Gurley to be First RB MVP Since 2012?
The last running back to win the MVP did so back in 2012 as he came back from a devastating knee injury to rush for almost 2000 yards. He is also seen by many to be one of the best to ever play the position. That’s right, the last person to win the MVP as a running back was none other than Adrian Peterson, who barely edged out a record setting Peyton Manning. This season, though, might see the return of a running back MVP with the performance that Todd Gurley has put on.
Gurley has been the most valuable player on his team this year with 1305 rushing yards with 13 rushing touchdowns, while also grabbing 64 catches for 788 yards and 6 touchdowns. This may be the best all around performance by a running back since LaDainian Tomlinson’s MVP performance in 2006. Of the 5705 yards that his team has put up on offense, he is responsible for 2093 of them. That is a whopping 37 percent of his team’s offensive yardage. Of the 465 points his team has scored this year, he is responsible for 114, or 24 percent.
He has been the most reliable player on this playoff team and has carried the offense on his back. Not only does he lead his team in rushing, but he has the most receptions, the second most receiving yards, and the second most receiving touchdowns. He is almost as responsible for the blossoming of Jared Goff as head coach Sean McVay. While players like Tom Brady and Carson Wentz have helped their team to succeed while being aided by other aspects, Gurley has put his entire offense on his back and marched them to the playoffs.
The measure of the MVP is not the biggest name or the best performance, but the person that has been the most valuable player in the league. That means that if you take that player away, that team will ultimately crumble. The Eagles are still winning, and the Patriots have gone 11-5 without Brady before. Take Gurley away, and this Rams team is not capable of making this incredible run to the playoffs. He truly has been the most valuable player in this league and should win this year.
