Nov 14, 2026 5:22 PM
Fresh off a massive offseason deal, the dynamic running back has transformed Kansas City’s offense, challenging reigning winner Jaxon Smith-Njigba in a high-stakes race for postseason hardware.
Last season, Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
In the two seasons before that, the award went to running backs, with Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry winning the awards.
Smith-Njigba is right back in the conversation again, but Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III is right on his tail.
Walker signed a three-year, $45 million deal this offseason, and he has wasted no time becoming a massive part of the offense in Kansas City.
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Recently, ESPN's Bill Barnwell had his midseason award predictions. Initially, he had Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson as his Offensive Player of the Year pick, but things have changed over the last few weeks.
Here is Barnwell's list as of right now:
- Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks, WR
- Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs, RB
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions, RB
Now, Walker is currently nursing an injury and listed as questionable, but he is having a career season in his first year in the Patrick Mahomes-led offense.
For some comparison, here are the numbers for the three players side-by-side going into Nov. 15's slate of games.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 71 receptions, 1036 yards, 9 touchdowns, seven 100-yard games
- Kenneth Walker III: 159 carries, 872 yards, 7 touchdowns, 26 receptions, 172 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 fumbles, five 100-yard games
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 177 carries, 847 yards, 9 touchdowns, 34 receptions, 285 yards, 2 touchdowns
The Seahawks are the only of the three teams to not have their bye yet, so Smith-Njigba's numbers might be a bit more inflated.
Still, the Seahawks WR is 2nd in the NFL in receptions, 1st in yards and 1st in touchdowns.
Walker is second in rushing yards, and Gibbs is third, with Bijan Robinson just 8 yards ahead of Walker and 33 yards ahead of Gibbs.
Walker is second in the NFL in yards per rush with 5.5, and Jaylen Warren is first in that category.
Barnwell adds that Walker is forcing missed tackles on 38% of attempts, and Gibbs is second on that list.
Walker has a 47.8% success rate, so there are plenty of stats going his way. On the other hand, Smith-Njigba is having a dominant season once again, and he could lead the NFL in receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions in what would be a hard feat to beat for Walker or Gibbs.
Nonetheless, the signing of Walker has already paid off in a big way, and this might be a fun race to monitor.
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