Four weeks of NFL football have passed so far in the 2020 season and from what has transpired, football fans have a lot of different players well deserving of this year’s MVP. We’ve seen outstanding play from all skill positions despite many injuries. We’ve seen new faces we didn’t expect to be this good and old stalwarts doing what they do. So, through 4 weeks, here are the top 5 candidates for the 2020 NFL MVP.
Honorable Mentions: Dalvin Cook, Kyler Murray, Alvin Kamara
5. Dak Prescott
If Prescott keeps up his unreal start throwing the ball, he might be worth what he wanted last offseason. He leads the league in passing yards by a wide margin and is the only QB averaging more than 335 passing yards per game, with 422.5. While he has thrown three interceptions, has a relatively low QBR and his Cowboys are only 1-3, Dak’s contributions to Dallas have been the reason the offense puts up the amount of points that they do and if the Dallas defense was even doing half of what it was supposed to, they’d probably have a winning record.
But despite the team, Prescott has played up to the $40 million dollar price tag he desires and this kind of performance holds even more significance this year as he plays under a franchise tag. Prescott’s gotten his help from a loaded Cowboys offense especially a career season start from Amari Cooper and a big beginning for rookie standout Ceedee Lamb. But no matter whose catching the passes, Dak has proven he is one of the best gunslingers in the league and if he keeps this pace up, the talk of him wanting a $40 million dollar deal next offseason could become very realistic.
4. Josh Allen
Every year, a new QB enters the MVP conversation that no one expected at the start of the year. The 2020 edition of this trend is the Bills first franchise QB in a long time. Josh Allen entered the league in 2018 as the 7th overall pick and was known for an absolute cannon of an arm, but his development in accuracy and pocket passing is what’s got him in the talks of the league’s best. He is on pace to set career highs in nearly all statistical categories so far this season and finds himself with the second most passing yards in the league, a top 10 completion percentage, the league’s third best QBR, 12 touchdowns and just one interception.
His improvement has been a key part to Stefon Diggs and John Brown’s success this season and combined with Buffalo’s shutdown defense has the Bills at a perfect 4-0 start and sitting on top of the AFC East. If Allen continues his development as an elite dual threat QB, not only will he be in the MVP conversation for years to come, but he could be the first star Bills quarterback since the great Jim Kelly.
3. Patrick Mahomes
The 2018 MVP and reigning Super Bowl MVP has not slowed down in one of the greatest starts to a career in NFL history. Not only has Mahomes led the Chiefs to a perfect 4-0 start for the third straight year, but he’s done it much more efficiently than season’s past. With 11 touchdowns, zero interceptions and on pace for career highs so far in completion percentage and QBR, Mahomes’ game seems to have only elevated after a record 10 year, $503 milllion extension after last season’s Super Bowl championship. While he isn’t making the big 60 or 70 yard plays just yet this season, Mahomes, with the help of Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and others, is still the driving force behind the best offense in the league whom are considered the undisputed favorites to win Super Bowl 55.
While Mahomes has been out played by very few QB’s so far this season, the bottom line is get used to seeing Patrick Mahomes on these kind of lists for a long time. And don’t be surprised when he is higher than just 3rd for the next decade or so.
2. Aaron Rodgers
The Packers selecting a QB in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft has seemed to have lit a fire in Rodgers to the point where he has returned to the MVP conversation at the age of 36. 13 touchdowns, the league’s best QBR and zero interceptions are not something you see from a 36 year old. And what’s even more scarier is that Rodgers has played nearly all but 1 game without his best receiver in Davante Adams and has lost breakout Allen Lazard to injury. This hasn’t hurt him one bit.
Just look at what Robert Tonyan and Marquez Valdez-Scantling have done from Rodgers getting them the ball. Making your teammates better is the definition of a most valuable player and Rodgers does that and then some. Sure, he’s had relatively easy matchups so far this season but if Adams comes back healthy and Rodgers keeps himself on the field while holding up his 70.5% completion rate, his mere second best QBR will be on its way up and just maybe his MVP stock as well. Jordan Love, it’s not gonna be your time for a while buddy.
- Russell Wilson
Pete Carroll, this is what happens when you let Russ cook. Wilson has been absolutely lethal so far this season and it’s all because of Seattle finally resorting to a pass first offense. Through 4 weeks, he is tied for the most passing touchdowns ever with 16, has a 75.2% completion rate, leads the league in QBR, is third in passing yards, and thrown just 2 interceptions all while still being stuck behind a below average o-line. Wilson’s play has elevated the entire Seahawks offense to points that it has never reached before under Carroll as Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Chris Carson have entered elite status in their positions.
Wilson’s efficiency has always been his trademark as he averages nearly a first down every time he completes a pass but can tuck it down and pound the ground himself as he has rushed for 7 first downs already this year. For every four passes he has thrown this year, three get completed. Russ’s play has no doubt been the key to Seattle’s 4-0 start and without him, the Seahawks wouldn’t be in the same breath as the playoffs. Somehow, Wilson has never received an MVP vote in his career before this season. If he even performs half of what he has the rest of the season, that is certainly going to change.
Photo: AP
