Is Matt Forte the best offensive player in the NFL?

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Matt Forte has been named the NFL‘s midseason offensive player of the year by Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. The Chicago Bears running back is having a monster season, but is he really the best offensive player in the league?

Apparently even King doesn’t think so. He named Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers as his overall MVP and said he was ‘fudging a bit here’ in naming Forte his top offensive player because Rodgers ‘is so clearly ahead of the rest.’

Kind of an odd move, but it’s true that Rodgers and Forte both are having seasons worth acknowledging. Rodgers has completed 71.5% of his passes to the tune of 2,372 yards and 20 touchdowns with only three interceptions. And Forte has been a workhorse for the Bears (4-3). He has 672 yards (5.4 per carry) and two touchdowns rushing and 419 yards and one touchdown receiving.

Of course, there are plenty of other candidates out there as well. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a two-time MVP, is having a typical season, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has passed for more yards than anyone (2,746) and Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton is generating a lot of excitement.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson already has 11 touchdown catches, but Carolina’s Steve Smith, New England’s Wes Welker and Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace are also having big years. And its hard to leave Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson out of the discussion.

Who do you think the best offensive player has been so far this season? Vote in the poll (yes, you are allowed to vote for Rodgers in this poll), and leave a comment letting us know why you voted the way you did.

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-- Chuck Schilken