The MVP title: who's in the running?

Every year, the Associated Press declares its Most Valuable Player - or MVP - in the National Football League. It’s a key moment for fans, with some even using Sugarhouse sports betting PA to wager on the outcome of the contest. Last year, it was taken by Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs - but there’s no guaranteeing who’s going to receive it this year or in the years to come.

What can be made though, are informed predictions - and that’s what this article will aim to do. By profiling a number of the key players who might be able to surge to the MVP title, it’ll be possible to come to your own conclusions about who might win this coveted prize. Whether you predict a year-on-year victory for Mahomes or a win for someone like Lamar Jackson or Russell Wilson, this guide will help you put your guesses into perspective.

Lamar Jackson

One name that is frequently cited by pundits as a possible winner of the MVP prize is Lamar Jackson, who plays as a quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. His season is already most likely drawing to a close, and he is likely to bring the year to a close with an impressive enough set of figures. Unless there’s a drastic change of course, he will probably secure over 3,000 passing yards as well as an impressive seven rushing touchdowns.

That sort of performance is stellar, although it’s not comparable to the sort of record-breaking level figures which someone like Patrick Mahomes managed to score (as mentioned below). The MVP decision is not necessarily made on the back of one particular statistic or the next, but any decision made will need to be justified - so Jackson’s chances could end up resting on how others perform as the season goes on.

Patrick Mahomes

But the reality of any assessment of the MVP stakes is that Patrick Mahomes may well win a second time round. He wouldn’t be the first to win it more than once, and with statistics like his, it’s easy to see why he is probably due a place in the NFL hall of fame forever. In the 2018 season, for example, he was able to score 5,097 passing yards as well as 50 touchdowns.

He has managed to keep himself ahead of much of the competition so far this year, and the MVP slot is now in some ways his for the taking once again. Sustaining the momentum all the way to the final MVP announcement is not in the bag for anyone, of course - but with Mahomes having already proven himself once, it’s certainly possible that he can do so again.

Russell Wilson

Wilson, who is a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, deserves an honorable mention - even though his star appeared to be shining brighter earlier in the season compared to right now. He was the favorite of many back in the realms of week 9 or 10 of the season, and that was in part due to his high-level ratings at that point. He was recorded with a passer rating of 118.2 at that stage, for example, which was within touching distance of a single season record - 122.5. Whether or not Wilson will be able to keep up this momentum against the likes of Mahomes as the season goes on, though, really is another matter.

Christian McCaffrey

And it’s definitely also worth looking at the prospect of Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers taking the top spot, too. McCaffrey is predicted to end with almost 1,800 running yards under his belt, which is a very respectable score - and he is also predicted to bow out with 25 touchdowns. He’s well-respected as a running back, and he is definitely an era-defining player for the Panthers. Whether he can clinch the prize in the face of such stiff competition, however, is far from certain - and it is likely he will be closely watched for any signs of problems.

One of the most important accolades any footballer could ever hope to receive, the MVP prize is an important - and desired - one. It signifies strong performance on the pitch and is a key indicator of who will surge ahead in their careers in the years to come. It’s not yet known who will receive this season’s title - but with everyone from Lamar Jackson to Patrick Mahomes in the running, it’s clear that there’s a wide field to choose from.

The MVP title: who's in the running? to SEC Football Blog

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