The Kansas City Chiefs didn't waste a moment following the Super Bowl. They snapped up Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III on a three-year deal, and according to Jeremy Fowler, it's a move that will pay off.

ESPN reported on its 2026 running back rankings, which polled NFL executives, coaches, and scouts.

Jeremy Fowler provided a breakdown of Walker and what set him apart from the competition, placing him 9th in the rankings.

"The reigning Super Bowl MVP is the first since Dexter Jackson (2003) to win the award and change teams the next season. After two 1,000-yard seasons in Seattle, Walker is tasked with elevating the Chiefs' running attack. Walker appeared on nearly 60% of the ballots, with voters noting his combination of open-field vision and physicality," Fowler wrote for ESPN.

Last season, when Patrick Mahomes was injured, it posed a massive problem for the Chiefs. Their running attack slowed down. And there were multiple reasons for it. While Kareem Hunt managed 600 yards and 8 touchdowns, Patrick Mahomes contributed to the running attack with 422 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The impact was clear. Following his injury against the Chargers, the Chiefs' offense managed just 33 points in total in the next three games, losing all of them. Walker has the potential to solve that.

Fans saw it at the Super Bowl, when Walker spearheaded the Seattle Seahawks' offense, consistently taking his team down the field for 135 yards. That same consistency was on display throughout the last season, as he tallied 1,027 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Now, all that's left for the Chiefs is to get Walker settled into the team's game plan well, and according to reports, that might be the case.

Early chemistry with the offense

Patrick Mahomes spoke about his new teammate and how he's getting on with the team.

"He’s a great dude. That’s the first thing I noticed. You can tell he truly cares about football, (and) he cares about his teammates. If he’s not in the play, he’s helping the guys on the sideline, and he’s trying to learn and asking me questions and doing those things. He’s a great football player, even from what y’all saw (Thursday), it’s special," Mahomes said, per the Kansas City Star.

Mahomes could be on the sidelines by the time the next season starts, and that's when Walker can prove himself. He already has an endorsement from the QB.

"The way he’s able to run the football, catch the football, (and) do everything. I said, ‘I’m kind of built like him (laughing), but not just built like him yet.’ He’s going to help us a lot on this team, by his mindset and the football player that he is."

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar