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A quarterback has been named NFL MVP every year since running back Adrian Peterson won the award in 2012. There’s a running back who’s making a case to end that streak in 2024, though.
Saquon Barkley has surged up the odds board for MVP after a strong stretch of play. The Philadelphia Eagles star ran for 255 yards in a Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Rams, recording the most rushing yards in a game since 2009. Barkley also had 47 receiving yards, giving him a franchise-record 302 all-purpose yards in the game, to go along with two touchdowns.
[Related: Can Saquon Barkley become first RB to be MVP since 2012?]
Following his 146-yard performance in Week 11, Barkley’s outing on Sunday helped give him the league lead in rushing yards with 1,392. His 6.2 yards per carry is also the highest in the league among running backs who qualify, and he’s fourth in rushing touchdowns (10). He’s added 33 receptions for 257 yards and two touchdowns, proving to be a seamless fit with the Eagles after leaving the New York Giants in the offseason.
Barkley is currently on pace for roughly 2,150 rushing yards, which would break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, a mark that has stood since 1984. It’s probably unrealistic to expect Barkley to keep up that rate, but it might not be unrealistic to think he could become the first non-quarterback to win MVP in 12 years.
Let’s take a look at the five non-quarterbacks who came the closest to winning MVP since Peterson’s historic 2012 season.
Only two defensive players have ever won MVP. J.J. Watt made a strong case to be the third in 2014.
The Texans icon dominated opposing offensive lines that season. Watt recorded 20.5 sacks to go with 59 total tackles. He also led the league in fumble recoveries, scooping up four of them and returning one for a touchdown. He had a league-leading 29 tackles for loss to go with five forced fumbles that season. Additionally, he recorded an interception, which he returned 80 yards for…
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Publish date : 2024-11-26 15:35:00
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