The first two games of the Kansas City Chiefs' 2026 season are in the books. The result? A 2-0 start with the Chiefs looking like the team we know and love.
The biggest change this team has so far is that they're actually running the ball and sticking with it. Kenneth Walker's addition to the offense has made that a much easier thing to do. The reigning Super Bowl MVP has already rushed for 290 yards and tallied 79 receiving yards with two total touchdowns. It's been a dream start for Walker with his new team.
Walker's hot start has undoubtedly made people wonder if the Chiefs are almost relying on him too much though. It's a fair point, as running backs obviously deal with a lot of wear and tear on their body and it's a very long season ahead.
Andy Reid already has a plan for Kenneth Walker's workload
Andy Reid discussed this with the media and said that Walker won't be dealing with the entire load as the season goes on. That's because the Chiefs have another key running back in their backfield by the name of Emmett Johnson.
"I think Emmett will continue to get more snaps and I think that will take a little bit of that load off Kenny. But he wants the ball every play—Ken does—and he's not asking to be relieved or anything else. But I think as it goes on, you get a nice balance with those two in there and then it keeps them even more fresh as the season goes on."
Johnson, a fifth-round pick out of Nebraska, is a great RB2 to have behind Walker. Through two games, he's rushed for 39 yards on 10 carries while making a bigger impact in the passing game with four catches for 64 yards. Expect that production to ramp up as the season progresses and the spotlight gets brighter.
Chiefs finally have the backfield depth they've been missing
This is an incredible position for the Chiefs to be in and one they shouldn't take for granted. For an offense that has rarely been run-first during Patrick Mahomes' time with the team, it's a nice feeling to know that if the Chiefs need to pick up a crucial first down, they have the ability to hand off to either Walker or Johnson and feel confident that either running back can get the conversion.
The Chiefs will get more into a rhythm with their running backs as the two continue to work together and gain trust but for now, a good system is in place. Walker will get the bulk of the carries but Johnson will be relied on more and more. K.C. also has Brashard Smith, an RB3 that they clearly value a lot, who can take some reps as well.
This new-look, run-first Chiefs offense has this team humming through the first two games, allowing Patrick Mahomes to launch the deep ball again, and that has to be a terrifying thought for the rest of the league.
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