Brock Purdy or Christian McCaffrey? The question lingers over which San Francisco 49ers player truly deserves the NFL's coveted MVP award. The voting often leans toward quarterbacks, and Purdy is currently the betting favorite, but a strong case can be made for McCaffrey. The running back leads the league in rushing yards (1,292), all-purpose yards (1,801), and total touchdowns (20) this season.
But with the upcoming Christmas night matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, the MVP conversation might shift, especially if Lamar Jackson has a standout performance.
In the eyes of Brock Purdy, the 49ers' humble second-year quarterback, the MVP campaign should favor his teammate, not himself.
"He does it all," Purdy said of McCaffrey on Friday. "I think he's the reason why our pass game and our play-action pass and all that kind of stuff opened up, because he sort of sets a standard with the run game. And then, when we do pass the ball, he's there [too].
"And he catches the ball, he makes guys miss. He can go up against safeties and linebackers and make them miss and stuff in the pass game, and then he scores touchdowns. His stats are crazy. So he's definitely a valued player, and I think, the most valued player."
As Purdy and McCaffrey gear up for the highly anticipated Christmas night showdown against the Ravens, the 49ers, currently the Super Bowl favorites, know things could quickly change if Jackson leads his team to an upset victory at Levi's Stadium.
With both teams leading the race in their respective conferences for home-field advantage in the playoffs, Monday night's clash is crucial for each squad's Super Bowl aspirations.