After seven weeks of NFL action, it’s time to take a look at the 2020 NFL MVP frontrunners. This season has been one of the wildest in recent memory for a wide variety of reasons, and this list reflects that. While there are some familiar names, a few newcomers make their way into the ranks as some of yesterday’s greats proved that they’re not quite done yet.
Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers Highlight 2020 NFL MVP Frontrunners
1. Russell Wilson
Season Stats: 71.2% completion, 1,890 yards, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions
Even after a (relatively) underwhelming performance on Sunday Night Football, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson remains the frontrunner for the MVP award. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has finally let Russ cook, and the results speak for themselves. Even with the added volume, Wilson is in the midst of the most efficient season of his career and is throwing touchdowns at an absolutely absurd 10% clip. If he can keep this up, he should win the MVP award by a comfortable margin.
The biggest thing standing in Wilson’s way is the NFC West. Historically, quarterbacks need to win their division in order to stand a shot at winning the MVP award. This normally isn’t a worry for a 5-1 team, but the NFC West is ridiculously good this year. After seven weeks, the NFC West boasts three separate five-win teams and a four-win team in the San Francisco 49ers. This truly is anyone’s division, although the Seahawks are the favorites to take the crown by the end of the season.
2. Aaron Rodgers
Season Stats: 65.9% completion, 1,657 yards, 17 touchdowns, two interceptions
After a few seasons of good-but-not-great play, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has turned back to 2011. Throughout the offseason, everyone believed that Green Bay messed up by not bolstering the pass-catching weapons. While that still probably would have been a good idea, Rodgers showed that he’s more than capable of carrying this cast while putting up elite numbers.
Rodgers had a truly ugly performance against Tampa Bay, but has looked elite in his other five games. While he’s not quite on Wilson’s level this year, the Packers have a much better chance of winning the NFC North than the Seahawks do the NFC West. If Wilson slows down, this race could go down to the wire.
3. Tom Brady
Season Stats: 65.7% completion, 1,910 yards, 18 touchdowns, four interceptions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady does not look like a 43-year old man. After spending the first 20 years of his career in New England, the six-time Super Bowl champion had to adjust to a brand-new offense and supporting cast for the first time in his career during a COVID-shortened offseason. As it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks, as Brady is in the midst of his best season since his MVP-winning 2017.
What’s crazy is that Brady and the Buccaneers should only get better with time. This offense was always great, but there were a few timing hiccups early in the season. Those mistakes are becoming fewer and further between as guys like Chris Godwin and Mike Evans begin to get healthy. Rob Gronkowski is starting to knock off the rust, and Antonio Brown is coming to town. Father Time always wins in the end, but he’s never had a fight as hard as this one.
4. Kyler Murray
Season Stats: 66.8% completion, 1,847 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, seven interceptions – 437 rushing yards, seven touchdowns
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray might just be the most exciting young player in football. The 2019 first-overall pick flashed plenty of promise as a rookie but has taken his game up to another level this year. Murray routinely makes plays that others simply can’t, both through the air and on the ground. While his passing is still a little wild at times, the jaw-dropping plays are well worth the payoff. DeAndre Hopkins was a perfect addition for this offense, and Kliff Kingsbury clearly knows how to get the best out of his young star.
5. Patrick Mahomes
Season Stats: 65.7% completion, 1,899 yards, 16 touchdowns, one interception
What happens when you combine the most talented quarterback in the league with an offensive genius and some of the best weapons in football? Patrick Mahomes is in the midst of yet another fantastic season, and it only speaks to his greatness that this campaign is considered a little underwhelming. Mahomes is still fantastic, but his gaudy numbers are clearly bolstered by his situation.
The PFF grades back this up, as they currently have Mahomes as the QB8 on the year – a low mark for his standards. The fact he’s putting up these numbers while relatively underperforming should absolutely terrify the league. If Mahomes returns to his career norm, this offense should once again be the unquestioned best in the league.
6. Josh Allen
Season Stats: 67.6% completion, 2,018 yards, 16 touchdowns, four interceptions
One of the most polarizing players of the offseason, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has eviscerated the doubters (myself included) to prove that he truly is one of the better young passers in the league. While he has cooled off from his fantastic start to the season, he still has some of the best numbers in the league while guiding the AFC East frontrunner. He still faces a long battle to actually win the award, but he deserves to be mentioned in the NFL MVP frontrunners.
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