Kenneth Walker III has given the Kansas City Chiefs a punishing, tackle-shedding presence in the run game, but the club is preparing to lighten his workload as it heads into Sunday’s matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Walker opened the 2026 season with 290 rushing yards, 369 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns over his first two games. His 290 rushing yards were the highest total by an NFL player through two weeks since C.J. Spiller posted 292 in 2012.
He entered Week 3 atop the league in both rushing and scrimmage production, although Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson moved ahead following Thursday Night Football, reaching 349 rushing yards and 467 scrimmage yards.
Walker’s early pace would project to 2,465 rushing yards, 360 beyond the NFL single-season record. He is also tied with Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs for the league lead with 56 touches from scrimmage.
Chiefs seek a healthier backfield balance
Andy Reid said Kansas City wants to reduce Walker’s work “a little bit,” a priority for a player who had not completed a full 17-game schedule before last season.
Walker has been difficult to remove because of his production and physical style. He has forced 29 missed tackles in 2026, the most recorded through two games in the Next Gen Stats era. His 369 scrimmage yards also rank second in Super Bowl-era history for a player’s first two games with a new team, trailing only Billy Sims’ start with the Detroit Lions.
Running backs coach DeMarco Murray praised Walker’s readiness and leadership, saying the veteran arrived prepared for a significant workload after the team’s offseason program and training camp. Murray added that Walker welcomes the ball in his hands, which can make it challenging to take him off the field once he finds a rhythm.
Still, Murray said the coaching staff must make sure it uses its depth. “I’ve got to pull the trigger,” he said, referring to getting Walker, No. 9, out of the game and sending rookie Emmett Johnson, No. 10, into the backfield.
Johnson set for expanded opportunity
Johnson is expected to receive more carries beginning Sunday against Miami after showing promise as both a runner and receiver.
In two games, the rookie has 10 rushing attempts for 39 yards and has added four receptions for 64 yards. His 103 yards from scrimmage have given the Chiefs another option capable of creating yards after contact.
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said Johnson’s role will increase over the course of the season, but Kansas City intends to manage that growth carefully. The objective, Bieniemy said, is to keep young players confident rather than placing them in situations that could hinder their development.
The Chiefs’ task is to preserve Walker’s explosive start without taking away the edge he has brought to the offense. A larger role for Johnson could help Kansas City keep its lead runner fresh while maintaining the ground-game identity that has fueled its first two weeks.
