For years, fantasy players have been clamoring for the Chiefs to sign a big-time running back. Finally, Kansas City did it, signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to a three-year deal worth up to $45 million dollars in the opening hour of the legal tampering period on Monday. Walker will assume undisputed lead back duties for the Chiefs, while Seattle is left with a Lombardi-sized hole to fill at running back as Zach Charbonnet makes his way back from a torn ACL. Let’s break this signing down for fantasy purposes.
KENNETH WALKER III
- Walker has been a home run waiting to happen entering the league, with Fantasy Points’ Graham Barfield noting he’s led all running backs in forced missed tackles per attempt in two consecutive seasons. Underdog’s Hayden Winks pointed out that he ranks third among all running backs with 59 carries of 15+ yards since 2022, 18 more than all Chiefs running backs combined over the same span. Walker has drawn ire for his big-play-dependent style, often bouncing runs outside instead of taking the easy yardage, and Seattle used him in tandem with Charbonnet as a result, but the Chiefs are clearly comfortable enough with his play style to give him up to $45 million.
- Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are both unrestricted free agents. It’s well documented that Seattle was uncomfortable using Walker on clear passing downs and in short-yardage situations — Charbonnet out-carried Walker 16-7 inside the 5-yard line — but Brashard Smith is Walker’s only competition currently on K.C.’s roster. Kansas City could bring back Hunt, but they also just paid Walker a ton of money; you probably don’t do that if you plan to give Hunt the ball on the 1-yard line. It’s unclear what the Chiefs do on pass downs (Smith is a talented pass catcher but was sparsely used on third downs as a rookie, with protecting Patrick Mahomes being the Chiefs’ No. 1 priority), and we’ll see what other RB moves they make this offseason.
- Since Patrick Mahomes became a full-time starter, the Chiefs have ranked no higher than 20th in rushing attempts per game. They ranked first in Pass Rate Over Expectation in 2025 and second in 2024. Andy Reid wisely wants to put the ball in his quarterback’s hands as much as possible, but they haven’t had a running back like Walker during that stretch, either. We could see a more balanced approach from the Chiefs in 2026 with Walker in the fold, plus it’s not like Kansas City’s offense has been potent over the last two years with such an extreme pass rate.
- Mahomes’ health will be the storyline for the Chiefs all offseason. He tore his ACL and LCL on Dec. 14 and got surgery the next day. Despite how they looked in 2025, the Chiefs, with a healthy Mahomes, project as one of the top offenses in football, and getting the future Hall of Famer back to full health unlocks Walker’s upside case (double-digit touchdowns). Mahomes is adamant he has a chance to play in Week 1 and says his doctors agree; even if he isn’t ready for the season opener, it certainly sounds like sometime in September is realistic.
- At the end of the day, you don’t sign the premier free-agent running back of the class to a lucrative contract if you don’t plan to ride him. It’s worth watching what K.C. does on pass downs, given the emphasis on protecting Mahomes and Walker’s deficiency in that area, but Walker should dominate running back carries for an offense with sky-high upside once Mahomes returns. Walker will comfortably go within the first two rounds of fantasy drafts this offseason.
SEAHAWKS RUNNING BACKS
- Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in January and will likely be out until around the midpoint of the 2026 NFL season. George Holani is back after being tendered by the Seahawks, but with Walker gone, Seattle could add additional help depending on when they think Charbonnet will be available. It’s still only the beginning of free agency with the draft yet to come, and it’s too early to tell what the Seattle backfield looks like in 2026.
