Why Raheem Mostert Can Win Super Bowl 2020 MVP

One of the best parts of the Super Bowl each year is betting on who will win the Super Bowl MVP trophy.

History suggests it’s probably coming down to Patrick Mahomes or Jimmy Garoppolo. Seeing as the winning team almost always produces the MVP, and it’s typically a quarterback, that makes sense.

However, other positions have claimed the trophy. Julian Edelman did so as a wide receiver in Super Bowl 53, and three of the last ten Super Bowl MVP winners have been non-quarterbacks.

Insert classic Jim Carrey “so, you’re telling me there’s a chance” GIF here.

One player that could see an obvious route to disrupting that age-old “only quarterbacks win Super Bowl MVPs” thought process is San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert.

Here are 5 reasons to bet on Raheem Mostert to win Super Bowl 54 MVP.

Yes, Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy G make more sense here, but the top Super Bowl sportsbooks clearly see Mostert’s path to the MVP trophy.

BetOnline and other NFL betting websites have him pegged as the third-best bet (+550) to win the Super Bowl 54 MVP, and that isn’t something bettors should ignore.

Running backs haven’t claimed this award since 1998 (Terrell Davis), but they’ve still had some huge games, and the position ranks second with seven MVPs in Super Bowl history.

Another thing that stands out is the fact that Mostert is a nice feel-good story.

An undrafted player that has bounced around the league, Mostert finally landed on his feet with the 49ers and has killed in an enhanced role.

Mostert’s underdog story is one to root for, and it’ll only make a run to the Super Bowl MVP trophy more compelling.

Mostert isn’t just a good narrative, though. He’s also been completely wrecking for a dynamic San Francisco ground game.

He was so good in the NFC title game that 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo only needed to attempt eight passes.

The Green Bay Packers had zero answer for the undrafted Purdue product, with the 27-year-old dropping 220 yards and four scores in the biggest game of his life.

This wasn’t the first time we saw flashes of a star being born on the field, of course. Mostert was effective in the previous playoff game and popped off in week 13 for 146 yards against an elite Ravens defense.

Mostert is not the only weapon the 49ers have on offense. Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida can be rotated in for the rushing attack, while the league’s #2 scoring offense also has explosive weapons through the air.

But Mostert is looking like their best bet these days, and Kansas City’s main defensive weakness is on the ground.

Yes, the Chiefs shut Derrick Henry down in the AFC title game, but due to the 49ers having more ways to beat a defense, flat-out stifling Mostert seems a little less likely.

On the year, the Chiefs ranked 26^th against the run, and the eye test suggests the 49ers are more dominant up front in the trenches. If that holds true, Mostert could enjoy a huge game.

That’s precisely what I think ends up happening. One of the best bets for Super Bowl 2020 (in my opinion) is the 49ers as a straight-up winner.

Mostert and a brilliant running game may lead the way here, but he won’t be alone. He has help all along his offense, he has elite coaching, and he’s also aided by a stingy defense that could end up making this game a lot more one-sided than people care to admit.

If the 49ers win and Mostert is used to control the clock and/or grind out the win, he is absolutely in play to steal the MVP trophy.