NFL Most Valuable Player has become an annual quarterback award. Quarterbacks have captured 11 consecutive MVP honors. A running back hasn't won since 2012 (Adrian Peterson), the last non-QB to be named MVP. Both Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry should be in this year's conversation.
Barkley's performance in Week 12 should have pushed him to the forefront. The former Penn State standout rushed for an astounding 255 yards in a dominant 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley set a Philadelphia Eagles single-game rushing record and it was a career-high for the former first-round pick.
Barkley rushed for 70 and 72-yard touchdowns. He now leads the entire NFL in rushing yards with 1,392. Barkley is now averaging 126.5 rushing yards per contest. Extrapolating that out, he's slated to conclude the season with a career-high 2,150 rushing yards, potentially breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record (2,105). He’s also on pace to break Chris Johnson’s single-season yards from scrimmage record (2,509). If that's not MVP-worthy, we're not sure what is.
Saquon Barkley has set an Eagles single-game rushing record AND career-high with 255 yards‼️@saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/8spJ32UbFz
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 25, 2024
The ageless Henry isn't far behind. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time rushing champion powered his Baltimore Ravens to a second-half comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers during Monday Night Football’s Harbaugh Bowl. Henry rushed for 140 yards as the Ravens outscored the Chargers 16-10 in the third and fourth quarters.
Henry, who has led in the league rushing for the majority of the campaign, is now in second place following Barkley's 250-yard performance. The two-time NFL rushing touchdown leader has totaled 1,325 ground yards through 12 appearances. Averaging 110.41 rushing yards per game, Henry is on pace for 1,877 yards.
That places Henry within striking distance of his second 2,000 rushing-yard campaign. Already part of the exclusive 2K club, Henry would become the first running back in NFL history to achieve 2,000 yards twice. Henry has transformed this Ravens offense and achieving such history should earn him legitimate votes for MVP.
The Ravens only needed one yard on fourth down, but Derrick Henry gave them 27. They'll take it-- he was carrying dudes down the field. pic.twitter.com/z0k6roKGcZ
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 26, 2024
Furthermore, no quarterback is running away with MVP honors this year. The perceived favorite is Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen. While Allen has been outstanding, he shouldn't be an overwhelming favorite over Barkley and Henry. Allen currently ranks 14th in passing yards among all quarterbacks, 24th in completion percentage (64%), and sixth in touchdown passes (18).
The Kansas City Chiefs are tied for the league's best record at 10-1, but two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes is arguably having the worst season of his career from a statistical perspective. The other alternative is Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff. Goff has the Lions as legitimate Super Bowl contenders at 10-1. Goff ranks fifth in TD passes (20) and eighth in passing yards (2,761). Hardly runaway numbers.
Both Barkley and Henry are in the midst of special campaigns. They'll square off in Week 13 in a must-watch contest between the Ravens and Eagles. With quarterback performances being rather pedestrian throughout the 2024 season, both Barkley and Henry deserve votes to end the ongoing 11-year QB streak at MVP.
