It’s fair to say that in a year where the playoff fats of many NFL teams will be decided in the final game of the season, MVP’s competition has resulted in a thrilling fashion with heroism of the year at the end that can ultimately define who will run from the prestigious award.
And entering Week 17, MVP is a new favorite to win. Our panel of nine analysts voted on the top 10 players so far in the MVP race, and then we used those nine sets of rankings to determine our top five candidates, using the Heisman Trophy-Esc scaling in each ranking. Based on voting in this final round, we agree with the general consensus around the league that it is a tie-up between Aaron Rogers and Patrick Mahoms. But six of our nine panelists placed the Packers quarterback at No. 1.
Presumably the 2020 MVP will be decided between the league’s two best quarterbacks, but there are also a handful of others who have made a compelling case. Here’s a look at our final MVP watch rankings.
Note: Our panel includes Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Courtney Cronin, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Mina Kims, Jason Red, Kevin Seifert and Field Yates. Odds are provided by Caesar Sportsbook by William Hill.
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Top Five | Simply missed
2020 statistics: 4,059 pass yards, 44 TDs, 5 interceptions in 15 games (plus 145 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs)
Vote in the first place: 9 of 6 | Odds to win MVP: -260
Rodgers was not put on notice after Jordan Love became the MVP’s next runner-up eight months after the Packers in April. Green Bay has been on the tear since quarterback week 12, throwing at least three touchdowns in four of the Packers’ last five wins. The Reds are now gearing up for their third MVP award after an impressive performance against Tennessee on Sunday, where they won their season-defined win (four touchdowns). It was also his 13th game of the season with a 100 straight plus passing rating, tied for the most games in a single season of the Super Bowl era, an achievement he achieved for the first time in which he was declared the most valuable player in the league. . 2011.
Leading the league in touchdown passes (44) and pass ratings (.40..4), second in completion percentage (.30..3%) and fifth in the pass yard, while Rogers made more with less weapons around him. Happened. With one more win against Chicago in Week 17, the Packers will lock the NFC’s top seed and first round bye. If Rogers doesn’t cement himself as an MVP already, he will do what he can to help the Packers accomplish that feat.
While Mahoms may be the league’s most valuable player and the face of the NFL, Rogers is the most important part of his team’s success. That’s why he finished this season as a potential MVP.
2020 statistics: 4,740 pass yards, 38 TDs, 6 interceptions in 15 games (plus 308 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs)
Vote in the first place: 3 of 9 | Odds to win MVP: +210
While Mahoms has been terrible in quarterbacking a record 14-1, there aren’t many categories where Rogers beat the ruling Super Bowl champ. Simply put, the Packers have beaten Mahoms in the quarterbacks, and a down week for Chiefs QB against the Falcons, with the fact that Rogers erupted in a nightclub on Saturday night could be a nail in the coffin. Mahoms’ three interceptions against Miami in Week 14 will not help his case. Neither of his career-low 5.4 yards vs. Saints.
The Kansas City QB will probably need to dominate the Chiefs’ regular-season final against the Chargers to regain the top spot, but it looks like coach Andy Red is leaning towards getting his start a little rest before seeing a repeat run on a title. Next month. Of course, none of this is to say that the 25-year-old is not used to describing his play in 2020 as terrific, wonderful or any other special. Mahoms leads the NFL in the passing yard and regularly pulls wild, head-scratching, miraculous plays that scare the rest of the league with his talent. Rogers has been a little better this season.
2020 statistics: 4,320 passing yards, 34 TDs, 9 interceptions in 15 games (plus 418 rushing yards and 8 rushing TDs)
Top-Five Votes: 9 of 9 | Odds to win MVP: +1200
According to ESPN statistics and data, no quarterback saw a significant increase in total QBR from 2019 (49.4) to 2020 (81.6). That has helped Bill establish supremacy at AFC East since 1995 with his first division title and the Patriots’ first season sweep in 20 years.
Allen is probably too far behind M Rogers and Moms to win the MVP, but he is not fit to participate in the conversation after his significant reversal, helping Buffalo to his most single-season win by passing 68% for a pass over 4,000 yards. Since 1993. Ellen put an exclamation point on her terrific 2020 by throwing 320 yards and four touchdowns in a prime-time win over the Patriots, which gave her an eighth 300-yard game of the season. His 34 passing touchdowns also set a new season-franchise record.
2020 statistics: 1,777 rushing yards in 15 games, 15 TDs (plus 114 receiving yards)
Top-Five Votes: 9 of 5 | Odds to win MVP: +5000
Henry is closing in on a second straight rushing title and is 223 yards away from becoming the eighth player to join the prestigious 2,000-yard rushing club. He averaged 9.9 yards per carry in December, the highest recorded in NFL history among at least 300 runners. And the most impressive thing is that despite his workload, Henry has only made the plunge once this season.
The Titans are 10-5 with a chance to beat AFC South and Henry has bid for the playoffs in every game he has played in 2020. 12 of his 15 games have at least 75 rushing yards. , And he has only once run for less than 60.
2020 statistics: 4,031 pass yards, 38 TDs, 13 interceptions in 15 games (plus 484 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs)
Top-Five Votes: 9 of 5 | Odds to win MVP: +10000
Wilson didn’t exactly return to his early season MVP form to beat the Rams and capture the NFC West, but he didn’t break Aaron Donald’s Seahawks game plan and he performed well enough to survive the conversation. . Seattle’s defense has put Wilson in some difficult situations, where he needs to win late, and he should be taken into account when evaluating the load he is asked to take in 2020. Although his candidacy suffers the most, his 13 interceptions come in third in the NFL.
Simply missed
Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams: Donald made the best effort to keep Wilson uncomfortable in Weeken 16, considering eight pressures and a sack. Second only to TJ Watt (15) is his 13.5 sacks, the only player to stand as Donald’s third Defensive Player of the Year award since 2017. Donald is one of the league’s best defenders and an anchor for the Rams. Ranked in the top three in defense or efficiency.
Alvin Camara, RB, New Le Reliance Saints: Henry gets all the love, but don’t forget about the season the room put together, with 2168 yards from Scrimigaz (third) and 21 total TDs (six more than the Titans ’MVP candidate). Without three of their top four recipients, the Saints ran everything through the room in a Christmas Day win, and, boy, did he deliver. Kamara set an NFL single-game record, running for six TDs against Minnesota, and in the process, he set a New Orleans franchise record for a touchdown in the season.
Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Currently MVP has a 150-1 odds to win, Brady has given up one of the high expectations set before him when he signed with Tampa Bay in March. For the first time since 2007, when Busy became a playoff, Brady threw four touchdowns and made 348 first-half passing yards in the Lions’ roster. After hitting the wall in November, and questions were raised about the possibility of Bucks ’offense in the postseason, Brady rode the ship and his team will play in January.
Travis Kells, TE, Kansas City Chiefs: In helping Kansas City close out the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs in Week 16, Kells caught seven passes at 98 yards. It is the first tight end of two 100-catch seasons and he has set a single-season yardage record for a tight end with 1,467 through 15 games.
Killer Murray, QB Cardinals of Arizona: The Cardinals are in an aggressive slump with their season on the line and could miss the playoffs if Murray (leg injury) doesn’t make it to Week 17. Throwing 4,000 yards would make him less likely to be the first player. And the rush for 1,000, but its impact on Arizona’s success – especially from its feet – has been felt throughout 2020. The Cardinals are 0-5 when Murray runs seven or less times in the game and 8-2 or more when he runs eight.
Getting votes too
These players received at least one top-10 vote from our nine experts. Keep in mind that in most cases those votes came out of the top five.
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Ben Rothlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Ryan Tennhill, QB, Tennessee Titans
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TJ Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Devante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
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Dalwin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
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Stephen Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bill
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Dandre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals
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Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans
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Jalen Ramsey, CB, Los Angeles Rams
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Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
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Xavian Howard, CB, Miami Dolphins
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