The Seattle Seahawks’ backfield picture for 2026 remains uncertain. After Ken Walker departure and with Zach Charbonnet recovering from a serious knee injury suffered during the playoffs, Seattle enters the new league year with one of the biggest questions on the roster: Who will be the starting running back in Week 1?
The latest SB Nation Reacts poll, conducted among Field Gulls readers, asked exactly that.
36 percent of fans believe the answer is already on the Seahawks roster
The results show that the most popular option among fans is the simplest one: the next RB1
is already in the building
- 36% — Someone currently on the roster
- 28% — A free agent signing (e.g. Emanuel Wilson, who signed after this poll was put up)
- 26% — A rookie draft pick
- 10% — A player acquired via trade
While the poll doesn’t ask respondents to name a specific player, the results suggest many fans believe the solution could come from the group that finished last season on the roster.
One name that naturally comes up in that conversation is George Holani. The former Boise State running back entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and gradually earned opportunities throughout the season, eventually contributing late in the campaign that ended with a Super Bowl title. Holani also saw time on special teams while handling situational offensive snaps, showing some versatility within the backfield.
Interestingly, the front office appears to see potential there as well. In recent radio interviews in Seattle, general manager John Schneider brought up Holani while discussing the running back room and spoke positively about the way he performed in key moments last season, including during the postseason.
Comments like that help explain why a portion of the fanbase believes the team could lean on internal development.
Seattle has already started addressing the position
At the same time, the poll shows a significant portion of fans expecting outside reinforcements.
The “free agent” option received 28% of the vote, which also reflects what the team has already begun to do this offseason. Seattle added running back Emanuel Wilson, a move that suggests the front office intends to at least increase competition in the backfield heading into training camp. It’s worth noting that Wilson has never had RB1 status, instead serving as more of a complementary piece, though he did have strong performances against the Bears and Vikings last season. Additionally, it’s important to point out that Wilson’s playing style is closer to Charbonnet’s than to Walker’s. This further reinforces the uncertainty surrounding Charbonnet’s return and availability.
When combining free agency and the draft, 54% of voters believe Seattle’s next RB1 may not currently be on the roster, underscoring how open the situation still is.
The backfield remains one of the biggest questions of the offseason
Even for a team coming off a Super Bowl title, there are still a few important roster questions to answer — and running back may be the biggest one on offense under a new OC.
Between Charbonnet’s recovery, the potential rise of players like Holani, and possible additions through free agency or the draft, the Seahawks have several possible paths to determining their starter.
But at least according to Field Gulls readers, the most likely answer might already be in the locker room.
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