A running back averaging 133 rushing yards per game would ordinarily be among the biggest stories in football. At the Kansas City Chiefs, however, Kenneth Walker III is discovering that even historic production might not be enough to challenge the NFL's established MVP favorites.
Walker has rushed for 665 yards and six touchdowns through five games, helping Kansas City maintain a perfect 5-0 record following his offseason arrival from the Seattle Seahawks.
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes praise Kenneth Walker III and spark MVP conversation
Those numbers place him on course to challenge the NFL's single-season rushing record, yet oddsmakers continue to rank teammate Patrick Mahomes ahead of him in the MVP race.
With Josh Allen and Brock Purdy considered the leading contenders, Walker's position has sparked renewed frustration among fans who believe the award has effectively become an annual competition between quarterbacks.
The explanation lies partly in how the NFL evaluates individual value, with quarterbacks widely regarded as having the greatest influence over their teams' success.
That preference is reflected in the award's recent history. No running back has been named Associated Press NFL MVP since Adrian Peterson achieved the feat with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012.
Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards that season, narrowly missing the league record while helping Minnesota reach the playoffs.
Walker is currently averaging 133 rushing yards per game, a pace that would produce 2,261 yards across a 17-game season, surpassing Eric Dickerson's record of 2,105.
Even that possibility has not convinced oddsmakers to place him ahead of the leading quarterbacks, prompting criticism from supporters.
"Abolish the MVP Award Now. Just make it Best QB of the Year. The fact that Kenneth Walker and JSN aren't here is a crime," one Seahawks fan wrote on X.
Another fan questioned whether the voting pattern could ever change. "If Saquon didn't win it two years ago no one but QBs will ever win it again," the supporter wrote.
Kenneth Walker III prepares for Seahawks reunion
Walker's next opportunity to strengthen his case comes against familiar opposition, with Kansas City facing Seattle on Sunday Night Football.
The running back joined the Chiefs on a three-year contract after helping the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX, making his first meeting with his former team particularly significant.
Mahomes acknowledged the occasion while discussing Walker's return to the organization where he established his NFL career.
"I know it's going to be a special moment for him to get back to the place where you kind of built your career, and won a Super Bowl," Mahomes told reporters.
"Those fans were the people around him for all that. A lot of those people were teammates he grew up with as well in the NFL. It will be a special moment for him."
Can Kenneth Walker III break quarterback MVP monopoly?
Walker's challenge extends beyond maintaining his rushing production. He must also convince voters that his contribution to Kansas City's success outweighs the influence of the league's leading quarterbacks.
A strong performance against Seattle would provide another compelling argument, particularly if the Chiefs extend their unbeaten start to six games.
However, the season remains young, and maintaining record-breaking production through 17 games presents a substantial challenge.
Walker has already changed the Chiefs' offensive identity. Whether that transformation receives serious MVP consideration could become one of the defining debates of the 2026 NFL season.