The Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee has won the ground player of the week.
McGahee won the award after a a 163 yard, two touchdown rushing performance in the Broncos 38-24 win over the Oakland Raiders last Sunday. McGahee's play of the game came when the Broncos trailed by 7 in the third quarter and on the first play of the drive from the Broncos own 40, McGahee rushed for 60 yards and a score. McGahee put the game away with a 24 yard touchdown run late in the fourth.
McGahee was signed by the Broncos this off-season to add depth to the running back position to accompany Knowshon Moreno. McGahee has since took over the starting position after a Moreno injury and strong McGahee performance.
McGahee is still healing a broken hand that happened before the bye week.
It was the most rushing yards by a Broncos player since running back Reuben Droughns had 166 yards against New Orleans in 2004. McGahee leads the NFL in rushing yards per start with 103.3 yards per game. McGahee is also the sixth player in Broncos history to win the Ground Player of the Week award and first since Correll Buckhalter in week 13 of 2009.
McGahee also has posted the third-most rushing touchdowns (58) in the NFL since his first season in the league with Buffalo. He is the first player since Arian Foster (2009-2010) to record three 100-yard rushing games in his first four starts with a team.
Since the addition of Tim Tebow to the starting lineup, it appears the rushing game has improved drastically. With the option that teams have to consider Tebow as a runner, it opens up more for all the runners on the Broncos.
Congratulations to Willis McGahee on his amazing performance and here is to hoping there is many more to come as the Broncos are still in the division race in the AFC West.
Good Work Willis and Go Broncos!