Welcome in to the 2021 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 2021 SoBros Network NFL MVP “honors.”
2021 NFL MVP WATCH: WEEK 13
5. Jonathan Taylor, Colts RB – Another fantastic stat line from Taylor as he ran over the Houston Texans on Sunday, getting 32 carries and turning it into 143 yards and two touchdowns. He is leading the NFL in rushing yards by 370 yards, posting 1,348 on the season.
4. Mattew Stafford, Rams QB – After a stretch of losses that saw Stafford throw five touchdowns to five interceptions, a game against the Jags was just what the man needed to get back to form, going 26/38 for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Stafford is 2nd in the NFL this season with 30 touchdown passes.
3. Justin Herbert, Chargers QB – When you need the kid to bounce back, the kid bounces back. Herbert was impressive in the Chargers win over the Bengals on Sunday, going 26/35 for 317 yards, three touchdowns, and a pick. Don’t look now, but Herbert is actually third in the NFL in passing touchdowns with 27.
2. George Kittle, 49ers TE – Holy shit, are the 49ers happy to get Kittle back or what? Nine catches, 181 yards, two touchdowns – just a terrific stat line. But, the dynamic he brings to this offense definitely elevates the passing game and the play of those around him. Kittle had an impressive tightrope-walk touchdown and continues to be one of the hardest players to bring down in the open field.
1. Tom Brady, Bucs QB – This year’s MVP race seems wide open, but I think that’s only because no one wants to give Brady another award. He’s the guy so far in my book, but I get why people are reluctant to put him in this spot. He’s been doing this forever, and while Tampa Tom is a little more fun and laid back, you still want to see some new blood atop the league every once in awhile. It just keeps things fresh, right? But, to me, it’s as plain as day….no one else is rising up to take it from him, and he just keeps putting in stellar performance after stellar performance. This week, it was 38/51 for 368 yards, four touchdowns, and a pick against the Falcons. Brady now leads the NFL in passing yards (3,771) and passing touchdowns (34).
UPDATED NFL MVP WATCH STANDINGS
23. Davante Adams, Austin Ekeler, CJ Mosley, Cordarrelle Patterson, Mike White, Russell Wilson – 1
19. Ja’Marr Chase, Najee Harris, Jalen Hurts, Terry McLaurin – 2
15. Joe Burrow, Leonard Fournette, Cooper Kupp, Jeffery Simmons – 3
14. George Kittle – 4
13. Kevin Byard – 5
10. Derek Carr, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers – 8
9. Dak Prescott – 9
8. Lamar Jackson – 10
7. Jonathan Taylor – 13
6. Matthew Stafford – 14
5. Justin Herbert – 15
3. Josh Allen, Kyler Murray – 16
2. Derrick Henry – 18
1. Tom Brady – 20
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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