Chris Carson is the starting running back for the Seattle Seahawks. He was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. Carson is a great story as a running back who had to earn his keep. After staring at Parkview High School in Parkview, Georgia, Carson found himself at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. After two seasons at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, he earned a scholarship at Oklahoma State. In two years at Stillwater, he registered just 213 carries and generated 1,076 yards and 13 touchdowns. He added 30 receptions too, going for 298 yards and another touchdown.
After two seasons as an Oklahoma State Cowboy, Chris Carson declared for the 2017 NFL Draft. He had to wait a long time to hear his name called. 253 players were selected in the 2017 Draft; Chris Carson was drafted with Seattle’s 249th pick in the seventh round. It didn’t take long for him to work his way up the depth chart. After a stellar training camp and preseason, Carson seized control of the Seahawks’ backfield. He was averaging 14 touches per game through four games but suffered a broken ankle in Week 4 of his rookie season, which prematurely ended. Once Carson got over that injury, however, Carson was the picture of stability at the running back position. He jaunted for over 1,150 yards in his next two seasons while adding 57 receptions as a receiver out of the backfield and posted a nine-percent target share. Carson ended the 2018 and 2019 seasons as the RB15 and the RB11 in fantasy football.
Chris Carson was on track to follow suit in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but injuries prevented him from doing so. He suffered a foot injury in Week 7 of the 2020 season but was able to return and finish the season on a strong note, ending the year as the RB18 in fantasy. Carson began the 2021 season with a bang too. Two of his first four games saw Carson rumble for at least 80 yards. He scored thrice. He ran 42 routes in the four games he played. He evaded 15 tackles and created 2.63 yards per touch. However, injuries came knocking on his door again, this time in the form of a serious neck injury in Week 4. Despite reports of a possible Carson return during the season, he could not shake off the injury. Carson missed the rest of the Seahawks’ season and could not live up to his ADP as the RB16. Fortunately, he did ink a two-year, $10.45 million extension with the Seahawks before the season, guaranteeing him $5.5 million. But, Seattle can get out from under it in 2022. Seattle has expressed optimism that Carson will be back in time for training camp in 2022. Chris Carson is a legitimate starting NFL running back. If his health permits, that should continue. That is a big ‘if’ he will have to answer, however.
