49ers news: One NFC player thinks Raheem Mostert wins MVP

It seems quite the bold prediction, but 49ers running back Raheem Mostert was viewed as a league MVP candidate by one NFC player entering 2021.

The NFL probably should have a separate MVP award that doesn’t go to a quarterback.

It’s understandable why the accolade so frequently goes to a top-performing signal-caller, the Green Bay Packers‘ Aaron Rodgers last year. Quarterback is the most important position in all sports.

That’s why it’s awfully rare for a non-quarterback to receive the award. Yet that’s not stopping one NFC player from thinking San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert winds up taking home league MVP honors in 2021.

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Speaking anonymously to FanSided’s NFL insider, Matt Lombardo, this NFC player is circling Mostert as a player who is proverbially flying under the radar but could be a dark-horse candidate for the 2021 MVP recipient:

"Don’t sleep on Raheem Mostert. Here’s a running back who is all about speed, speed, speed. He looks like he’s jogging out there, and you look at the defense and they’re sprinting to catch him. If the 49ers make a run, he’ll be a big reason why."

Bold take.

Too bold to predict 49ers’ Raheem Mostert as NFL MVP?

Of the eight dark-horse players predicted to potentially compete for an MVP award this season, Mostert and Washington Football Team EDGE Chase Young were the only two non-quarterbacks, and Lombardo recorded the vote tallies as follows:

1. Justin Herbert (4 votes)
2. Baker Mayfield (2 votes)
3. Ryan Tannehill (2 votes)
4. Chase Young (2 votes)
5. Matthew Stafford (2 votes)
6. Dak Prescott (1 vote)
7. Jalen Hurts (1 vote)
8. Raheem Mostert (1 vote)

As far as the speed factor goes, this player’s prediction does have some merit. After all, Mostert held the top-two spots for fastest ball-carrier in 2020, according to Next Gen Stats, recording an overall top speed of 23.09 miles per hour in Week 2 last year.

But Mostert also dealt with plenty of injuries, too, ultimately limiting him to just eight games played. And with the Niners infusing two rookie running backs into the fray during the offseason, Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell, Mostert’s overall touches are likely to be affected a lot in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s running back rotations.

It might be safe to simply assume Mostert is receiving some credit from this one player for being an under-the-radar offensive threat, and that’s plenty nice enough.

In reality, though, Mostert’s chances to win an MVP award are about as slim as possible, and that doesn’t even have to account for the fact the accolade almost always goes to a quarterback anyway.

The last time a non-QB won the award was back when then-Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson received it in 2012.

As for Mostert? Cool recognition, but him getting another MVP is awfully unlikely.