Coach Kyle Shanahan says he has two legitimate candidates for NFL MVP on the San Francisco 49ers. Just don't ask him to pick one.
Shanahan agreed that Brock Purdy should be in the MVP conversation when asked Wednesday about the second-year quarterback, but also said 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey deserves consideration for the award.
Before making a case for his star players, however, Shanahan proactively avoided backing one of them for MVP. «Are you trying to get me in trouble with those two guys?» Shanahan said. «That's the only reason I wouldn't overly comment on either one of them because I don't want them to cancel each other out.» Purdy is among the consensus betting favorites for MVP and was +175 to win the award Thursday morning at ESPN BET, behind only Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (+160).
But Shanahan said Wednesday that MVP voters should not forget about McCaffrey, who is a +5,000 long shot at ESPN BET. «If any non-quarterback's going to get a MVP, I don't get how Christian McCaffrey can't,» Shanahan said. «I mean, he's amazing in what he has done all year.» McCaffrey, in his first full season with the Niners, is the NFL's leading rusher with 1,177 yards and is second in the league with 17 touchdowns this season behind Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (18).