The Kansas City Chiefs are lining up to build their entire new-look running game around Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, which means rookie tailback Emmett Johnson is already facing an uphill battle for snaps. It stings a little, seeing a former Seattle Seahawks standout absolutely light it up for another squad, but man, you can’t deny K9’s talent. With Walker firmly cemented as the lead back, Johnson is projected to fight for a “gritty second option” role, a situation that could totally tank his value in most fantasy football scenarios.
The Numbers Tell a Brutal Story For Johnson’s Rookie Year
Talk about a gut punch for Johnson. This kid was an absolute monster at Nebraska. In his junior season alone, he racked up 251 carries for an insane 1451 yards and 12 touchdowns! He wasn’t just a runner either, pulling in 46 receptions for 370 yards and three receiving scores. That kind of production screams All-American, and he earned it last year. But now? ESPN’s fantasy football experts are calling for a drastically different story in 2026. They’ve got Johnson pegged for just 49 carries, 205 yards, and two touchdowns on the ground. Through the air, they project a measly eight catches for 59 yards, with no receiving touchdowns. That’s a grand total of just 46.32 fantasy points. Ouch. When you see a guy with Johnson’s college tape facing projections like that, it just shows you the pure dominance of a player like our former Seahawk, Kenneth Walker III.
Fantasy Bet or Bench Warmer? The Johnson Conundrum
Let’s be real, Emerald City, those numbers aren’t going to make Johnson a Week 1 fantasy target. He’s not built for consistent production right out of the gate, especially playing behind a Super Bowl MVP. However, the experts aren’t ruling him out entirely. They’re seeing him as a potential late-season hero, but there’s a huge catch: injuries. If the Chiefs’ backfield gets hit with the injury bug next season, those fantasy managers who took a flyer on Johnson early could be handsomely rewarded, especially when the fantasy playoffs roll around. It’s a classic high-risk, high-reward depth play, betting on opportunity opening up rather than immediate talent shining through the depth chart.
So, while we’re still buzzing about early-season trends, remember that looking ahead for guys like Emmett Johnson is all about the long game. Keep an eye on Kansas City’s backfield health and maybe, just maybe, Johnson could surprise some folks down the line. But for now, Kenneth Walker III is the undisputed king, and his shadow is long.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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