Welcome in to the 2019 NFL MVP Watch, where I will be taking a look around the landscape of the MVP race in the NFL this season. This is pretty much the same thing as my Heisman Watch, sooooo…like, do I want to spend a lot of time on an intro?
Shit, I guess I will for the uninitiated – each week, I will count down the five most MVP-worthy performances of the week and offer up my reasoning for each ranking. You finish first, you get five points. Second is four, so on and so forth. I will keep the season point totals going at the bottom of the article and at the end of the season, whoever has the most points gets the 2019 SoBros Network NFL MVP “honors.”
2019 NFL MVP WATCH: WEEK 4
5. Nick Chubb, Browns RB – The Browns put their foot on the throats of the Baltimore Ravens in the second half of that game, and Chubb may have been wearing the shoe. Chubb went for 165 yards, and three touchdowns, including an 88-yarder in the 4th quarter.
4. Leonard Fournette, Jaguars RB – Sure, MinshewMania is runnin’ wild after Gardner Minshew has come on at quarterback for the Jags. But, Fournette’s performance in Denver was absolutely critical to the Jags getting to 2-2. Fournette finished the game with 29 carries for 225 yards. Nasty.
3. Shaq Barrett, Buccaneers LB – Forget ‘Defensive Player of the Year,’ Barrett is making a case for league MVP at this point in the season, too. His nine sacks has him on pace for 36 this season (lol ridiculous). Barrett hit the trifecta against the Rams, though – recording a sack, a forced fumble, AND an interception (two passes deflected on the day, too). This guy is as disruptive a force as you’ll find in the NFL right now.
2. J.C. Jackson, Patriots CB – What a game from the former undrafted cornerback. In a game that Pats offense struggled in, it came down to defense, and Jackson just may have been the difference in the game. Two timely interceptions and a blocked punt that led directly to a Pats touchdown, and the Pats win 16-10. His play had Devin McCourty saying they needed to make up an award to give to the guy.
1. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers RB – Four weeks in and, folks, I say McCaffrey is a bona fide MVP candidate. The way the Panthers use him on offense, man, he is the key cog. Against the Houston Texans, McCaffrey ran 27 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 10 balls for 86 yards. That’s THIRTY SEVEN touches in a game. Without him, I don’t know that the Panthers stand a chance. He’s now the NFL’s leading rusher with 411 yards on the season.
UPDATED NFL MVP WATCH POINTS STANDINGS
13. Nick Chubb, Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins – 1
10. Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Russell Wilson – 2
7. Shaq Barrett, Julio Jones, Marlon Mack – 3
5. J.C. Jackson, Daniel Jones – 4
4. Dak Prescott – 6
2. Lamar Jackson, Christian McCaffrey – 8
1. Patrick Mahomes – 12
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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