Emmett Johnson — Week 3: Six Carries, No Targets
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
Johnson carried 6 times for 17 yards and one first down and was not targeted, and returned the opening kickoff 31 yards to the Kansas City 33, one snap before a 48-yard catch by Travis Kelce. Three of his carries came on the last Kansas City possession, which ended in a missed 50-yard field goal. Kenneth Walker had 18 of the Chiefs' 24 designed runs, in a 24–10 win over the Dolphins.
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The opening kickoff came down at the Kansas City two. Emmett Johnson brought it out 31 yards to the Kansas City 33. +0.5 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position. On the next snap Patrick Mahomes threw 48 yards to Travis Kelce, and three snaps after that Kenneth Walker scored.
The line: six carries, 17 yards, one first down, four of the six successful, −0.6 expected points on the carries; no targets. The carries went seven, three, three, nothing, nothing and four. The seven was first and 10 at the Miami 21 with eight 11 left in the half, on the drive that ended with Walker stopped on fourth and one at the 12. The first three was the last Kansas City snap of the half, from its own six. The second three was the first down, second and two at the Kansas City 28 in the third quarter, on a drive that ended in a field goal. The last three came after Miami's fourth-down interception, up 24 to 10 at the Miami 36 with under two minutes left: nothing, nothing and four while Miami spent its last two timeouts, and Harrison Butker's 50-yard try went wide left. Two carries before halftime, four after.
The split: 24 Chiefs designed runs, 18 for Walker and six for Johnson; the only other Kansas City run was one Mahomes scramble. Mahomes credited 23 throws to a receiver, and none went to Johnson, after two in each of the first two games.
Back in June the preview called Johnson a claim on a role that did not exist yet, behind Walker and Kareem Hunt, and named two things to watch: passing-down work, and return-game usage as the quiet path to a roster spot. Week 1 was eight carries and two catches for 44 yards. Week 2 was two carries, two catches and a 34-yard kickoff return. Sunday the hands half got no chance — no targets — and the return half held, with the opening kickoff. Three games: 16 carries, 56 yards, four catches on four targets for 64 yards. Through three weeks he is still the only running back other than Walker to carry the ball. Three games settle little about the role. Kansas City is at the Raiders on Sunday the fourth.
_Data via nflverse._
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