David Johnson the True MVP?
His name is David Johnson. He’s 25 years old, in his second season in the NFL. And he might just be the most versatile back the game has seen in decades. Throughout the 2016-17 year, he has been a monstrous force offensively. While the Cardinals haven’t exactly been bringing home the bacon, David Johnson has done everything in his power to serve as an offensive threat for a team that desperately needs it.
Last Sunday, in a surprise upset victory over the playoff contending Seattle Seahawks, Johnson surpassed Barry Sanders with his 15th consecutive game over 100 yards from scrimmage. That means he’s the first player in NFL history to accomplish such a feat. He caught two passes that helped put the Cards in range for the game winning field goal. And he closed the game out with 3 touchdowns. With the first of three scores, he broke the record for most touchdowns by a single player in Arizona history. On the second score, he broke the franchise record for rushing touchdowns with his 15th of the season. Then with 8:42 left in the fourth quarter, reflecting shades of Barry Sanders, Johnson found a seam for a cut back run that took him 33 yards down the field. That run pushed him over the 2000 yard mark from scrimmage for the year. That marks the first time a Cardinal has ever surpassed 2000 yards from scrimmage in any capacity. And with his final touchdown, Johnson snagged his 33rd score in 31 career games.
That ushers his name into the same territory as NFL greats, Gale Sayers and Jim Brown. Few other sophomore backs have been nearly as successful as David Johnson, especially in the modern age. It’s simply unheard of that a player could do so much.
Just imagine you hand the ball off to Johnson. He runs for twenty yards. And that twenty yard run opens the field up for a pass play. On the very next play, he has the capacity to line up in the slot and catch a pass for another twenty yards. It’s unreal to be honest. He presents a threat on every facet of the ball offensively.
Say what you will about Ezekiel Elliott. And you can say a lot. Elliott has been smashing records too, and he’s only a rookie. But Johnson offers the Cardinals something Elliott can’t offer the Cowboys, at least not with the same intensity. And that’s versatility.
So if we’re talking Most Valuable Player; if we’re talking about how much value a player brings to their team; about whether or not without them they could hope to perform at nearly the same level, then it’s a no brainer. The MVP belongs to David Johnson.
With one game left in the year, Johnson has 1233 yards on the ground and 841 yards receiving on 77 receptions. That’s literally more than double the passes he caught as a rookie with 33. Not only that but he’s become a major target for his quarterback, alongside the likes of Larry Fitzgerald and J.J. Nelson.
Speaking of Fitzgerald, after the win against the Seahawks, Larry had some high praise for his star teammate–literally. “That is rarefied air right there,” he said. “He’s on Mt. Everest. You kind of run out of superlatives to describe him. He does something special every single game we play.”
While it’s a bit of a long shot, Johnson could potentially surpass 1000 yards rushing and 1000 yards receiving in week 17. He needs 160 yards receiving to do so. But even if he falls shy of that mark, it cannot be stated enough how valuable he has been to the Cardinals this year. In fact, the only reason he’s not in the race for the MVP award is because Arizona has had a less than stellar 6-8-1 season.
Still, if anyone is getting my vote for MVP this year, it’s Johnson. Granted I’m just a blog writer and I have no say in this matter. But statistically speaking, value-speaking, how could we possibly give it to anyone else? 2074 yards from scrimmage. 20 touchdowns. I’ll tell you what. At the very least, the guy deserves to be the MVP of everyone’s fantasy league.
On Sunday, the Cards face division opponents, the 4-11 Los Angeles Rams. Look for Johnson to finish the year strong despite the Cards having zero shot at the playoffs. Because, well, I get the feeling that’s just the kinda guy he is.
