Los Angeles Rams: Todd Gurley is the perfect MVP dark horse

Todd Gurley is the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year and the Los Angeles Rams running back could follow up with an MVP award.

The Los Angeles Rams potentially have a once in a generation talent in running back Todd Gurley. Gurley has already built up quite the resume after just three seasons in the NFL and raised an already immensely high ceiling.

Gurley came out of the 2015 NFL Draft as one of two highly touted first-round running backs. The other, Melvin Gordon, is now Gurley’s crosstown rival on the Los Angeles Chargers. As good as Gordon has been, Gurley is pulling away as the better running back.

In his rookie campaign, Gurley rushed for 1106 yards with 10 rushing touchdowns. Although Gurley’s rookie year got overshadowed by Ezekiel Elliot’s a year later, he still had one of the best rookie seasons by a running back in recent memory.

However, a sophomore slump really derailed the hype around Gurley. Gurley rushed for 885 yards despite making 49 more attempts and only found the end zone six times. While decent, this year did not scream elite running back.

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Meanwhile, Melvin Gordon rebounded from a slow rookie year to pick up 997 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns, leaning the needle in his favor.

Then Todd Gurley went out and had one of the most impressive turnaround seasons to date and a career type of year for the Los Angeles Rams. Gurley rushed for 1305 yards with 13 touchdowns while adding 788 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He was the only player to have 2000 yards from scrimmage last season.

And he was only 23. At 24 years old next season, Gurley is a smart dark horse for the MVP award.

According to OddsShark, Gurley has +5000 (50/1) odds to win the NFL MVP award next season. This is tied for the 24th-highest odds alongside guys like Blake Bortles, Joe Flacco and LeSean McCoy.

Gurley’s teammate, Jared Goff, has much better odds at +1600. Even after winning the AP Offensive Player of the Year award Gurley is not the running back with the best odds. David Johnson enters the season with +3330 yards.

While quarterbacks are definitely more likely to win the award, it is not unheard of for running backs to do so. Adrian Peterson took home the honors in 2012, LaDainian Tomlinson was MVP in 2006; Shaun Alexander in 2005.

Marshall Faulk did it in 2000 as a member of the Rams. It certainly is possible, and based on the common timeline (one every six or so years) a running back is due for the award. And who better than Gurley?

Prior to last season, the last two AP Offensive Player of the Year winners were the MVPs (Matt Ryan, Cam Newton). Peterson, Tomlinson, Alexander and Faulk were all the AP Offensive Player of the Year when they won the MVP.

Gurley already has the foundation, he is in the right place at the right time and he is a dual-threat weapon in the NFL’s best offense. With a better defense that will put the offense on the field more often, Gurley is only going to get more chances to touch the ball.

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And when he does, fireworks are going to happen. Anyone that puts a small $20 on Gurley to win the MVP would turn around and win $1000. That is why the Los Angeles Rams running back is the best dark horse next season.

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