The Tennessee Titans have a dark horse MVP candidate

The Tennessee Titans have a dark horse MVP candidate for the 2020 season, and I’m not surprised, and you shouldn’t be either.

Last year, the Tennessee Titans offense took off. Ryan Tannehill took over the starting QB role in the middle of the season, and Derrick Henry helped by rushing for 1,540 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, which helped get him to his first Pro Bowl in his career.

I doubt that will be the last time that Henry is a Pro Bowler, and it might not be Henry’s best season yet. Henry is getting older, but he’s also getting better, and Adam Schein of NFL.com has realized this and named Henry as a dark horse MVP candidate.

Out of the nine players listed, Henry was listed at No. 7, and he was in front of Drew Lock and Michael Thomas. The players in front of him are Matt Ryan, Alvin Kamara, Derek Carr, Ezekiel Elliott, Baker Mayfield, and Josh Allen topped the list.

"“I am obsessed with Henry, so this feels low. But the fact is Ryan Tannehill was excellent last year and should be even better this season, now that he’s entrenched,” Schein said. “So the quarterback could take some of the running back’s shine.“Regardless, the reigning rushing king is the straw that stirs the drink in Tennessee, as a physical and dominant back who punishes opponents. This Titans team is legit. Last season wasn’t a fluke. Mike Vrabel and Co. are building something in Nashville.”"

Henry is the 2019 NFL Rushing Champion, and he was a big reason the Titans made it to the AFC Championship. I don’t think that Tannehill is going to take away that many rushing attempts from Henry because he’s still a vital part of the Titans’ offense.

It’s been a while since a running back has won the MVP. Adrian Peterson was the last one to do it in 2011, but that doesn’t mean that the new decade could start out with Henry claiming his first MVP.

Out of the long shots that Schein listed, I think that Henry probably has the best chance to win the MVP. Thomas will probably have another really good year, Kamara will keep things rolling in New Orleans, and Zeke will too, but I think Henry can edge them out in the stat book.

Who knows, with Zeke, Kamara, and Henry, it could be a running back year for the MVP. Of course, we still have Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, and a few other great quarterbacks in the league, but it could be the year of the running backs if those three I listed can have career seasons.