Zach Charbonnet's Practice Window Nears — Seahawks RB Eyes Week 5 Return
Mike Macdonald says a practice date is 'coming soon' for the RB who scored 12 TDs in 2025. His fantasy value depends entirely on the timeline.
A Week 3 practice window could set up a Week 5 return worth stashing for.
- 12 rush TDs led Seahawks in 2025 (career high)
- 730 rush yards in 2025, also a career best
- 179 PPR points across 16 games in 2025
- Eligible to practice as early as Week 3
- Our RB rank: #24 at the position
Zach Charbonnet is inching back. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Friday that the team is closing in on a practice date for the running back, who's been on the PUP list since tearing his ACL in January's NFC Divisional Round loss to the 49ers. Macdonald said Charbonnet is doing great and that a return date is coming soon, even if it isn't finalized yet.
That matters more than it used to. Under the current rules, Charbonnet can have his 21-day practice window opened as early as the start of Week 3 against Washington — no more waiting until four games have passed. That gives him up to a two-week runway before a potential Week 5 debut, which, poetically enough, comes against the same 49ers who ended his last season.
The résumé is the reason to care. Charbonnet led Seattle in touchdowns last year with a career-high 12 on the ground, added 730 rushing yards (also a career best) and chipped in 20 catches for 144 yards. That added up to 179 PPR points across 16 games in 2025 — solid RB2 production that landed him at RB24 in our rankings.
The Backfield Picture
Rookie first-rounder Jadarian Price is the shiny new name grabbing headlines in Seattle's remade backfield. But Charbonnet's return changes the math. A healthy, goal-line-proven back returning midseason isn't a luxury — it's a direct threat to whatever early-season workload Price and the rest of the room have carved out.
The Fantasy Fallout
There's no setback in his rehab, and everything points to Charbonnet being back sooner rather than later. His form line before the injury was encouraging too — he averaged +3.2 fantasy points over his last five games versus his 2025 season average. That's a back trending up when he went down.
For now, treat him as a stash. If you're in a deep league with an IR slot, park him and forget about him until the practice window actually opens. In standard 12-teamers, keep him on your watch list and be ready to add the moment Macdonald names a date — the Week 5 target against San Francisco is exactly the kind of window worth beating the room to. Don't drop for him yet, but don't sleep on the news either.
