my running backs – speed. I know his Combine numbers show Charbonnet is an exceptional athlete with some speed, but I just didn’t see that on tape.
The good news is that Charbonnet showed just about everything else you could want from a running back. He has very quick feet for a guy his size. He also might be one of the best receivers in this class. The man runs strong and is very fluid. His vision is good. So is his blocking. His hands are outstanding. Charbonnet runs a bit high for my taste, but he has decent cutting ability. In the end, Zach Charbonnet is a football player who can do everything you ask of him.
2023 OPPORTUNITY
If you listen very closely, you can hear the collective weeping of all the Kenneth Walker dynasty owners. They know that the Seahawks backfield just became a committee. Where they are mistaken is in thinking this is a bad thing. The age of the workhorse back is over. Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet have very different skill sets and should complement each other. They should also both have plenty of opportunities to help your fantasy teams.
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
I think with how many weapons the Seahawks have on offense, getting as many shares of Zach Charbonnet as you can is an excellent idea. The Seahawks had an excellent offense last year and Charbonnet is primed to see a lot of goal-line work and some work in the passing game. I think finishing the season as a low-end RB2 is easily in his range of outcomes. Barring injury, I think his floor is a flex-worthy player with low-end RB1 upside. For his cost, Charbonnet presents the potential for a fantastic return on your investment in draft capital.
TALENT
2023 OPPORTUNITY
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Round 7, Pick 237 Overall: Kenny McIntosh, Running Back, Georgia (6’0” 204 lbs)
Depth Chart:
RB1: Kenneth Walker III
RB2: Zach Charbonnet
RB3: DeeJay Dallas
RB4: Kenny McIntosh
TALENT
When I first started watching Kenny McIntosh I was surprised at how unathletic he looked, but I just assumed everyone playing at Georgia is going to look slow when compared to the best athletes in the world. His Combine testing numbers say that McIntosh was just as slow as he looked on tape. Honestly, I found his college tape to be incredibly underwhelming. As a running back, he showed effort on tape. He tried really hard for minimal gains. McIntosh has decent hands and is a good blocker. If he is going to make it in the NFL, it is going to be on special teams.
2023 OPPORTUNITY
With Zach Charbonnet drafted this year in the third round and Kenneth Walker III being drafted last year in the second round, it is going to be very hard for Kenny McIntosh to see the field. Both of those guys are really good at playing the running back position and I am not sure that is true for McIntosh. Unless he excels at special teams, I think he is a long shot to make the final 53-man roster.
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
The Seattle Seahawks have Kenneth Walker, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Zach Charbonnet. They are so overloaded with fantasy football talent that I am not sure there are enough opportunities for all of those guys to be fantasy relevant. So why would they waste time giving Kenny McIntosh touches? If McIntosh sees the field for the Seahawks this year, something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.
TALENT
2023 OPPORTUNITY
2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
