After an impressive outing against the Detroit Lions in Week 14, St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley has earned VAVEL USA's NFL rookie of the week honors. This is the fourth time this season that Gurley has been rookie of the week. After a slow first half, Gurley came along nicely in the second half of the game, finishing with 140 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Gurley also had one reception for seven yards. 

Gurley’s strong performance against the Lions ended a five-game skid in where he had not reached 100 rushing yards in a game. The Rams also lost all five of those games. Gurley is clearly the center of the Rams offense because when Gurley has started and rushed for over 100 yards, the Rams are 4-1, and when he fails to reach the century mark, the Rams are 0-5.

Gurley needs at least 25 yards over the Rams last three games to reach the 1,000 yard mark, as he sits at 975 rushing yards this season after Sunday’s game. 25 yards is an easily accomplishable feat. The Rams haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Steven Jackson reached the mark in 2012.

The Rams host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football this week. The Bucs rank seventh in rushing yards allowed per game. In 13 games this season, Tampa Bay allowed 100+ total rushing yards in only five games. They also have only allowed one rushing touchdown since Week 3, which came this past Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Ever since Ram legend Steven Jackson left town, the Rams have had a different starting running back every year. It started with Daryl Richardson in 2013, then Zac Stacy overtook the starting job. Then in 2014, Zac Stacy was the starter at the beginning of the season and Tre Mason proceeded to take over midway into the season. And now in 2015, Tre Mason started the season as the starter and Gurley took his starting spot. Gurley is clearly the best out of the group and has potential to be a top NFL running back. It’s highly doubtful the Rams draft a running back at any point next year in the draft, as they have drafted running backs in each of the last two drafts. Gurley should be the starting running back for the Rams for years to come.