Zach Charbonnet

Zach Charbonnet’s 2026 fantasy outlook is heavily shaped by the ACL tear he suffered in January, which required surgery and puts his Week 1 availability in serious doubt. Multiple recent reports say Seattle expects him back at some point in 2026, but his exact timetable is still uncertain and the start of the season now looks risky at best.

For redraft leagues, that makes Charbonnet a difficult player to draft as anything more than a late flier, because missing the first month is a real possibility and even a midseason return would likely come with some ramp-up time. Sources note that an early-season PUP stint is plausible, and one projection source suggested he may not realistically be back until midseason.

The good news is that Seattle still views him as part of the plan, so this is not a long-term depth-chart disappearance. Mike Macdonald said Charbonnet is “not going to miss the whole year,” and the team’s backfield shape suggests there could be opportunities once he is healthy, especially if Seattle manages his workload carefully.

In fantasy terms, Charbonnet is best treated as a stash with upside rather than a dependable 2026 starter. If you draft him, the bet is on second-half value: he has shown useful production ability when active, but the ACL recovery adds enough uncertainty that his early-season floor is low and his draft price should stay discounted until there is clearer recovery news.

Updated 06/08/2026