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NFC West Q&A: Is Rams RB Todd Gurley the best non-QB skill player in the division?
By Nick Wagoner
[espn.go.com]
Today's question: Todd Gurley won offensive rookie of the year in 2015. With Marshawn Lynch retired, is Gurley already the best non-quarterback offensive skill position player in the NFC West?
Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals reporter: This is a tough but great question. I’m not just throwing this out there because I cover the Cardinals, but couldn’t receiver Larry Fitzgerald be considered -- especially after his career season? He set a record for catches in a season in 2015 which resulted in his first 1,000-yard year since 2011. There are solid and persuasive arguments for both, however. Gurley is a monster. He’s the second coming of Lynch. But is he at a point in his career where teams have to plan around him? He’s certainly getting there. Just look at what he did to Arizona in Week 4 last year, when he ran for 146 yards in the final three quarters. At the same time, however, defenses have been preparing for Fitzgerald for years. And while his numbers had been low before last season after moving to the slot, Fitzgerald showed -- especially in the divisional win over Green Bay -- he’s still a force at 32.
Paul Gutierrez: San Francisco 49ers reporter: Let’s see -- Fitzgerald is on the wrong side of 30. Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls flashed but does not have much of a résumé. And 49ers running back Carlos Hyde could not stay healthy. So, um, yes, Gurley is indeed already the best non-quarterback offensive skill position player in the division. And really, it’s not all that close, not when you consider all that Gurley accomplished in laying waste to the NFC West last year, as 403 of his 1,106 rushing yards and two of his 10 touchdown runs came in four divisional games, including a 146-yard coming-out party at Arizona. Three games later, he rumbled for 133 yards with a 71-yard blink-and-you-miss-it TD run. It culminated a stretch of four straight 100-yard rushing games for the rookie, and he added the flourish against the division. Running backs have been devalued in recent years, but with the Rams moving back to Los Angeles and Gurley already showing some star power, his profile is only going to go up -- as should his on-field production.
Sheil Kapadia, Seattle Seahawks reporter: If there were a draft right now among non-quarterback offensive skill position players in the NFC West, Gurley would go No. 1. The division has an impressive group of young running backs. Hyde will get plenty of touches in coach Chip Kelly’s scheme. David Johnson was excellent last season (1,038 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns). And Rawls led all backs in average yards per carry. But Gurley has the highest ceiling. As for pass-catchers, Fitzgerald turns 33 in August, and Jimmy Graham is coming off of a serious injury. I’d also take Gurley over wide receivers like Michael Floyd, John Brown and Doug Baldwin.
By Nick Wagoner
[espn.go.com]
Today's question: Todd Gurley won offensive rookie of the year in 2015. With Marshawn Lynch retired, is Gurley already the best non-quarterback offensive skill position player in the NFC West?
Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals reporter: This is a tough but great question. I’m not just throwing this out there because I cover the Cardinals, but couldn’t receiver Larry Fitzgerald be considered -- especially after his career season? He set a record for catches in a season in 2015 which resulted in his first 1,000-yard year since 2011. There are solid and persuasive arguments for both, however. Gurley is a monster. He’s the second coming of Lynch. But is he at a point in his career where teams have to plan around him? He’s certainly getting there. Just look at what he did to Arizona in Week 4 last year, when he ran for 146 yards in the final three quarters. At the same time, however, defenses have been preparing for Fitzgerald for years. And while his numbers had been low before last season after moving to the slot, Fitzgerald showed -- especially in the divisional win over Green Bay -- he’s still a force at 32.
Paul Gutierrez: San Francisco 49ers reporter: Let’s see -- Fitzgerald is on the wrong side of 30. Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls flashed but does not have much of a résumé. And 49ers running back Carlos Hyde could not stay healthy. So, um, yes, Gurley is indeed already the best non-quarterback offensive skill position player in the division. And really, it’s not all that close, not when you consider all that Gurley accomplished in laying waste to the NFC West last year, as 403 of his 1,106 rushing yards and two of his 10 touchdown runs came in four divisional games, including a 146-yard coming-out party at Arizona. Three games later, he rumbled for 133 yards with a 71-yard blink-and-you-miss-it TD run. It culminated a stretch of four straight 100-yard rushing games for the rookie, and he added the flourish against the division. Running backs have been devalued in recent years, but with the Rams moving back to Los Angeles and Gurley already showing some star power, his profile is only going to go up -- as should his on-field production.
Sheil Kapadia, Seattle Seahawks reporter: If there were a draft right now among non-quarterback offensive skill position players in the NFC West, Gurley would go No. 1. The division has an impressive group of young running backs. Hyde will get plenty of touches in coach Chip Kelly’s scheme. David Johnson was excellent last season (1,038 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns). And Rawls led all backs in average yards per carry. But Gurley has the highest ceiling. As for pass-catchers, Fitzgerald turns 33 in August, and Jimmy Graham is coming off of a serious injury. I’d also take Gurley over wide receivers like Michael Floyd, John Brown and Doug Baldwin.
