Kyle Shanahan makes MVP case for Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey،
Coach Kyle Shanahan says he has two legitimate candidates for NFL MVP in the San Francisco 49ers.
Don't ask him to choose one.
Shanahan agreed that Brock Purdy should be in the MVP conversation when asked about the second-year quarterback Wednesday, but also said 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey deserves consideration for the price.
However, before defending his star players, Shanahan proactively avoided backing any of them for the MVP award.
“Are you trying to get me in trouble with these two guys?” » Shanahan said. “That’s the only reason I wouldn’t comment too much on either one because I don’t want them to cancel each other out.”
Purdy is among the consensus betting favorites for MVP and was +175 to win the award Thursday morning on ESPN BET, behind only Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (+160). But Shanahan said Wednesday that MVP voters shouldn't forget about McCaffrey, who is +5,000 on ESPN BET.
“If a non-quarterback wants to get MVP, I don't understand why Christian McCaffrey can't do it,” Shanahan said. “I mean, he’s amazing at what he’s done all year.”
McCaffrey, in his first full season with the Niners, is the NFL's leading rusher with 1,177 yards and is second in the league with 17 touchdowns this season behind Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (18). The two-time All-Pro also has 52 receptions for 437 yards.
Purdy has been equally prolific, ranking among the league leaders in every major passing category in his first full season as a starter for the 49ers (10-3), who enter this weekend as No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Purdy is third in the NFL in passing yards (3,553), tied for second in passing touchdowns (25) and second in completion percentage (70.2%), and he leads the league in yards per attempt (9.9) and quarterback rating (116.9). and QBR (74.7).
“If [the MVP] goes to a quarterback, so I don't need to talk about Christian — I can talk about our quarterback,” Shanahan said. “If his numbers are all you see, then I think that solves the problem. But if you watch the film, it makes it even stronger, which for me is the most important thing.”
The last time the MVP award was given to a player other than a quarterback was in 2012, when Vikings running back Adrian Peterson won the award.
