2024 NFL MVP: Can a non-QB win MVP? Here are 5 since 2012 who came close
Saquon Barkley is making a case to be a rare non-QB to win NFL MVP. Here are the five non-QBs who came closest to winning MVP since 2012.NOVEMBER 26
TODD GURLEY II
Falcons hope low-cost free agent class will make big splash
With little money to spend in free agency, the Atlanta Falcons are looking to make a splash with high-character players who don’t take a big chunk out of the budgetMARCH 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Could RB Todd Gurley face the LA Rams twice a year in 2021? The LA Rams are not the only NFL team to use one-year contracts to audition an NFL veteran whose fit, durability, or production is in questi...
MARCH 8, 2021 • RAMBLINFAN.COM
Intrigued by new coach Gurley expressed optimism Wednesday about what his role might look like under new Falcons head coach Arthur Smith if he were to return to Atlanta in 2021, Kelsey Conway of the team...
Impact The two-time All-Pro is planning to get in touch with both Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot in the near future to learn if he has a future with the organization. The idea of playing for the former Tennessee offensive coordinator piques Gurley's interest, given the success Derrick Henry enjoyed the past two seasons, securing rushing titles in both years. Gurley is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in March after accumulating 842 scrimmage yards and nine rushing scores during his debut season in Atlanta. His involvement waned down the stretch, as Gurley was held to single-digit carries in six consecutive games to wrap up the 2020 season.
FEBRUARY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
AP sources: Lions trade Stafford to LA for Goff, draft picks
The Detroit Lions are trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff, two future first-round draft picks and a third-round pick...JANUARY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Snead echoes McVay's uncertainty on Goff's future with Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are openly contemplating the possibility of a near future without quarterback Jared GoffJANUARY 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rams rookie RB Akers heating up on way to chilly Green Bay
Cam Akers doesn't have much experience playing football in ice-cold temperatures like he's about to encounter in Green Bay with the Los Angeles RamsJANUARY 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Falcons interview Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy, 49ers' Robert Saleh
The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and and San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for their vacant head coaching position on...JANUARY 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Closes year with inefficient outing Gurley ran for 18 yards on nine attempts while securing his only target for a 17-yard gain during Sunday's 44-27 loss to Tampa Bay.
Impact Gurley and Brian Hill split carries atop the Falcons' backfield at an even 9:9 ratio. However, Hill was far more explosive with his opportunities on the ground in generating 94 yards, albeit, largely because of a 62-yard run in the fourth quarter. Gurley's debut campaign in Atlanta did not go according to plan, as he labored to 3.5 yards per carry over 195 attempts while seeing himself get overtaken by Ito Smith (ribs) for lead RB carries down the stretch. The man largely responsible for acquiring Gurley, Thomas Dimitroff, was fired as Falcons general manager Oct. 11. The 26-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, but Smith remains under contract with Atlanta for one more season.
JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jared Goff to miss Rams' season finale after thumb surgery
Jared Goff will miss the Los Angeles Rams’ season finale against the Arizona Cardinals after undergoing surgery on his right thumbDECEMBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Finishes third on team in receiving Gurley registered 16 yards on four carries while securing all three of his targets for 34 yards during Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Chiefs.
Impact Gurley made a 26-yard reception down the right sideline on Atlanta's opening play from scrimmage, but the drive stalled three plays later to result in a punt. That gain alone contributed more than half of Gurley's Week 16 yardage production, as Ito Smith and Brian Hill combined for 17 carries atop the Atlanta backfield. A 3.5 yards-per-carry average with limited passing-game upside from Gurley has led the Falcons to look elsewhere for running back contributions down the stretch. Week 17 offers a matchup against the Buccaneers, against whom Gurley virtually disappeared last Sunday when he totaled minus-one yard on his lone carry.
DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Perplexing Falcons reach 10 losses with another blown lead
The Atlanta Falcons have reached 10 losses for the first time since 2014DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grip on lead role officially slips Interim coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Gurley's role has changed and Ito Smith has usurped him as the Falcons' lead runner, Kelsey Conway of the Falcons' official site report...
Impact Gurley only had three touches during Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay, and he's been outpaced by Smith in terms of carries, 25-15, since Week 13, so even without Morris' admission it was clear that Gurley has fallen out of favor in Atlanta's offense. The three-time Pro Bowler is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry through 13 games, putting him on pace to log a second straight season below the 4.0 mark. Meanwhile, Smith is up to 4.3 YPC on the year, and he's been the definitively better option on the ground in recent weeks. As D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, Morris named Smith's performance as the reason for the role swap, rather than any sort of injury on Gurley's part.
DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Only garners three Week 15 touches Gurley lost a yard on his lone carry, adding two catches for 15 yards during Sunday's 31-27 loss to Tampa Bay.
Impact Gurley made an impressive one-handed grab to help Atlanta move the chains on a 3rd-and-9 during the game's opening drive, but a key missed block in pass protection led to decreased involvement down the stretch. It's hard to believe Gurley would have enjoyed much success on the ground anyhow in a matchup against Tampa Bay's top-ranked rush defense. The three-time Pro Bowler has averaged just 2.7 yards per carry since Week 6. Ito Smith, meanwhile, has equaled or exceeded Gurley's rush attempts total over each of the past three games both backs have been in the lineup.
DECEMBER 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Todd Gurley trolls Lamar Jackson over MNF ‘cramps’ on Twitter Todd Gurley had a great troll of Lamar Jackson on Twitter about the quarterback's cramping issue Monday night. Lamar Jackson led a miraculou...
DECEMBER 17, 2020 • FANSIDED.COM
FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 15
After a long regular season, it’s good to be a fantasy owner in Week 15 with a chance to win a championshipDECEMBER 16, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ryan's interceptions create area of concern for Falcons
Matt Ryan threw three interceptions in the second half of Atlanta's 20-17 loss in Los Angeles with the last two coming as he was leading the offense into field-goal range with the...DECEMBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matt Ryan throws costly picks in Falcons' loss to Chargers
The Atlanta Falcons had two opportunities in the final four minutes to defeat the Los Angeles ChargersDECEMBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sluggish second half continues Gurley collected 19 yards on six carries, adding two catches for 12 yards during Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Chargers.
Impact Gurley's involvement all but dissolved in the second half, as he received one offensive touch between the third and fourth quarters combined. Ito Smith, meanwhile, fielded nine touches over the second half Sunday. The 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year has scored four touchdowns since Week 6, but he's been incredibly inefficient as a rusher during that span, managing just 2.7 yards per carry over 102 attempts. Atlanta's upcoming matchup against Tampa Bay's top-ranked rush defense provides a formidable opponent for both Gurley and Smith in Week 15.
DECEMBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Akers' breakout game on ground bodes well for Rams' future
Cam Akers appears ready to provide the rushing brilliance the Los Angeles Rams have been mostly missing since midway through their Super Bowl seasonDECEMBER 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Falcons WR Julio Jones (hamstring) out vs LA Chargers
Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones will miss his fourth game of the season because of a lingering hamstring injuryDECEMBER 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Good to go Gurley (knee) doesn't have a designation on the final injury report for Sunday's game against the Chargers, William McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact Gurley was held out of practice Friday, but it appears that was just for maintenance. Coach Raheem Morris said he expects the running back to return to his normal role this Sunday, following an absence in Week 12 and season-low 33 percent snap share in Week 13. Gurley took 14 or more carries in each of Atlanta's first nine games this year, scoring nine TDs despite averaging only 3.7 YPC.
DECEMBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Should return to normal role Coach Raheem Morris said Gurley (knee) "feels a lot more healthy this week" and should work in his normal role Sunday against the Chargers
Impact The 26-year-old had eight carries and played 33 percent of the offensive snaps Week 13 while managing the knee injury, but he's expected to put in his usual workload this weekend. Gurley was a limited participant at the first two practices of the week, and he could avoid an injury designation for Sunday if he's able to put in a full practice Friday.
DECEMBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Future deliberations begin now as Chargers host Falcons
If a team is still trying to figure out its identity going into the last quarter of the season that’s usually a sign that things aren’t going wellDECEMBER 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Another limited practice Gurley (knee) was limited in practice Thursday, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact For a second consecutive day, the Falcons have placed a cap on Gurley's reps as he continues to tend to a knee injury. After logging a 33-percent share of the offensive snaps this past Sunday against the Saints, he's expected to have a "bigger role" moving forward, as interim coach Raheem Morris relayed to Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. Friday's injury report may give a hint whether Gurley is fully ready to take on a lead role out of the Falcons backfield.
DECEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
