Fansided

5 NFC West headlines to look for in 2018

By Cody Rivera

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 24: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Rams defeated the Titans 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 24: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Rams defeated the Titans 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 24: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Rams defeated the Titans 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 24: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Rams defeated the Titans 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3. Will Todd Gurley dominate the league again?

There are several reasons why the Rams will be one of the best teams in the NFC this year, but having Todd Gurley in their backfield might be the biggest one.

Gurley is arguably the best running back in the NFL. Last season, he showed why when he rushed for 1,305 yards and led the league with 13 touchdowns. He’s going to be the first player off the board in thousands of fantasy drafts this year.

With an improved offensive line that was already pretty good last year, Gurley is poised to have an even bigger year in 2018.

Gurley was drafted in the first round, 10th overall, of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year that season – the Rams’ last year in St. Louis – after he finished the year with 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. He then struggled (for his standards) in his second year after the Rams moved to Los Angeles, dropping down to 885 yards and six touchdowns.

But with a new offensive-minded coach in Sean McVay, everything came together for the Rams in 2017 and Gurley was able to get back to his MVP-like form. If he can continue to dominate the league on the ground, Los Angeles will have one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

Will 2018 be a Super Bowl year for the Rams? They haven’t reached the big game since they lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI. But this might finally be the year, and if it is, a very large part of it will be because of Gurley dominating the ground game.