Chargers: Melvin Gordon in the NFL’s overlooked running back

The Los Angeles Chargers have one of the best running backs in the league in Melvin Gordon, who does not receive the praise he deserves.

The Los Angeles Chargers have been one of the better teams in the NFL this season. Despite losing to the NFL’s two best teams in the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, the Chargers have bounced back and have looked like the third-best team in the AFC.

However, due to the struggle to fill up the StubHub Center with home fans and the natural small amount of exposure that the Chargers get as a franchise, the team often does not get the recognition it deserves.

Philip Rivers has been the recipient of this his whole career. Despite putting up Hall of Fame numbers and consistently being one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Rivers often gets disregarded as an elite quarterback.

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And while that is happening again this season, it is a different member of the offense that is not getting the recognition that he deserves.

Running back Melvin Gordon has been great for the Chargers this season and has been one of the main components of a thriving Chargers offense.

In six games this season, Gordon has carried the ball 91 times for 466 yards and six rushing touchdowns. Gordon has also been a component of the passing game, adding in 279 yards on thirty receptions with three touchdowns.

Gordon is third in the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Him and Todd Gurley are the only non-quarterbacks with eight or more touchdowns thus far and Gordon is fourth in the league in yards from scrimmage thus far.

Would Gurley be included in the top-six running backs for non-Charger fans? Not sure. Todd Gurley, Le’Veon Bell (even though he is not playing), Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara, David Johnson and now Saquon Barkley seem to be the common top-six that most NFL fans would name.

Gordon is certainly loved in the fantasy world but is not as recognized for his production for his real team. He has been the catalyst that has gotten the Chargers’ offense going in games they needed it.

Plus, if the Chargers were primarily a one-back team like most of these backs have the luxury of being in, Gordon would have much better stats. However, Austin Ekeler has emerged as a huge producer for the team this season and has taken some of Gordon’s thunder.

Quite frankly, Melvin Gordon is not only overlooked when it comes to his running back peers, but he has also been the second-best running back in all of football. Hopefully, he begins to get the appreciation he deserves.