It is fitting that the MVP race culminates in an exciting way in a year in which the fortunes of the NFL teams are decided in the final game of the season, which can ultimately determine who walks away with the coveted award.
And at the start of Week 17, there’s a new favorite to win the MVP. Our panel of nine analysts has so far voted on the top ten players in the MVP race, and we used the nine rankings to determine our top five overall candidates using the Heisman Trophy scale for each ranking. Based on the vote in this final round, we agree with the general consensus around the league that this is a boom between Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. But six of our nine panelists place Packers’ quarterback at number one spot.
The MVP for 2020 is likely to be decided between two of the league’s best backs, but there are a handful of others who have made a compelling case. Here’s a look at our final rankings for MVP watches.
Note: Our panel includes Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Courtney Cronin, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Mina Kimes, Jason Reid, Kevin Seifert, and Field Yates. The odds are provided from the Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill.
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Top Five | Not missed
2020 statistics: 4059 passing yards, 44 TDs, 5 interceptions (plus 145 running yards and 3 rushing TDs) in 15 games
First place votes: 6 of 9 | Chances of winning MVP: -260
Rodgers is noted after the Packers drafted Jordan Love in April until eight months later the forerunner of the MVP. The Green Bay full-back has been tearing up since Week 12 and has hit at least three times in four of the Packers’ last five wins. Rodgers is now on track to win his third MVP award after a dominant broadcast for the first time against Tennessee on Sunday, where he achieved his season-defining victory (four touchdowns). It was also his 13th game this season with a score of more than 100 players, equaling the most games in a single season in the Super Bowl era, an achievement he also achieved when he first scored was named the league’s most valuable player. 2011.
Rodgers made more happen with fewer weapons around him, while leading the league in strokes (44) and pass rate (119.4), finishing second in percentage completion (70.3%) and fifth in passing. meter was. With another win against Chicago in Week 17, the Packers will claim the NFC’s leading selection and a first round. If Rodgers has not yet positioned himself as the MVP, that’s what helps the Packers achieve the feat.
Although Mahomes is the most valuable player in the broad league and the face of the NFL, Rodgers is the most important part of his team’s success. That’s why he’s finishing this season as the likely MVP.
2020 statistics: 4,740 passing yards, 38 TDs, 6 interceptions (plus 308 rushing spots and 2 racing TDs) in 15 games
First place votes: 3 of 9 | Chances of winning MVP: +210
Although Mahomes was great at getting the Chiefs back in a 14-1 record, there are not too many categories where reigning Super Bowl champion Rodgers has beaten. Simply put, the Packers quarterback has outscored Mahomes in recent times, and a week for the Chiefs’ QB against the Hawks, coupled with the fact that Rodgers exploded on Sunday Night, could be the nail in the coffin. Mahomes’ three interceptions against Miami in Week 14 also do not help his case. Neither did his career-low 5.4 yards per attempt against the Saints.
The Kansas City QB will have to dominate the Chiefs’ final season against the Chargers to possibly win back the top spot, but coach Andy Reid seems to be leaning to rest his starters before watching a replay of a title. next month. Of course, there is nothing to say about this that the 25-year-old is not awesome, amazing or any other adjective one can describe to describe his game in 2020. Mahomes leads the NFL in passing gardens and has regularly pulled a wild head. -cracking, miracles that leave the rest of the league in awe of his talents. Rodgers was just a little better this season.
2020 statistics: 4,320 passing yards, 34 TDs, 9 interceptions (plus 418 rushing yards and 8 running TDs) in 15 games
Top five votes: 9 of 9 | Chances of winning MVP: +1200
According to ESPN Stats & Information, no quarterback had a greater increase in Total QBR from 2019 (49.4) to 2020 (81.6) than Allen. It helped the Bills establish dominance in the AFC East with their first division since 1995 and the Patriots’ first season in 20 years.
Allen is probably too far behind Rodgers and Mahomes to win the MVP, but he deserves no less to be in the conversation after his remarkable turnaround, completing 68% of his passes for more than 4,000 yards and helping Buffalo to his to achieve most victorious one-season victories. since 1993. Allen has put an exclamation point on his amazing 2020 by throwing for 320 yards and four touchdowns in a best-time victory over the Patriots, earning him his eighth 300-yard game of the season. His 34 passing touchdowns also set a new franchise record for one season.
2020 statistics: 1,777 rushes, 15 TDs (plus 114 receiving yards) in 15 games
Top five votes: 5 of 9 | Chances of winning MVP: +5000
Henry is busy with his second running title, and is 223 yards away from the eighth player to join the prestigious 2,000-yard club. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry in December, the most in NFL history among players, with at least 300 rushing attempts. And what is perhaps most impressive is that Henry, despite his workload, has only stumbled once this season.
The Titans are 10-5 with a chance to close out the AFC South and a playoff bid, due to the mandate that Henry has taken on almost every game he has played in 2020. He has at least 75 runs in 12 of his 15 games. , and he only raced for less than 60 once.
2020 statistics: 4,031 passing yards, 38 TDs, 13 interceptions (plus 484 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs) in 15 games
Top five votes: 5 of 9 | Chances of winning MVP: +10000
Wilson did not exactly return to his MVP form in the early season to defeat the Rams and win the NFC West, but he did not allow Aaron Donald to ruin the Seahawks’ game plan and played well enough to be in the conversation to stay. . The Seattle defense has put Wilson in tough situations, where he has to work out late victories, and that needs to be taken into account when evaluating the load he was asked to carry in 2020. What hurts his candidacy the most, however, are his 13 distinctions, which are the third most in the NFL.
Not missed
Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams: Donald did his best to keep Wilson uncomfortable in Week 16, with eight pushes and a bag. His pockets of 13.5 are second to TJ Watt (15), the only player to possibly stand in the way of Donald’s third defensive player award of the year since 2017. Donald is one of the best defenders in the league and the anchor of a Rams. defense that ranks the top three in efficiency.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints: Henry gets all the love, but don’t forget the season that Kamara put together, with 1,688 yards of scrimmage (third most) and 21 total TDs (six more than the Titans ’MVP candidate). Without three of their top four receivers, the Saints all ran through Kamara in a Christmas Day victory, and, boy, did he deliver it. Kamara raced for six TDs against Minnesota and set the NFL singles record. And in the process, he set the New Orleans franchise record in one season.
Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brady currently has a 150-1 chance of winning MVP, and has already met one of the high expectations set before him when he signed at Tampa Bay in March. For the first time since 2007, the Bucs were tied in a playoff game after Brady scored four times and made a career-high 348 first-half runs over the Lions. After hitting a wall in November and asking questions about the viability of the Bucs offense in the post-season, Brady repaired the ship and will play his team in January.
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs of Kansas City: Kelce helped Kansas City close out No. 1 in the AFC playoffs in Week 16, catching seven passes for 98 yards. He is the first flyhalf to catch two seasons of 100, and he set the singles record for a fixed point with 1,467 to 15 games.
Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are in an insulting slump with their season at stake and could miss the playoffs if Murray (leg injury) cannot go into Week 17. He’s unlikely to become the first player to throw 4,000 yards and race for 1,000, but his impact on Arizona’s success – especially with his feet – is felt throughout 2020. The Cardinals are 0-5 when Murray runs seven or fewer times in a game and 8-2 when he runs eight. or more times.
Also receive votes
These players received at least one top-10 vote from our nine experts. Remember that in most cases the votes came outside the top five.
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Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans
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TJ Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
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Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
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Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
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DeAndre 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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Xavien Howard, CB, Miami Dolphins