3 Quarterbacks Dominate NFL MVP Candidates

In addition to playoff betting, NFL fans are weighing in on who should be NFL MVP.

As the name would imply, the NFL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is given out to the player “considered the most valuable in the National Football League.” But in a season marked by numerous injuries, surprise contenders, and darkhorse candidates who had incredible performances over the second half of the season, who would be most deserving of the award this year?

Here’s a look at our top three candidates for the award:

3. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks — With all due respect to the fans of the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who believe that Todd Gurley or Antonio Brown should be in this spot, Russell Wilson was absolutely incredible this year, and was the single reason that the Seattle Seahawks were vying for a postseason spot until Week 17 of the regular season. Anyone who watched this Seahawks team knows that if Seattle had even an average quarterback under center, with all the issues they had on offense, and with the myriad of injuries they had on defense, this team might not have won more than five games this year. Isn’t that the very definition of being among the most valuable players in the NFL?

Wilson’s final stats got overlooked because the Seahawks finished with an uncharacteristic 2-3 record in the month of December, but Wilson lead the NFL in touchdown passes (34), and finished second in the NFL in combined yardage (passing plus rushing). All of this came despite playing in an offensive scheme that basically came down to the team hoping Wilson could use his athleticism and elusiveness to buy time and make plays downfield. For the majority of the season, that’s just what he did.

2. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles — Being totally up front about this: if Carson Wentz didn’t suffer the season-ending in Philadelphia’s Week 14 win over the Los Angeles Rams, he would’ve been the runaway favorite to win this award.

The fact that Wentz finished second in the NFL in touchdown passes (33), despite playing three less games than any quarterback in the top 10 in that statistic, is staggering; if you project out his total over a 16-game pace, he would’ve finished with 40 touchdown passes, which would’ve easily been tops in the league. But where Wentz really destroyed and demoralized opposing defenses this year was on third down, and especially in third down and long situations (with at least six or more yards to go). On third downs this year, Wentz had a 65.3% completion rate, averaged 9.5 yards per attempt, threw 14 touchdowns, and only three interceptions.

It’s really hard to describe just how devastating this injury was the Eagles, and their fan base. For one, they would’ve gotten to see one of their own win the NFL’s MVP award for the first time in 27 years (Randall Cunningham won the award back in 1990). But more importantly, the Eagles aren’t anywhere near as good a team without him. Case in point? With Wentz under center, the Eagles would’ve easily been the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LII; without Wentz under center, the Eagles find themselves as home underdogs to the #6 seed in the NFC playoffs (the Atlanta Falcons).

1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots — Whether you believe he’s most deserving of the award because he was the best player in the league, or whether you believe he’ll win this award by virtue of being the last worthy man left standing, Tom Brady appears destined to win this year’s MVP award.
Even after losing his favorite target (Julian Edelman) before the season started, playing much of the year without his most dominant target (Rob Gronkowski), and turning 40 years old right before the season started, Brady finished with the most passing yards in the NFL this year (4,577) and the third-most touchdown passes (32). He ranked among the top five quarterbacks in the NFL in passer rating (3rd), completion percentage (5th), and yards per attempt (5th), while leading the Patriots to their eighth-straight season with 12 or more regular season wins.

Assuming Brady wins the award, it would mark the third time he’s won it, tying Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, and Brett Favre (and trailing only Peyton Manning, who’s won it five times).

Article by Rajan Nanavati with NFL Artificial Intelligence.