Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

    Newell: Walker getting the ball ‘all the time’

    Link copied to clipboard!
    Link copied to clipboard!

    The Athletic’s Jesse Newell reports the Chiefs have been “getting the ball to Kenneth Walker all the time” in camp.

    Newell writes that the way the Chiefs have been getting the ball to Walker has been “one of the most striking parts of camp,” while adding that Walker has been the primary target in the screen game and in the red zone. It’s about as encouraging a report as fantasy managers could hope for if they’re eyeing Walker in drafts this season. The 25-year-old back signed a three-year, $40.05 million contract with the Chiefs this offseason and could operate as the true bell cow in Andy Reid’s offense this season. Newell also noted that the Chiefs don’t appear to be alternating backs on every other series as they have in recent years, which would only raise Walker’s fantasy ceiling for this upcoming season. Walker already figures to be in the running for a top-12 fantasy season at his position, but he could be in line for a career year if his reported camp usage holds up in the regular season.
Week 6 brings rare feat for two NFL divisions
Mike Florio examines the AFC North and NFC North entering Week 6 with every team boasting a winning record, a feat accomplished by an entire division just three times in NFL history.

Related Player News

  • KC Running Back #9
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Walker found the end zone twice in 19 seconds in this one. After scoring on a two-yard run in the fourth quarter, Walker then broke free for a 22-yard run on his next play after the Chiefs recovered a fumbled kickoff by the Raiders. Walker’s longest run of the game was an explosive burst down the right sideline that saw him pick up 76 yards, but he was tackled at the Raiders eight-yard line and lost out on a scoring opportunity two plays later when Tyquan Thornton came down in the end zone with an eight-yard reception. Walker has now scored multiple touchdowns in three of four games this season and has 621 yards from scrimmage and seven total touchdowns. He’s been more than fantasy managers could have hoped for through the first four weeks, but they will have to manage without him next week as the Chiefs enter their bye week. He’ll be firmly in the RB1 mix in Week 6, however, when the Chiefs play host to the winless Chargers.
  • KC Running Back #9
    The two-touchdown outing was Walker’s second in three games as a Chief after he had only one such effort for the Seahawks last season. His 20 touches were a rather remarkable total seeing as the Chiefs were limited to 49 plays with the Dolphins attempting to play keep away. He was not efficient, but Patrick Mahomes was. That’s the new reality for defenses facing the Chiefs, as this is no longer a stop Mahomes at all costs team. You now have to pick your poison, which is going to lead to many more blow-up efforts for KWIII. Perhaps that will include Week 4 in Vegas against the Raiders.
  • KC Running Back #10
    Johnson has turned 14 touches into 103 scrimmage yards thus far. Evidently pleased with his fifth-round rookie, Reid wants to keep “allowing Emmett to grow,” in turn taking “a little bit of load off” starting RB Kenneth Walker. Reid notes that Walker wants the ball on every play and is not asking for a lighter workload, but Reid is seeking “a nice balance with those two in there,” which “keeps them even more fresh as the season goes on.” Walker, of course, remains an elite RB1. Johnson, however, should be rostered in all 12-team leagues as a high-upside bench stash that could return standalone value before long.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Walker has now notched 178 combined yards or more in each of his new team’s first two games to start the season. In addition to the gaudy yardage numbers, Walker saw 10 targets on 47 Patrick Mahomes pass attempts in the overtime victory, while accounting for all but four running back opportunities. His backfield opportunity share, touchdown equity, and pass game involvement make Walker a top-tier fantasy asset for those that invested a second-round pick in his services this offseason. The only micro-blemish on his record against the Colts was a sequence of carries at the end of the second quarter in which he was stuffed from the one-yard line on three straight plays, with the team eventually scoring on fourth down via a touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy. Walker remains a top-tier RB1 ahead of a road date with the much more forgiving Dolphins in Week 3.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Walker single-handedly out-gained the entire Denver offense on the evening as he was the clear point of emphasis in Patrick Mahomes’ first game back after tearing his ACL in 2025. He was fed seven carries on the team’s first nine offensive plays run from scrimmage, a drive that would result in a 15-yard Mahomes rushing touchdown on the team’s first possession. The highlight of the game for the explosive back was a 60-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-one, in which he bounced the football outside and dusted the secondary on his way to the end zone. He would add a receiving score on a “Kansas City Special” later in the game, taking a Mahomes shuttle pass to the end zone from two yards out to further bolster his counting stats. What’s more, walker played all but five offensive snaps in the first half with the game still within reason, highlighting a massive ceiling for the remainder of the season. Walker is a locked-in RB1 ahead of a Week 2 matchup against the Colts.
  • KC Running Back #9
    What is clear in the wake of the Chiefs waiving Emari Demercado is that they don’t really have another player that qualifies as a passing-down back besides Walker without squinting. The other backs they kept are Emmett Johnson, a Day 3 rookie, and Brashard Smith, a gadget player without enough size to really block. Perhaps the Chiefs will address this in street free agency ahead of the season, but as things stand, it certainly seems like Walker will be involved on all three downs.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Chiefs coach Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes believe last season’s run game failed to make defenses respect their play-action run fakes. With Walker now on board, the Chiefs believe both the run game and play-action game will improve. The staff has catered to Walker by installing more plays from under center, which Walker prefers to shotgun. “One way Walker can help transform the offense,” per Taylor, “is by becoming a true dual-threat player.” Reid believes Walker’s “receiving skills and ability to make defenders miss” will allow Reid to incorporate “one of his favorite passing concepts: the variety of plays where a play-action fake to the running back is executed before a short screen pass is thrown back to the same running back.” Walker should be expected to handle a high-end, dual-threat workload. He is a locked-in RB1 with immense upside.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Walker was held out of practice recently because of the issue, but this seems to be as minor as it gets. It’s safe to assume Walker will be back at practice soon, likely without any limitations. Walker has been going at the top of the second round of fantasy drafts. This little injury scare shouldn’t move that ADP in the slightest. He remains a strong RB1 bet this year.
  • KC Running Back #9
    This probably isn’t a major cause for concern — if you’ve ever drafted Kenneth Walker before, you know he misses plenty of practice time — the Chiefs are likely just taking it easy on the man expected to be their bellcow back this season. But the more practice he misses, the more serious we’ll take it. Stay tuned.
  • KC Running Back #10
    Breer refers to RB Kenneth Walker as an “every-down” player, says RB Brashard Smith “has already shown he can be a weapon in space,” and notes RB Emari Demercado adds depth. Perhaps taking on a change-of-pace rushing role is in play for Johnson this season. The rookie back has pass-catching experience as well, but Smith and Demercado could offer more in that department at the moment. Johnson could be the next player up if Walker were to miss time.

Rotoworld

  • Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Evan Engram caught both targets for 13 yards in the Broncos’ Week 6 win over the Seahawks.

    Engram has not seen more than five targets in a game this season and has been held out of the end zone since Week 1, making him a difficult start in fantasy leagues of all sizes. He can safely remain on the bench in an enticing matchup against the Cardinals in Week 7.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #14
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Courtland Sutton caught 2-of-3 targets for 19 yards in the Broncos’ Week 6 win over the Seahawks.

    Nix’s only incompletion when targeting Sutton resulted in the veteran receiver getting rocked over the middle of the field on a ball Nix led him directly into oncoming contact. Sutton vented his frustration by repeatedly pounding the ground following the hit, with it unclear whether it was due to the hit or the incompletion on third down on a night the Broncos struggled to move the football to the tune of only 168 yards of total offense. Fantasy managers likely aren’t utilizing Sutton as a weekly option, but will want to track his practice status ahead of a Week 7 meeting with the Cardinals if bye week fill-ins are required.
  • DEN Running Back #12
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    RJ Harvey rushed six times for 25 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ Week 6 win over the Seahawks, adding 31 yards on three receptions.

    The fact that the 31 yards through the air led the team in receiving is a comment on the state of an offense that gained only 168 yards of total offense against the defending Super Bowl Champions. Even so, a relentlessly aggressive defense willed the team to victory behind a consistently positive game script, which allowed J.K. Dobbins to handily lead the backfield in opportunities. Harvey remains a matchup-dependent fantasy option best utilized in trailing game environments, which is unlikely to be the case when the Broncos face the struggling Cardinals in Week 7.
  • DEN Running Back #27
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    J.K. Dobbins rushed 17 times for 41 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ Week 6 win over the Seahawks.

    Dobbins found little room to run on a night the Broncos gained only 168 yards of total offense but handily led the backfield in opportunities in what was a consistently positive game script due to the dominance of their defense. Dobbins has now failed to eclipse a modest 50 yards on the ground in four of five appearances but might be useful as a bye week fill-in when the Broncos travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals in Week 7.
  • DEN Quarterback #10
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Bo Nix completed 17-of-27 passes for 107 yards in the Broncos’ 17-14, Week 6 win over the Seahawks, adding two yards on four carries.

    The Broncos managed just 168 yards of total offense on a night their defense carried them to victory in overtime. Nine of the Broncos’ 11 possessions, excluding the two kneel downs to end each half, ended in punts on drives that lasted five plays or fewer. Two second quarter touchdown drives had the Broncos playing with a lead for much of the game but they were otherwise unable to move the football with any consistency. An overtime interception by nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillian allowed for a game-winning, 53-yard field goal from kicker Will Lutz after the Broncos again failed to gain a first down. The win sends Denver to 4-2 while averaging only 18.7 points per game through six weeks. The team gets a scheduling gift with the Cardinals on deck in Week 7, although Nix cannot be treated as a starter-worthy fantasy asset outside of the deepest leagues.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #10
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Cooper Kupp caught 5-of-10 targets for 50 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos.

    Kupp’s 10 targets finished second on the team behind alpha Jaxon Smith-Njigba but were largely a product of 51 Sam Darnold pass attempts in game that had all the ingredients for increased pass volume, including an inability to run the football, negative game script, and overtime. It continues to appear as if Kupp’s fantasy-relevant days are far behind him, with the veteran best left on the waiver wire ahead of a Week 7 showdown against the Chiefs on deck.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #22
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Rashid Shaheed caught 5-of-8 targets for 66 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos, adding two yards on one carry.

    Shaheed’s eight targets were a product of 51 Sam Darnold pass attempts in a game the Seahawks could not find any room to run on the ground. He lost a fumble on a fluke play in the second quarter in which he rolled over the tackling defender, only for the defender’s knee to knock the football loose before Shaheed’s rear end touched the playing surface. he would fumble a punt return in the fourth quarter but easily had time to regain control before the ball was in real trouble. Shaheed remains the third option through the air for an offense typically not seeing this level of volume, making him a touchdown-or-bust fantasy option, for the time being. That doesn’t change ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the Chiefs in Seattle.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #11
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 12-of-16 targets for 134 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos.

    Smith-Njigba overcame a sluggish first half to extend his stranglehold on the overall WR1 in fantasy circles with a dominant second half and overtime period. While the 51 pass attempts from Sam Darnold were highly uncharacteristic of this Seattle offense, a complete inability to run the football paired with a negative script to form the perfect environment for Smith-Njigba to set a season high in targets and receptions. Smith-Njigba has now gone over 100 yards in five of six appearances to start the 2026 regular season and is in a good spot to continue that dominance when the Seahawks host the Chiefs in Week 7, where he remains a top-tier WR1 in fantasy circles.
  • SEA Running Back #36
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    George Holani rushed five times for 20 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos.

    Holani split primary change of pace duties with recent practice squad call-up Velus Jones Jr, the latter of whom turned four carries into 20 yards while losing one yard on his lone reception. Both backs appear unlikely to return fantasy value as Zach Charbonnet nears a return from injured reserve.
  • SEA Running Back #23
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Emanuel Wilson rushed 14 times for 52 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 loss to the Broncos.

    Wilson is now down to just 3.4 yards per carry while filling in for numerous key injuries in the Seattle backfield, with the team clearly waiting with bated breath for the return of Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet continues to inch closer to a return from injured reserve and appears likely to bring an end to the Wilson experiment, relegating the latter to bench fodder in fantasy circles in the process. That could come a early a Week 7 when the Seahawks host the Chiefs.