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 15
5. Russell Wilson, Seahawks QB – Wilson’s 137.7 passer rating was 2nd in the NFL this week. He continues to be the heart and soul of a Seahawks team that is contending for a Super Bowl. In the 30-24 win over the Panthers, Wilson went 20/26 for 286 yards and two touchdowns.
4. Kenyan Drake, Cardinals RB – It may not mean a whole hell of a lot at this point in the season, but when you go for 137 yards to lead the NFL in rushing, AND you post FOUR touchdowns on the ground as your team wins 38-24, you’re going to get a nod in the MVP Watch. Just a stellar performance by Drake, who seems to be more than a placeholder for 2019. This offense is going to be something else in 2020.
3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens QB – For the third time this season, Jackson threw five touchdown passes in a game. He continues to be damn near unstoppable this season – throwing 33 touchdowns, and scoring seven more on the ground. Jackson is the runaway favorite to take home the 2019 NFL MVP Award. Against the Jets, he finished 15/23 for 212 yards, five touchdowns, and 86 yards on the ground (he’s now 8th in the NFL in rushing – crazy).
2. Julio Jones, Falcons WR – 13 catches, 134 yards, two touchdowns – but none of those catches were as big as the gutsy catch that sealed the upset of the 49ers. The Falcons had no business winning that game, yet stole one from San Francisco.
1. Drew Brees, Saints QB – Just an all-around emotional night for Drew Brees. His 148.9 passer rating was tops in the league this week, as he went 29/30 for 307 yards and four touchdowns. It was the highest completion percentage in a game in NFL history. The night also marked his 541st career touchdown pass – a mark that now leads all of NFL history. It is absolutely insane to think of how long Brees has been among the elite at the quarterback position. He’s one of those few automatic Hall of Famers – like, they might as well just start building his bust now.
UPDATED NFL MVP WATCH POINTS STANDINGS
32. Nick Chubb, Chase Edmonds, Jared Goff, Joe Schobert, Sammy Watkins – 1
25. Sam Darnold, Kenyan Drake, Ezekiel Elliott, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Leonard Fournette, Chris Godwin, Drew Lock – 2
21. Shaq Barrett, Mike Evans, Marlon Mack, Michael Thomas – 3
15. J.C. Jackson, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones, Daniel Jones, Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford – 4
13. Dalvin Cook, Jimmy Garoppolo – 6
11. Kirk Cousins, Julio Jones – 7
9. Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill – 9
6. Drew Brees, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson – 10
4. Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers – 12
3. Christian McCaffrey – 16
2. Russell Wilson – 21
1. Lamar Jackson – 35
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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