Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been taking the league by storm during his second season and now his teammates want him in the conversation for MVP.
Winning the award as a running back is incredibly difficult but through 11 games, Taylor is putting together an impressive resume. This is also on the heels of his insane performance against the Buffalo Bills where he took 35 touches for 204 total yards and five total touchdowns.
He has at least 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in eight consecutive games, which is tied for an NFL record set by LaDainian Tomlinson during his 2006 MVP season.
Now, his teammates demand Taylor belong in the MVP conversation.
“He’s sending a message to the league,” said Nyheim Hines on Sunday. “It’s been amazing watching him play. Great to watch him finish runs and make people miss. He’s a complete back. If there’s any skill position [for MVP], Jonathan Taylor needs to be in it. Him and Cooper Kupp. JT is the first in line for a non-quarterback player.”
The key there is “skill position.” It’s widely known that the MVP award is reserved mostly for quarterbacks. Whether that’s fair or not is another debate. What’s not a debate is how difficult it is for running backs to win the award.
Since 2000, only four running backs have won the award with the last one coming all the way back in 2012.
As it stands entering the Monday night game in Week 11, Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,122), rushing touchdowns (13) and rushes of 20 or more yards (10).
It isn’t only Hines who believes Taylor should be in the conversation. It’s other teammates like Michael Pittman Jr. and Kemoko Turay.
Jonathan Taylor for MVP !. My Boy already showing da league what he can do. Now put some respect on his name 😎.
— Kemoko Turay (@Kturay_58) November 21, 2021
We gotta start talking about @JayT23 for MVP
— MPJ (@MikePitt_Jr) November 21, 2021
It’s going to be hard for Taylor to do it but he has the best case outside of the quarterbacks. Given how volatile quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Josh, Allen, Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes have been this season, there could be a chance down the stretch.
Regardless, Taylor is playing at an All-Pro level and there shouldn’t be a debate about who the best running back in the NFL is right now.
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