Kenneth Walker III, our former Super Bowl 60 MVP, is absolutely tearing it up for the Kansas City Chiefs after signing his 3-year, $43 million deal in free agency. Through just six weeks of the regular season, and only five games played because of a bye week, Walker is leading the entire NFL with an absolutely insane 665 rushing yards.
The K9 Unleashed: Chiefs Are Feasting
Seriously, think about that: 665 yards in five games. He is also sitting pretty at No. 1 in average yards per carry at a ridiculous 6.3, and he is averaging 133 yards per game. Six rushing touchdowns already, including two scores in those recent AFC West wins against the Raiders and Chargers. We are talking about a guy who is getting limited NFL MVP buzz, which is wild for a running back, but he is the runaway favorite for Offensive Player of the Year. His 17-game pace? A mind-boggling 2,261 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs. Unbelievable.
Remember that Chiefs rushing attack that was ranked No. 25 in 2025, grinding out just 105.6 yards per game? Well, with Walker in the backfield, they have done a complete 180. They are now the league’s second-best rushing attack, putting up 159.2 yards per game. That is a dramatic change, taking a ton of pressure off Patrick Mahomes and opening up their downfield passing game big time. Kansas City is getting a lot more out of Walker, paying him workhorse money and seeing it pay off in spades. This was a monumental addition for them, for sure.
Seattle’s Running Back Nightmare and Offensive Struggles
Meanwhile, back here in the Emerald City, it is a different story entirely. We tried our best to keep Walker, but he walked for a better price, and honestly, it is clear the team regretted that decision when they spent a surprise late first-round pick on rookie running back Jadarian Price to replace him. And man, have we missed Walker. His 665 rushing yards for the Chiefs? That is more than the *entire* Seahawks team has managed in six games, with us only getting to 643 total rushing yards. That stat alone tells you everything you need to know about what we lost.
Our rushing offense has taken a hit, dropping from No. 11 in 2025 (123.3 yards per game) to No. 18 this season, averaging a paltry 107.2 yards per game. We are just not as productive as we were last season with Walker, and it does not help that we are battling injuries. Jadarian Price, our hopeful replacement, played only three games before hitting injured reserve with a chest ailment. And with other key backs sidelined, we have seen Emanuel Wilson, the former Packers’ top backup to Josh Jacobs, show some productive flashes, but the consistency just is not there.
This drop-off in the running game has led to some serious impatience and a real lack of balance, forcing quarterback Sam Darnold to shoulder too much. He is relying too heavily on passing to our superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Brian Fleury, the former 49ers running back coach, stepped in as offensive coordinator for Klint Kubiak, but even he has seen the Seahawks forced to pass at an uncomfortable rate. It is a tough spot, and the reminders are going to keep coming.
This Sunday night in Week 7, we get a firsthand look at what we are missing when we host Kansas City at Lumen Field. Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. It is going to be a brutal reminder, but maybe it is also a chance for our guys to step up and show us what they have got, even without K9. This team has to find its balance, and fast.
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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