The Kansas City Chiefs' reinvented running game has helped the team get off to a 5-2 start in the 2026 NFL regular season, and rookie rusher Emmett Johnson has been a major contributor to the ground attack through eight weeks.

Paired with Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, Johnson has excelled in his role as Kansas City's spellback, especially as a receiver in the Chiefs' backfield. His ability to break tackles has proven to be particularly valuable and should set him apart from his peers from the 2026 NFL Draft.

This week, NFL analyst Ian Hartitz shared a stat comparing Johnson's "tackles avoided" to other top running backs, a category in which he ranks among the top rushers in the league:

Through seven games, Johnson has tallied 70 rushing yards on 20 carries and 237 receiving yards on 14 catches, including a 73-yard touchdown reception in Kansas City's Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos — the first six-point score of his career.