Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger just dropped a bomb on his “Footbahlin’” podcast, saying running back Jaylen Warren deserves serious MVP consideration this season. Yeah, you heard that right: MVP. Roethlisberger specifically called for “league MVP or offensive MVP” talk for Warren, which is a wild take considering the running back’s current standing.
Those Numbers Are Straight Up Bonkers
Seriously, Ben isn’t just blowing smoke. Warren’s numbers this season are absolutely legit. We are talking 998 scrimmage yards through just eight weeks of action, which puts him third in the entire league! Only Jahmyr Gibbs and our own Jaxon Smith-Njigba are ahead of him. That’s elite company, plain and simple. Roethlisberger pointed out that Warren’s numbers are “pretty impressive,” especially his yards after contact, which “have to be some of the highest in the league.” You know the drill, where it looks like nothing’s happening and then “all of a sudden it’s like, oh, he fell forward for three.” That’s Warren’s game, and it’s brutally effective. He is averaging 4.89 yards per touch this season, which is the most by any running back with at least 100 touches. That kind of efficiency is unheard of, and it proves he’s playing at an elite level.
So Why Is Nobody Paying Attention?
Despite all that incredible performance and ridiculous efficiency, Warren is still flying under the radar. How under the radar, you ask? On FanDuel Sportsbook, there are still 16 players with higher odds to win the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award. It’s insane! Roethlisberger hit the nail on the head: the clear reason for the lack of love for Warren comes down to one thing, touchdowns. He only has three touchdowns this season. Couple that low touchdown output with the fact that the Steelers aren’t exactly a “flashy offense,” and it really hurts his chances in the popularity contest. He is an absolute workhorse and arguably the best player on Pittsburgh’s offense, but the lack of scoring is killing his MVP or OPOY buzz.
All of this just screams that Roethlisberger is absolutely correct: Warren deserves significantly more attention than he is getting. The dude is in the midst of an unbelievable season for the Steelers, and it’s time for the league to wake up and notice.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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