The Browns have a dark horse MVP candidate and it’s not Baker Mayfield

The Cleveland Browns may just have a 2020 NFL MVP candidate on their team and no, it’s not Baker Mayfield. It’s Nick Chubb.

There are some in the media who not only think Baker Mayfield is going to rebound in 2020 but be a dark horse MVP candidate as well. That’s simply not true. About him going to be the Browns MVP candidate that is, not that he won’t bounce back, because he really has no reason not to. No, the person the media should be looking at for an MVP award is none other than Nick Chubb.

In two years he’s had 2,490 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s averaged over 5.0 yards a carry and that was under Hue Jackson and Freddie Kitchens. Neither of whom optimized him. Under Jackson, he played in eight games and only had 52 carries. Until Jackson’s last two games as head coach, Chubb didn’t have more than three carries in a game. After Gregg Williams took over Chubbs took off, having three 100 yard games and 6 games of double-digit carries. Kitchens used Chubb much better, but due to poor game management often didn’t incorporate him until late or left a successful running game to try to throw more.

Now that NFL.com’s Josh Schein is talking dark horse candidates for MVP, he should be looking at Chubb and not Mayfield. At least in year one of Kevin Stefanski’s new offense. Mayfield should rebound. His 2019 wasn’t as bad as many people are claiming to be. As Browns fans, we’ve seen bad quarterback play and Mayfield didn’t have a year anywhere close to that. Sure, disappointing is fair but he’s nowhere near DeShone Kizer so don’t even pretend he is.

In 2020 though the Browns are going to go all out and highlight Chubb as the featured back and the guy the offense runs through. He’ll very much be like Derrick Henry in Tennessee. If Chubb were to win it, he’d be only the second non-quarterback to win it in the decade. Though, these are lofty expectations that Chubb doesn’t need to be saddled with.

Just, be careful NFL. Chubb is coming for you.