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Emmett Johnson Finds End Zone in Week 9, Remains a Top Handcuff Option
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson had six carries for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' 35-12 win over the New York Jets. The rookie running back continues to produce efficient numbers in 2026, averaging 8.7 yards per touch and breaking a tackle on every 8.7 carries, which ranks behind only Jaylen Warren. While Johnson has been so productive that he would likely be a starting back on over half the teams in the NFL, he's behind the league's leading rusher, Kenneth Walker III. Walker had another huge outing, totaling 143 scrimmage yards and scoring three touchdowns on 22 attempts. With Walker handling the majority of the work in the backfield, Johnson still only factors in as a backup. Fantasy managers should still target Johnson if he's available on the waiver wire, as he should continue to be one of the most productive backup running backs in the league.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kenneth Walker Breaks Out of Slump in Week 9 Win
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker had 18 carries for 102 yards and a rushing touchdown and added four catches for 41 yards and two receiving touchdowns in a 35-12 win against the New York Jets in Week 9. The veteran back entered Sunday's game on a two-week slump, in which he was held to a season-low 2.6 yards per carry against the Seattle Seahawks and just 3.3 yards per carry against the Denver Broncos. Walker now has 141 carries for 770 yards and six rushing touchdowns, and 22 catches for 131 yards and two more touchdowns in his first season with Kansas City. He is RB2 in RotoBaller's position rankings and is a must-start after a bounce-back week.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Emmett Johnson a Promising Bench Stash
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson is a worthy bench stash as we head into the back half of the fantasy season. Johnson has been used sparingly as a rusher this year behind workhorse teammate Kenneth Walker. However, when given the opportunity, he's flashed his ability as an impact player. Most recently, the rookie came alive in a big way in the team's Week 8 loss to the Broncos. The Minneapolis, Minnesota native hauled in all five of his targets for a staggering 128 yards and a touchdown on the back of a 73-yard catch-and-run. Owners can't rely on that kind of volume from Johnson every week, though it's worth noting he's been a strong option when called upon and ranks third on the team in receiving yards (237) on minimal opportunities. Johnson is unlikely to turn the Chiefs' backfield into a committee, but he could siphon off more work moving forward. Head coach Andy Reid is notorious for making rookies earn their stripes. The 23-year-old is one of fantasy's most critical handcuffs.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Emmett Johnson Could See More Touches Against Jets
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson could find himself some more involvement in the offense this Sunday against the New York Jets. Despite only handling one carry for 15 yards in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos, Johnson made a huge impact in the receiving game. Johnson caught five passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in his limited snap role, breaking off a 73-yard catch-and-run that culminated in a trip to the end zone. The 23-year-old out of Nebraska has been an impactful player nearly every time he's touched the ball this season, breaking tackles left and right, and he will get the chance to continue his impressive play against the Jets. The Jets defense has been a soft matchup for running backs in recent weeks, so Johnson could be set up nicely to build on his momentum. Kenneth Walker is still the RB1 on the team, but Johnson could earn a few more carries and targets per game if he continues displaying his explosiveness and per-touch efficiency. Johnson is ranked RB47 in our RotoBaller Week 9 PPR rankings, making him a low-end flex option this week. While a path to weekly flex viability could open up soon, it isn't open yet, so fantasy managers should treat Johnson as more of a stash candidate with tons of upside.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Kenneth Walker Set To Break Out Of Slump In Week 9
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker handled 21 carries for 69 yards (3.3 yards per carry) and caught four passes for 15 yards in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos bottled up the Chiefs back, holding him to a longest run of just 10 yards. Walker has now been held to under 3.5 ypc in his last two games after being well above that mark in his blistering five-game stretch to start the season. Walker had well over 100 rushing yards in four of his first five games, and he will try to get back to that level of production against the New York Jets in Week 9. The Jets have been middle-of-the-pack against opposing running backs this season, making this a great spot for Walker to break off some explosive plays on the ground and through the air. Walker is ranked RB2 in our RotoBaller Week 9 PPR rankings, making him a top running back option again this week. Walker has been the second most valuable back in fantasy football this season, so fantasy managers should be excited about him having a more favorable matchup this Sunday.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Kenneth Walker's Rushing Efficiency Slips During Two-Game Skid
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker hasn't shown the same explosiveness during Kansas City's two-game losing streak. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry over his first five appearances, rushing for 665 yards and scoring eight total touchdowns. Against the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, that efficiency fell to 3.0 yards per attempt, with 105 yards on 35 carries and no touchdowns. The dip is noticeable, but it isn't a reason to bench him. Walker played 81% of the offensive snaps against Denver, handled 21 of the Chiefs' 22 running back carries, and caught four passes for the second straight game. That gave him 25 touches in Week 8, even though he finished with just 84 scrimmage yards and 12.4 PPR points. RotoBaller still ranks him RB2 for Week 9 against the New York Jets. The most striking change is the absence of long runs: his longest gain across the two losses was 10 yards after producing runs of 60, 76, and 33 yards earlier this season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Emmett Johnson Establishing Flex Value Through Receiving Profile
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson has seen his target total rise in four consecutive games, culminating in a season-high five receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's loss to the Broncos. With the Chiefs in search of consistent producers in the passing game, the fifth-round rookie now ranks third on the team with his 237 receiving yards, presenting enough standalone value to make him a viable weekly flex option. Coupled with the week-winning potential he offers as a direct handcuff to Kenneth Walker, Johnson has emerged as a must-roster player and is a priority waiver add wherever still available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Emmett Johnson Plays Massive Role in Receiving Game
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson played a major role in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. So far this season, Johnson has mostly been a non-factor with Kenneth Walker III leading the way on the ground. Johnson was once again quiet on the ground with one carry for 15 yards. However, Johnson played a huge role in the receiving game during the Week 8 loss. Johnson hauled in all five of his targets for 128 yards and a touchdown. His biggest play of the game came on a 73-yard touchdown grab mid-way through the second quarter. Johnson has seen an increased role in the passing game in recent weeks. The expectation is that he'll continue seeing a handful of targets given his recent success. He's still off the fantasy radar in most formats ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the New York Jets.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kenneth Walker Looking To Get Back On Track At Denver
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker will face the Denver Broncos in Week 8. Walker is coming off easily his worst performance of the season facing his former team the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks held Walker to just 36 rushing yards on 14 carries, marking his first game with fewer than 70 rushing yards since he joined the Chiefs. Despite his down game, Walker is still second in the league in rushing, just three yards behind Bijan Robinson for the lead. Walker will get the chance to put last week behind him against the Broncos this Sunday. Walker gashed the Denver defense for 173 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 1 as he made his debut in Kansas City. The superstar back has been on quite the hot streak before running into Seattle, so one bad game should not stop fantasy managers from plugging him right back into lineups. Walker is ranked RB3 in our RotoBaller Week 8 PPR rankings, making him a top-tier RB1 yet again.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Emmett Johnson Remains a Priority Handcuff Back to Target
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson has seen very limited usage in his team's offense to this point in 2026, recording 19 carries for 62 yards and nine catches for 109 yards on 11 targets. The Chiefs have given almost all of their backfield work to superstar RB1 Kenneth Walker, who currently leads the NFL in both yards per rush attempt and rushing yards per game. As long as Walker remains healthy, Johnson is highly unlikely to provide fantasy managers with consistently relevant production. However, Walker is also currently on pace to log nearly 400 touches this season, which may be an unsustainable workload. If Walker were to get injured, Johnson could assume a three-down role in Kansas City and would immediately vault into must-start territory for fantasy managers. In leagues where he remains available, Johnson profiles as a priority waiver wire handcuff stash.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenneth Walker Stymied in Homecoming
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker rushed 14 times for 36 yards and caught four of five targets for 21 yards in his team's 20-3 loss to the hosting Seattle Seahawks. Walker was shut down by his former team in this one. Week 7 marked the first time the fifth-year pro failed to rush for 100 yards or score a touchdown in 2026, as Kansas City's passing game stalled. Fortunately for fantasy managers, he salvaged his day with some receiving production, but it was an all-around dud for the league's leading rusher heading into the weekend. With that subpar outing behind him, Walker can turn his sights on a much more beatable Denver Broncos run defense in Week 8. Including Sunday's win over Arizona, Denver's D ranks in the bottom five in rushing yards per game (133.3), setting up an excellent rebound opportunity for the Tennessee native.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Emmett Johnson a Fine Bench Stash
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson hasn't been involved enough to garner standalone value in his rookie season. However, he's a worthy bench stash as we approach the halfway mark of the campaign. Johnson isn't the fastest or most agile back, but he runs hard and had a nice role in the receiving game during his tenure at the University of Nebraska. In the former Cornhusker's final two collegiate seasons, he piled up an 85/656/5 line through the air. While he hasn't had the same opportunity in the pros, Johnson is poised to fill a pristine role if backfield mate Kenneth Walker III ever misses time. For now, fantasy managers with an extra bench spot would do well to stow the 23-year-old away for a rainy day. Johnson is the clear handcuff to own in Kansas City, and could see a slight uptick in touches this Sunday night with teammate Brashard Smith (hamstring) being placed on IR.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Emmett Johnson Should Remain on the Bench in Week 7
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson continues to be an intriguing handcuff, but he lacks standalone value for fantasy football lineups against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7. Johnson has seen his receiving involvement increase over the last few weeks, and he ultimately finished last Sunday's game with three targets, two catches, and 18 receiving yards, as well as three carries for six rushing yards. There's no path to weekly fantasy value for Johnson as long as Kenneth Walker III is healthy, but he's a very intriguing handcuff option in case Walker ever misses any time. For now, though, the 23-year-old rookie can be left on the bench in 12+ team leagues, and he can be left on waivers in most fantasy formats with fewer than 10 teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenneth Walker Set For A Revenge Game
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker is set to face his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, in a battle of recent Super Bowl Champions on Sunday. Walker has been one of the most valuable backs to start the season, leading the league in rushing despite already having his bye week in Week 5. Walker rushed 19 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns in last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Walker has been a feature back with the Chiefs and he will get the chance to show what he can do in that role against the Seahawks, who never seemed content to unleash him in that way. That said, the Seahawks defense is not a unit that can typically be run on. The Seattle defense is one of the stronger units, especially against opposing running backs. The home team will also have the benefit of knowing Walker and his tendencies, which could be detrimental to his production this weekend. Regardless of the matchup though, Walker has been on another level to start the year and there is no reason he should see any fantasy benches for as long as he is healthy. Walker is ranked RB3 in our RotoBaller Week 7 PPR rankings, making him a solid RB1 option yet again. Fantasy managers may need to prepare themselves for what may be Walker's lowest-scoring game of the season.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Emmett Johnson a High-End Handcuff as Receiving Role Grows
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson continues to generate some fantasy appeal in deeper leagues, especially after catching two of three targets for 18 receiving yards in Week 6. Although Johnson is averaging just 4.5 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues, his respectable target total can't be ignored. Even more intriguing than his target share, though, is his role as the handcuff behind Kenneth Walker. Walker has been exceptional in a workhorse role this season, ranking as the overall RB2 with 24.0 touches per game. If Walker were to ever miss time, those would be enormous shoes to fill, leaving Johnson in an immediate fantasy-relevant role. He's a mere stash for now, but he has the potential to be a weekly top-24 running back in the event that Kansas City's primary running back suffers an injury. As a result, Johnson is an intriguing waiver wire target in 12+ team leagues, especially for fantasy managers who already have Walker on their rosters.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
