Yep, this was supposed to be a “first quarter review” type of piece, but guess what – your boy is BUSY. So, before the season slips away from me anymore, let’s just hash this out right quick. Today, I’m going to be looking at my candidates in the 2017 NFL MVP race. So, let’s not waste any more time.
Tom Brady
I know, I know. You guys are probably sick and tired of hearing me gush about how great Brady is. But, guess what – I’m the author, so here we are. No, the Patriots don’t look like the same dominant team that won the Super Bowl last year. So much for all that 19-0 talk, right? But, Brady is still showing how instrumental he is to this team this season. Without him, this is a mediocre-at-best football team. There, I said it.
Leonard Fournette
Blake Bortles has, at times, appeared to single-handedly try to hinder the Jaguars offense. Thankfully, Fournette has been running out of his mind with the rock. He’s second in the league in rushing yards with 466, and leads the NFL with five rushing touchdowns so far (tied with Devonta Freeman). Throw in a receiving touchdown and he’s second only to Todd Gurley in scoring. He complements a defense that is winning the Jags games by controlling the line of scrimmage and just generally being an unstoppable force of nature.
A.J. Green
I know, they do honor the entire season with the NFL MVP award. Green didn’t get off to a hot start, but listen – if you’re asking me for a wide receiver to ride this week, I’m going with the hot hand. Green has scored in each of the last three games, he’s putting up yardage, and the Bengals are back in the AFC North race. This is more of a “guy to watch” pick than a “body of work” pick right now.
Todd Gurley
Gurley is playing like it’s his rookie season again, which is encouraging for an upcoming Los Angeles Rams franchise. Seattle reminded ’em who is the boss in the NFC West, but I would not be surprised to see the Rams chase them down as the season goes on. This is one of the best offenses in football, and it’s due in large part to the success of Gurley. Dude’s a beast. He leads the NFL in scoring among non-kickers with seven total touchdowns.
Kareem Hunt
The NFL’s leading rusher at this point in the season, this rookie is a damn human tornado. Six total touchdowns, 609 rushing yards, and more 20+ runs of anyone else in the league. He’s actually averaging 6.3 yards per carry. That’s INSANE for a first year player. Hunt is a lethal weapon on that Chiefs offense. He’s the unquestioned Offensive Rookie of the Year so far, but it’s worth having him in the MVP discussion as well.
Melvin Ingram
It’s hard to quantify defensive players in the MVP race. There’s so many numbers and stats we keep for offensive players that those things are naturally going to pop more than defensive numbers. That said, Ingram is a FORCE at linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s 2nd in the NFL with 7.5 sacks, and also has a fumble forced and recovered on his resume.
Jalen Ramsey
We’ve already established that the Jaguars are winning games because of their defense, and the secondary is the highlight of it. There isn’t a better pair of corners in the NFL this season than A.J. Bouye and Ramsey. Kinda makes a Titans fan wonder why the hell Jon Robinson didn’t make a stronger push to sign Bouye. But, that’s neither here nor there. The fact is, this was a hard decision to make. Bouye and Ramsey both have two interceptions. But, Ramsey has more passes deflected. Plus, just look at the eye test, Ramsey is smothering people. I give him the nod.
Aaron Rodgers
The Packers look like the best team in the NFC and it’s largely due to the quarterback. I can’t put it any more plainly: as long as Rodgers is standing and breathing, he’s going to give them a shot. I’m willing to say he’s the greatest quarterback in the game today. Not all time. Not including last season. Not including future seasons….but right now. Yeah, I say Rodgers.
Alex Smith
You can’t leave Smith out of the conversation when he’s leading the NFL in passer rating. The dude has thrown for 1,391 yards (5th), but he’s tossed 11 touchdowns with 0 interceptions. Sorry, but I’m a sucker for doughnuts in the INT column. I love Smith’s role in making the Chiefs the best team in football so far. Sure, the numbers are there, but he also has all the intangible it takes to win the MVP award.
Carson Wentz
Show the young man some love. The Philadelphia Eagles are in the hunt, and the second-year quarterback is at the helm. His 1,584 passing yards are second only to Brady’s 1,702, and his 13 passing touchdowns actually leads the league (tied with Rodgers). It’s okay to include him here, folks. He’s playing at an elite level.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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