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Los Angeles Rams: Why Todd Gurley is the best running back in the NFL

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams is seen before the game against the Houston Texans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams is seen before the game against the Houston Texans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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A huge component to the Los Angeles Rams last season was running back Todd Gurley, who is creating a niche for himself as the best back in the NFL.

When the common NFL fan thinks of the best running back in the NFL some key names come to mind. David Johnson and Le’Veon Bell are the front-runners for the title. However, the title of the best running back in football has to go to Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley.

For Rams fans, this probably is something you agree with and can get behind 100 percent. However, for the rest of the NFL landscape, Gurley may not receive the same kind of love. While Gurley was great, he is not given a big spotlight outside of LA too often.

This is despite the fact that Gurley won the Offensive Player of the Year award last season. Yes, the award is pretty much a runner-up to the MVP award but is still a huge honor nonetheless. Gurley won the award over fellow running back Le’Veon Bell with David Johnson missing practically the entire season.

That award alone should be enough to shut the door on the discussion. However, Gurley has taken the league but such a storm that not many realize how good he really is.

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Plus, he does not put up the same insane individual stats on the ground that other half backs will put up. While he still is in an elite tier, he is not on Adrian Peterson type levels where he is the surefire best runner.

However, Gurley is so effective in areas of the offense that it is hard to refute him as the best runner in the NFL. Not only is he one of the best runners, he is a huge threat in the passing game and may be the best receiving halfback in the NFL. Gurley was second (36 overall) in receiving yards for halfbacks behind Alvin Kamara with 788 receiving yards last season.

Being no slouch in the running game, Gurley was able to put together a very special year. Overall, Gurley was first in yards from scrimmage with 2,093; he was the only one to surpass the 2,000 mark last season.

This is a feat that both Bell and Johnson have achieved in the past, however, Gurley achieved it in just 15 games played. If Gurley wouldn’t have sat out in week 17 against the 49ers, who knows, he could have had a huge week and surpassed 2,200 yards from scrimmage.

Not only does Gurley go toe-to-toe with Johnson and Bell, he is the safest bet moving forward. He is younger than both men and does not share the same injury concerns. Running back is a tough position, especially with the injury histories that Bell and Johnson have.

Thus, if I had to build my franchise around one running back, that running back would indeed be Todd Gurley.

Next: Rams with the most to prove

He is just so talented that he seems destined to eventually win an MVP award in his career. The Los Angeles Rams have someone special.

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