The 2026 NFL regular season’s Week 3 featured the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Miami Dolphins, moving to 3-0, one of five NFL teams with that record.
Let’s see how the national media responds in this week’s sampling of power rankings:
NFL.com: 2
(Up from 4)
The Chiefs are very aware of who they are just three weeks into the season. They didn’t need to fully exert themselves on Sunday, earning a professional win against a scrappy but undermanned Dolphins team. They decreased Kenneth Walker III’s touches, too,
which was a requirement for me in such a matchup, especially with most of the season still ahead.
ESPN: 3
(Up from 4)
Fantasy surprise: RB Kenneth Walker III
Most fantasy owners knew Walker was a good choice, especially after his impressive postseason run to help the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. But not even the Chiefs could have expected this level of production from Walker, who has the second-most total fantasy points at RB this season. He has already produced 442 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns. Walker is the first player in franchise history to have two games with a rushing and receiving touchdown within the first three weeks, per ESPN Research. — Nate Taylor
The Athletic: 3
(Up from 4)
QB confidence: All the way back
Patrick Mahomes is tied for second in the NFL in passing touchdowns (seven) and looks as scary as ever now that he’s sharing a backfield with Kenneth Walker III. Walker leads the league in rushing (360 yards), and Mahomes is using play action at a higher rate (32.1 percent) than he ever has. Mahomes was 20-of-24 for 246 yards Sunday to hold off the surprisingly plucky Miami Dolphins.
— Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
Pro Football Talk: 2
(Up from 4)
The Chiefs are back . . . to playing with their food before winning easily.
— Mike Florio
CBSSports.com: 3
(Up from 5)
At 3-0, the people who buried them need to admit they were wrong. They play a big one this week at Las Vegas against the unbeaten Raiders.
— Pete Prisco
Yahoo! Sports: 4
(Up from 6)
The Chiefs are 3-0 but if there’s a concern, it’s still the passing offense around Patrick Mahomes. In particular, Xavier Worthy has been surprisingly quiet. In three games, he has 18, 25 and 20 yards. Miami has a poor secondary and Worthy managed only two catches for 20 yards. The hope that the 2024 first-round draft pick could break out in his third season is dwindling.
Other than that, the Chiefs are doing well. The worry is what happens if Kenneth Walker, who is carrying the offense, wears down under the biggest workload of his career or misses time. There’s not much else around him for Mahomes to work with.
— Frank Schwab
USA Today: 2
(Up from 5)
RB Kenneth Walker III is averaging a league-best 120 rushing yards per game while continuing to give every indication he’s unlocked the AFC’s top-ranked offense anew. Next, a battle for first place in the AFC West at Las Vegas, where QB Patrick Mahomes is 6-0.
— Nate Davis
Sports Illustrated: 2
(Up from 3)
Here is a bit of a mea culpa and explainer on why the Kansas City Chiefs are very real. I’d check it out if I were you.
— Conor Orr
FOX Sports: 4
(Up from 8)
Everyone was finally convinced they were back to their old, dynastic selves, and then they go and let a terrible Dolphins team hang around for an awfully long time. But they are 3-0 and not every game can be perfect, I guess. They’re on the rise, though. They have a whole new dimension with RB Kenneth Walker III, and they still have the ever-dangerous Patrick Mahomes and an array of weapons.
Kansas City also has a pretty soft schedule. With the Raiders up next, they’re looking at 4-0 heading into their bye. So I have a feeling this isn’t the last stop on their climb up the charts.
Stat To Know: With the Chiefs win on Sunday, Patrick Mahomes passed Tom Brady for the third-most wins by a player in his first 10 seasons since 1950.
— Ralph Vacchiano
