Atlanta Falcons should move on from Todd Gurley after the season

Todd Gurley was a gamble that didn’t pay off for the Atlanta Falcons.

Through the first nine games of the season, the Atlanta Falcons thought they had a steal. Signing Todd Gurley to a one-year deal when it didn’t seem like anyone wanted him was a bold move, and it looked like it paid off early on.

Gurley ran for 584 yards and nine touchdowns over his first nine games and it seemed as though maybe he still had some left in the tank.

Over the last five games, however, one of which he missed due to ongoing problems with his knee, he has zero touchdowns and has only rushed for 60 yards on 23 attempts.

For the former league MVP, these numbers are abysmal.

It’s sad to say, but the way he has run over the last three games is very concerning, and the Atlanta Falcons would be better off not resigning Gurley once the season ends. One could assume his knee has been bothering him recently, which is why he missed a game.

The run blocking this season from the offensive line has not been consistent either, and don’t even get me started on Dirk Koetter. In other words, it is not entirely Gurley’s fault his numbers have fallen.

With that being said, he isn’t running with the same intensity and confidence as he was earlier on in the year, like when he ran for 121 yards and a touchdown against Carolina in week 5, or his two touchdown performances against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

The Atlanta Falcons need a game-changer at running back.

It’s a shame to see a fan favorite, especially in this state, struggle with setbacks that are out of his control. Ever since he won the NFL MVP award in 2017, his numbers have continued to dwindle. This trend has continued this season, specifically over the last month.

Guys like Ito Smith and Brian Hill have had to step in and have performed better than Gurley over this timeframe.

If the Atlanta Falcons do move on from him, it may be hard for him to find a team that is interested. With his knee problem starting to hamper his performance again, as it has in recent years, one can assume his time with the Atlanta Falcons is up.

This organization needs a game-changer at the running back position, something it hasn’t had since Michael Turner, and Gurley is not that game-changer anymore.