In 2020, under the old voting method in which people only casted a single ballot, Derrick Henry’s 2,027-yard campaign for a first-place Titans squad didn’t garner any MVP votes. Zero.
We don’t even have to pretend a receiver, defensive player, or — LOL — a lineman has a snowball’s chance in Hades of taking the MVP stage.
The hilariously low odds of even a running back knocking off the QB streak bring us to Kenneth Walker III.
The reigning Super Bowl MVP running back is on a streak of terror in Kansas City.
Despite playing one game fewer (five) than most backs due to an early bye week, Walker leads the NFL with 665 rushing yards. He leads the NFL with 6.3 yards per attempt, and his 133 yards per game is on pace to blast past Dickerson’s single-season rushing record — during which the Hall of Famer averaged 131.6 YPG over 16 tilts. (I should point out that Dickerson finished second in MVP voting that year to Dan Marino’s 5,000-yard passing campaign).
Walker had two touchdowns in the Chiefs’ Week 6 win over the Chargers, his fourth multi-touchdown game this season, joining Calvin Johnson Jr. (2011) as the only players since the 1970 merger to score multiple TDs in four of their first five games of a season.
Walker has been the league’s best running back, and when it comes to advanced metrics, it’s not particularly close. Per Next Gen Stats, the K.C. beast has generated 277 rush yards over expected — more than 100 clear of the next-closest player (Bijan Robinson at 170). His 13.2 rush EPA is nearly double No. 2 (Christian McCaffrey at 6.8). And his EPA per carry of 0.12 is better than all comers (CMC second at 0.09).
Walker’s tackle-breaking ability has been ridiculous. He’s generated 47 missed tackles forced, most in the league (per NGS), and his 275 MTF yards are also tops.