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If you had to guess the league's leader in rushing touchdowns through six weeks of the NFL season, chances are Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno wouldn't cross your mind.
Adrian Peterson maybe. LeSean McCoy, Arian Foster, Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles. Most seasons of late, one of these guys would be the NFL's reigning rushing touchdown king. But not this season. So far, 2013 belongs to Knowshon Moreno.
Moreno has a league-high seven rushing touchdowns through six weeks of the season, two more than his closest competition in the NFL, and tying his personal career high. Moreno needs only one more touchdown this entire season to best the mark he made in his rookie season, and make 2013 officially his highest scoring season as an NFL player.
Touchdowns aren't the only remarkable part about Knowshon Moreno's 2013 season - he's 8th in rushing average among running backs, 7th in rushing according to Pro Football Focus' grades, and a triumphant 1st and 2nd in Football Outsiders' DVOA and DYAR ratings respectively (through Week 5, not yet updated for Week 6).
What does it mean? Knowshon Moreno is an incredibly valuable part of this Broncos offense.
Just consider MHR's Running Back Stats through six weeks. Knowshon Moreno is rushing for 10 yards or more on 17.2% of his runs - a remarkable total that shows Moreno breaks a big run every six attempts. Furthermore, he's rarely getting stuffed, only gaining 0 or fewer yards once every twelve rush attempts.
Credit the Broncos offensive line, credit the coaching staff, and credit Knowshon Moreno for starting the 2013 season with an NFL-shaking bang. If he keeps up this pace, 2013 will be the resurrection of Knowshon Moreno's NFL career.