Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III has a big opportunity, and making this list is part of it.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a new star running back, and Kenneth Walker III has made the annual Rising Stars list that was released earlier this week by the NFL Players Association, according to a report from Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.
This list can be divided into two basic categories. There are ten rookies on the list that the NFLPA projects to be future members of the Top 50 list of licensed player product sales, according to Alper. There’s also a list of ten players with NFL experience who haven’t been on the Top 50 to date, and that’s the list Walker is on that’s led by New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough.
There are no Chiefs rookies on the list, although it’s slightly surprising given that new cornerback Mansoor Delane isn’t on it given his prominent draft slot.
As for the veterans, that list also includes Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, and New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
As for Walker, he’s a bit of a late arrival here. He was considered a workmanlike back with the Seattle Seahawks after having a down yera in 2024, but he broke out big last season as a playmaker, and Walker cemented his reputation in that regard by becoming a Super Bowl MVP.
Walker also wants more carries, and the Chiefs will probably be inclined to give him plenty if he contues to average 4.6 yards per carry. That kind of production would help balance a Chiefs offense that’s relied almost exclusively on quarterback Patrick Mahomes to make plays, especially with Mahomes still rehabilitating from a serious knee injury.
There’s still a lot of work to get to where the Chiefs want to be, however. Kansas City still has some things to figure out on the offensive line, and the Chiefs offense has never been geared to produce big yardage on the ground.
This list is closely watched by both agents and companies seeking product pitchmen, and Walker will likely get plenty of opportunites if he can produce. Both Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce have been ubiquitous as pitchmen some time, which is part of why Walker came to the Chiefs. He got the big contract, and now he would probably to get the big merch and promotion money that comes with being successful in Kansas City.
