The Seattle Seahawks needed a hero to step up out of the backfield. Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending injury, and the running back corps was going to be severely undermanned in the biggest game of the season.
Once again, Kenneth Walker III answered the call. Even though he was out for most of the second quarter, he delivered every time he toted the rock or ran a route in the win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Walker is going to be a free agent at the end of the season. He had already posted big numbers to secure a lucrative deal elsewhere. Now, with the way he's performed in the postseason, the Seahawks may have no choice but to keep him around for the long run.
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is playing his way into a big contract
As shown by PFF Fantasy, Walker has taken his game to new heights in the playoffs. Through two games, he's turned 45 touches into 256 total yards and four touchdowns, and he has eight explosive plays, which are runs of 10+ yards.
He carried the rock 19 times for 116 yards and three rushing touchdowns with three receptions on as many targets for 29 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. Then, he followed up that effort with 19 carries for 62 yards and one touchdown, and four catches on four targets for 49 receiving yards in the NFC Championship Game.
Walker has rushed for at least 900 yards in three of his four seasons in the league, including two seasons with 1000+ yards. He logged 1,050 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on a whopping 4.6 yards per carry this season. He can also contribute to the passing game with his blocking and reliable hands.
Even if Charbonnet is ready for the start of the upcoming season, which, given the nature of his injury, might be a bit of a long shot, Walker has always been the primary ballcarrier in Seattle. Letting him leave seemed to be the right call, given how quickly running backs saw their production dip once they reached a certain age and mileage.
Then again, it looks like he's just entering his prime. General manager John Schneider will have to make a decision, but he might play his way out of the Seahawks' price range with another big performance in the final game of the season.