Is Frank Gore the NFL MVP Candidate That No One Is Talking About?

The NFL MVP honors usually go to a quarterback, but San Francisco's Frank Gore is making a strong case for himself. However, he isn't likely to win the award. The last running back to win MVP honors was LaDainian Tomlinson back in 2006. Tomlinson ended that season with 1,815 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns. For comparison, Gore is on pace for around 1,200 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Based on the above comparison, Gore's MVP chances are slim. He doesn't have a high number of rushing yards and his touchdown total is a bit disappointing. Gore's season has been a success, but it doesn't put him in the MVP discussion.

The MVP race appears to be a battle between Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. At this point, Gore likely will only reach the fourth spot in the race.

Gore's MVP case is based on his role as the 49ers' workhorse back. This role has resulted in 224 carries, third most in the NFL.

Jim Harbaugh employs a run-heavy attack, which emphasizes clock control and mistake-free football. Without Gore, this offense would struggle to find any type of consistency. Not every running back would find success in this system. Because of his ability to gain yards after contact, he is the ideal back for this offense.

Opposing defenses are very aware of Gore. They understand that Harbaugh wants to get him 25 or more carries. This forces defensive coordinators to commit more defenders to shutting down the run. All the extra attention makes Gore's success even more impressive.

Gore's numbers aren't eye-popping, but the MVP award depends on more than stats. MVP winners usually are on a winning football team and have a major role in their team's success. As mentioned above, Gore is a major part of the 49ers' success.