It’s over. I’m calling it right now. Le’veon Bell is the best player in the NFL this season, period …the end. In a season where quarterback play is down, the race for MVP is wide open for other positions. Let’s take a look at how the perennial favorites are doing. Tom Brady and the Patriots are not playing well right now. Aaron Rogers’ injury will cost him the rest of the season, while Derrick Carr’s injuries have set him and his team back. Stafford, Brees, and Ryan all have been good, but far from great. Meanwhile Le’veon Bell is just starting to hit his stride after missing all of training camp.
There is an argument to be made that Bell, could have won it last year. There’s no telling where this team would have ended up without him. This season is shaping up to be more of the same. Ben Roethlisberger has not been himself this season, and the passing game has suffered. Bell and Antonio Brown have basically carried the offense so far. The Steelers will become even more reliant on Bell as the season wears on and the weather begins to worsen. We can expect a lot big games for the Steelers star running back in the future.
There have only been two running backs named MVP in the last ten years. Adrian Peterson in 2012, and LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006. So it will take an extraordinary season for Bell to pull off this feat. The rushing title will be a must to start. Bell is currently third behind rookies Kareem Hunt and Leonard Founette. What sets Bell apart from other backs in the league is his receiving ability. He is yet to have a breakout game in this area, which could be due to Roethlisberger’s struggles. Once that part of his game comes along, Bell will jump out as the favorite for MVP. As long as he can stay healthy and the Steelers make the playoffs, the 2017 NFL MVP will come from right here in Pittsburgh.