The NFL has shifted towards a more pass-centric style of playing, which prefers passers, pass-rushers, and pass-catchers over scramblers. And since the quarterback is the most crucial passer in any team, most years, the NFL MVP award has gone to the quarterback. The last time a non-QB won the title was more than a decade ago in 2012. That winner was the Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson.

But now it seems the trend is going to end with another running back leading in the MVP race. Christian McCaffrey, who plays for the San Francisco 49ers, has been touted by many to be the first non-QB MVP in 11 years.

The case for Christian McCaffrey to win the MVP title

CMC leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns as an RB. While the other frontrunners such as Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy, and Lamar Jackson are having a stellar season as well, it is unlikely that they will pass the 5,000-passing yards mark, which is the unofficial benchmark for a QB to win the title.

Going into Week 17, the 27-year-old has a solid resume of 1,395 rushing yards, 537 receiving yards and 21 total touchdowns. Overlapping into the 2022 season, he unfortunately lost out on tying the league’s record for most consecutive games with a touchdown. His streak ended at 17, whereas the NFL record is 18.

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But, it’s unlikely that CMC will win the coveted title. Jackson is the overbearing favorite for the title. However, there is a chance that he might be a co-winner.

Why CMC could -at best- share the title

Barry Sanders, who played for the Detroit Lions, spoke to Larry Brown Sports and said he doesn’t think that CMC can win the title alone. Taking to social media, he posted a message tagging Shannon Sharpe and said that he had recorded 2,000 rushing yards in 1997 (which is more than CMC’s record) and they still made him share the MVP award with Brett Favre. In the 21st century, non-QBs have won the title only thrice.

You know this award is going to a QB @ShannonSharpe

I rushed for 2000 yards in 97 and they made me co-MVP with @BrettFavre – I do think there is a shot #Christian will split it with (Insert QB here).@espn @FirstTake

— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) December 26, 2023

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Could it be possible that Lamar Jackson and CMC, two of the most prolific scramblers in the league, will win the award together? However, the cherry on the cake would be if he wins the award with his own QB, Brock Purdy, who is also a frontrunner in the race. CMC may be the most valuable player in the 49ers squad right now, but the remaining two games, as well as the playoffs, will determine if his performance this season was enough to make a dent in the league as a whole.

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