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 5
5. Aaron Jones, Packers RB – Jones absolutely wrecked the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday – 107 yards, but his FOUR touchdowns absolutely gutted the Cowboys as the Packers jumped up to a 24-0 lead early and never looked back. Jones had eight touchdowns in all of 2018. He has four through five games in 2019. We’re looking at what should be a career year for the guy.
4. Josh Jacobs, Raiders RB – Jacobs may be pulling ahead in the ‘Rookie of the Year’ race, but he put on an MVP-caliber performance on Sunday. The Raiders seem to have found quite the gem on their hands, as he’s undoubtedly become the key cog in a surprising Raiders offense. In the upset over the Chicago Bears, Jacobs posted his first career 100-yard game, going for 123 and two scores.
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks QB – Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers may be the only quarterbacks in the NFL who do more for their team than Wilson. He has put the Seahawks on his back these last two seasons, and they’ve looked like a legitimate contender in a crowded NFC. Wilson went 17/23 for 268 yards and four touchdowns against the Rams this week. He has his team looking like a viable Super Bowl contender.
2. Deshaun Watson, Texans QB – You have to give props to Watson for how tough he’s playing. He’s taken hit after hit after hit, and yet, he’s still out there making plays and the Houston Texans are competitive for it. His performance against the Falcons on Sunday was nothing short of brilliant. Deshaun Watson was the highest rated passer on the day (158.3), going 28/33 for 426 yards and FIVE touchdowns. Best of all? He didn’t take a single sack on the day. The Texans have to be encouraged by that.
1. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers RB – The Panthers find themselves on a three-game winning streak, and McCaffrey could be considered the engineer of it all. Sunday was just another day at the office for the NFL’s leading rusher, as he torched the Jags for 176 yards and two scores on the ground. Factor in his 61 receiving yards (and a TD reception), and he topped 200 yards from scrimmage for the second time in five games. Hard to believe, but the Panthers are just nine points away from 5-0. If you’re twisting my arm at this point in the season, McCaffrey is the 1A to Patrick Mahomes’ 1B in the 2019 NFL MVP race.
UPDATED NFL MVP WATCH POINTS STANDINGS
15. Nick Chubb, Mike Evans, Aaron Jones, Sammy Watkins – 1
12. Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, Josh Jacobs – 2
9. Shaq Barrett, Julio Jones, Marlon Mack – 3
6. J.C. Jackson, Daniel Jones, Deshaun Watson – 4
5. Russell Wilson – 5
4. Dak Prescott – 6
3. Lamar Jackson – 8
2. Patrick Mahomes – 12
1. Christian McCaffrey – 13
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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