Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes hype Kenneth Walker III as Chiefs' MVP dark horse
The running back could become one of the NFL's most influential players this season
T he Kansas City Chiefs have long relied on Patrick Mahomes to make the extraordinary look routine. Kenneth Walker III is giving the quarterback something else to work with: a ground game capable of taking over a contest. Travis Kelce and Mahomes have praised the running back's contributions since his arrival in Kansas City, and Walker's explosive start has fueled early NFL MVP speculation. After winning Super Bowl LX MVP with the Seattle Seahawks, the fifth-year veteran is making an immediate impact with a Chiefs team chasing another Lombardi Trophy.
Walker delivered another statement performance in Kansas City's 30-27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders o n Oct. 4, rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns, including a decisive 76-yard run. The win pushed the Chiefs to 4-0 and strengthened the case that Walker could become one of the NFL's most influential players this season.
Mahomes sees the difference Walker makes
"I told you all, literally, like first press conference. Y'all were asking, what's the difference with our offense? And I said, K9. Like, it's just that simple," Mahomes said after Kansas City's 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Walker rushed for a career-high 173 yards in his Chiefs debut , including a 60-yard touchdown, and also scored as a receiver. His ability to break tackles, exploit openings between the tackles and turn ordinary carries into explosive gains immediately gave Kansas City another way to attack defenses.
That threat has important implications for Mahomes. Defenses must now account for Walker before committing extra resources to stopping the passing game, creating more opportunities for Kansas City's quarterback and receivers.
Walker doesn't need to replace Mahomes as the engine of the offense. He needs to make the defense pay when its attention shifts too far toward the quarterback.
Kelce has a simple message: Give Walker the ball
Kelce has also made his enthusiasm for the running back clear. After the Chiefs' Week 3 victory over the Miami Dolphins , the veteran tight end posted a photo with Walker and wrote: "Give 9 the ball!!!"
Walker had rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown against Miami while adding a receiving touchdown. K elce's message reflected the growing belief that Kansas City should make its new running back a central part of the game plan. For an offense featuring Mahomes and Kelce, Walker's emergence creates another source of explosive production.
Kansas City can lean on the run when it needs to control the pace, then turn to its passing attack when defenses adjust. That flexibility is particularly valuable in close games, where the ability to move the ball in different ways can determine the outcome.
From Super Bowl MVP to NFL MVP contender?
Walker arrived in Kansas City with a major individual honor already on his résumé. As a member of Seattle, he was named MVP of Super Bowl LX after rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries and adding 26 receiving yards in the Seahawks' 29-13 win over the New England Patriots. He became the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis in 1998.
His start with the Chiefs has raised the possibility of another award. Through Kansas City's first four games, Walker had 537 rushing yards on 87 carries, averaging 6.17 yards per attempt, with four rushing touchdowns. He also had two receiving touchdowns.
Those numbers put him in the early conversation, although sustaining that production will be essential. Quarterbacks typically dominate NFL MVP voting , making it difficult for a running back to win the award. Walker will need to remain productive throughout the season and help Kansas City maintain its winning pace.
Still, his early performances have made him more than a complementary piece in the Chiefs' offense. He is emerging as a player capable of shaping the team's weekly game plan.
