Man, it’s tough watching some of these early season NFL storylines unfold, especially when they hit a little too close to home. Case in point: Kenneth Walker III is absolutely tearing it up for the Kansas City Chiefs, and through four games, the dude is practically unstoppable. He’s leading the entire NFL with a ridiculous 537 rushing yards, averaging an insane 134.3 yards per game. And get this: his 6.2 yards per carry isn’t just good, it’s a league high! The guy has six combined touchdowns and a league-best 621 scrimmage yards. Yeah, he’s the real deal, and it stings a little in Seattle knowing the Chiefs splashed out a three-year, $45 million deal to take him away from the Seahawks.
The Chiefs Are Flying High With Their New Workhorse
The Chiefs’ decision to splurge on Walker quickly is paying off big time. Before their Week 5 bye, they were sitting pretty at 4-0, and a huge chunk of that success is on Walker’s shoulders. He’s exactly what their offense needed, bringing that power running game that takes pressure off Patrick Mahomes and opens up the passing lanes. Even if he cools down a bit from this blazing start, he’s proving to be a critical ingredient for balance and explosiveness. It just shows you how quickly a single free-agent pickup, especially one who was a Super Bowl MVP, can change the entire dynamic of a team. We saw him do amazing things here, and now the rest of the league is seeing it in red.
Other Big Movers Making Noise Early
It’s not just Walker making headlines with new squads. Over in Las Vegas, the Raiders pulled off a surprise 3-1 start, and a lot of that credit goes to Kirk Cousins. They waited until April to sign him to a five-year, $172 million deal. Some folks were scoffing at the price tag, but it turns out the Raiders got a bit of a break, only on the hook for $11.3 million in guaranteed money, with Atlanta still covering $8.7 million. There was talk about new offensive-minded coach Klint Kubiak potentially benching Cousins for No.1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, but with Cousins producing so well, that plan’s on hold. Mendoza might get starts later, but only if the Raiders somehow fade or Cousins gets hurt.
Then you’ve got Mike Evans, who left the Buccaneers after 12 seasons and landed with the 49ers on a reasonable three-year, $42.5 million deal. At 33, he’s still a force. Even battling some injury issues during the Niners’ 4-0 start, he’s played in every game, snagging 17 catches on 24 targets for 213 yards and 2 touchdowns. Those aren’t monstrous numbers, but his impact downfield and in the red zone is huge, making life easier for guys like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel. He’s still dangerous in goal-to-go situations, and once he’s healthier, he’ll be even more critical for Brock Purdy’s deep ball. And hey, Isaiah Likely, the tight end who signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Giants, is also off to a hot start, which is always fun to see.
This early regular season action is already showing us just how much these free agency moves can shake things up. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but seeing these players hit the ground running for their new teams definitely sets the stage for what’s going to be an insane ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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