Kansas City Chiefs Quarter-Season Awards

The winner here is simple. Walker has been an absolute game-changer for the Kansas City offense. He leads the NFL in rushing with 537 yards and has added six total touchdowns as well.

He’s averaging 6.2 yards per carry and also leads the league in broken tackles. He’s made a big play or two in every single game this season, helping Kansas City race out to an undefeated start. The Chiefs have been waiting for a back like Walker for years. He’s been worth every single penny of his contract thus far.

Defensive MVP: Drue Tranquill

It’s hard to find a winner for this award. The Chiefs defense has been up-and-down this season, with no huge standout individual performances. With that being said, Tranquill is a solid choice for this award four games in.

The veteran linebacker has done a little bit of everything for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. He’s taken on a bigger role with Leo Chenal gone and played well. Tranquill has 29 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and two passes defended. He’s a key cog for this Chiefs defense.

Rookie of the Year: Kahlil Benson

The Chiefs’ rookie class has been excellent this year. Mansoor Delane and Emmett Johnson were both contenders for this award. But it has to go to Benson. The undrafted lineman out of Indiana has started all four games at left tackle and looked great.

He’s carving open lanes in the run game, which has helped Walker run wild. He’s also kept Patrick Mahomes clean. That’s a huge deal with Mahomes coming off an ACL tear. Benson has been a pleasant surprise for the organization and looks primed to be starting for a while.

Comeback Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes

Come on. Was there really any other option for this award? Less than nine months removed from an ACL tear, Mahomes has returned with a vengeance. He’s completing 64.1% of his passes for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns. The two-time MVP is on pace for over 4,000 passing yards and nearly 40 touchdowns.

There were concerns about a slow start for Mahomes coming off the injury. He’s proved those doubters wrong and then some. If he continues at this pace, he may need to make some more room in his trophy case for another MVP award.