Sports Time Radio

Well, we’re headed into the final week of the NFL regular season. Yes, there are 17 games this season and I’m sure it won’t be ling until they add an 18th, but as for this season this weekend is the end of the regular season. So, with that in mind it’s time that we start hearing talk about who’s going to win the MVP.

Now in most cases the voters don’t seem to look past the quarterback position, but this year there are two non-quarterbacks that deserve some very serious consideration for MVP.

Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts is the NFL’s leading rusher with 1734 yards heading into the final week of the regular season. The Colts need to get a win this weekend to lock in their playoff spot, so Taylor is definitely going to play and add to his yardage total and possible his touchdown total which sits at 18 currently. Those 18 touchdowns also lead the NFL and Taylor also has more carries than any other player with 317. Taylor also has nine games with more than 100 yards rushing with a season high of 185 yards. Taylor currently has a streak of four consecutive 100-yard games and has also gone over 100 yards in seven of the Colts last eight game. Taylor isn’t what you’d call proficient in the Colts passing game, but he has contributed 37 receptions for 342 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns.

I hope that the voters have been paying attention to the kind of numbers Taylor has put up and give him serious MVP consideration.

The other non-quarterback that I hope the voters are smart enough to include on their MVP ballots is Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp.

Kupp currently leads the NFL in receptions with 138, yards with 1829 and receiving touchdowns with 15. Kupp actually has a chance to set single season records for receptions in a season and yards in a season, but Kupp came out this week and said if he does break those records his accomplishments should have an asterisk because he had 17 games to do it in. Kupp has nine games this season where he’s put up over 100 receiving yards and in two of those games, he’s went over 150 receiving yards. Kupp has also had five games with 10 or more catches and has a season high off 13 catches in a game this season. Don’t forget that Kupp is doing this as the Rams clear cut #1 receiver. The next closest player with receptions on the Rams is tight end Tyler Higbee who has 55 receptions.

Now I’m sure there’s a case to be made for someone like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or even Joe Burrow to win the MVP, but isn’t it time that a non-quarterback gets this award. Sometimes I feel as though the voters take the easy way out and don’t look past the quarterback position. Let’s hope they manage to find a way to do that this season and either Taylor or Kupp picks up the MVP award.

Believe it or not the last time a quarterback didn’t win the MVP award was in 2012, yes ten years ago. Do you remember who won the MVP award in 2012? It was Adrian Petersen who was with the Minnesota Vikings then. Only three running backs have been named MVP in the last 16 seasons. Just in case you’re wondering a wide receiver has never won the MVP award since they started handed this award out in 1957.

So, jump in here and let me know who you think will win the NFL MVP award this season. Do you see either Taylor or Kupp having a serious chance? Or do you think the voters will do what they always do and just give the MVP to a quarterback? I’ll be interested to see how you think the voting will go.

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