Zach Charbonnet

Zach Charbonnet 2023 Fantasy Football Rookie Profile

Overview

Zach Charbonnet was a four-star recruit. As a freshman for the 9-4 University of Michigan Wolverines, he burst onto the scene with 750 yards of offense on 149 rushes and eight receptions.

However, during a COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Charbonnet received limited touches amidst a crowded RB room. Future NFL draft picks Hassan Haskins and Chris Evans, along with a top 2024 RB prospect in Blake Corum, each also split a large portion of the carries. The Wolverines also struggled as a team in 2020, finishing 2-4.

After his disappointing 2020 workload, Charbonnet transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, Charbonnet took the PAC-12 by storm, beginning with his junior season in 2021. After only 19 rush attempts at Michigan in 2020, Charbonnet led the way for the 8-4 Bruins with 202 attempts in 2021. He also set a new career high with 24 receptions. Charbonnet finished third in the PAC-12 with 1,137 rushing yards during that junior season.

During his senior campaign in Los Angeles, despite missing three games due to injury and opting out of the Sun Bowl, Charbonnet led the PAC-12 with 1,359 rushing yards on 195 carries. He also racked up 321 receiving yards on 37 receptions. He rushed for at least 100 yards and a TD in eight of his 10 games. Due to his strong play, UCLA finished 9-4 during the 2022 College Football season. The team started 6-0 and earned a top-10 rank before conference losses to the University of Oregon, the University of South California (USC) and the University of Arizona to end the regular season.

Per PlayerProfiler, Charbonnet posted elite Yards Per Carry (YPC) numbers and reception share numbers that put him in the 92nd and 93rd percentile of NFL prospects, respectively. He posted a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, good for a height/weight-adjusted speed score of 101.6. NFL Mock Draft Database currently projects Charbonnet as a late-round two or early-round three draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Pros

• Three-down size and skillset to be a bell cow RB at the NFL level
• Solid all-around running back – no major weaknesses in any particular area
• Soft hands as a receiver – not a lot of nuanced routes but a very reliable option in the short passing game
• Runs between the tackles well – isn’t reliant on bouncing it outside to pick up big gains
• Above-average contact balance
• Deceptively elusive in the open field
• Powerful runner and an effective goal-line back

Cons

• Limited experience as a pass blocker
• Long speed in the open field is limited – caught from behind on several occasions
• Good all-around skillset, but doesn’t possess any elite individual traits
• Not an early declare

Zach Charbonnet Player Comparison

Joe Mixon (RB, Cincinnati Bengals)

Charbonnet and Joe Mixon had very similar production and efficiency at the collegiate level. During Mixon’s two years at the University of Oklahoma and Charbonnet’s final two years at UCLA, both RBs were incredibly efficient. Each posted best season YPC totals at or near seven YPC and had double-digit target shares.

Like Mixon, Charbonnet is a tough, physical runner between the tackles. He has the initial burst and acceleration needed to break off long runs. He has a good repertoire of moves in the open field to make defenders miss. He excels as a pass-catcher, especially for a back of his size. Charbonnet can shine as a safety net for a QB in this area at the NFL level.

Zach Charbonnet Fantasy Football Projection

Charbonnet is the type of RB who can make an immediate impact in year No. 1 in most NFL backfields. Similar to Mixon, Charbonnet could settle into the mid-to-low-end Points Per Reception (PPR) RB2 range early in his career if he is limited primarily to an early-down role. However, if he sees a large workload and a steady diet of targets as Mixon has these past two seasons, Charbonnet possesses mid-range RB1 potential as a weapon in the passing game and a goal-line threat.

In early 2023 best ball drafts on Underdog Fantasy, Charbonnet currently has an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 99.8 in 1QB formats. He is currently being drafted as the PPR RB32 overall per 4for4’s ADP data. With day two draft capital and a strong landing spot like the Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals or Atlanta Falcons, I could foresee Charbonnet’s 2023 redraft ADP being potentially as high as the fourth or fifth round in 12-team leagues. In a less-than-ideal landing spot, he could fall to the early double-digit rounds. I would likely avoid him in the fifth round if he ends up going there. As a later-round pick, however, he could be a league-winning RB in the right situation.

In dynasty rookie drafts, Charbonnet is currently being drafted as the RB3 in March 2023 rookie ADP per Dynasty League Football (DLF). This puts him in the first of a tier of RBs going off the board after Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. While draft capital and landing spot will largely affect exactly where he ultimately lands in that tier of RBs, fantasy drafters hoping to secure Charbonnet in their rookie drafts will likely have to spend a rookie pick in the 1.07-1.12 range in superflex leagues or the 1.04-1.09 range in 1QB leagues.

If he ends up with second-round draft capital, Charbonnet is a player I would target as early as the 1.04 pick in 1QB rookie drafts and as early as 1.07 in superflex leagues.

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