NFL MVP Watch: Week 11
Over the years, the NFL MVP Award has become synonymous with the title of the league’s most astounding quarterback in a given season.
Aside from Adrian Peterson’s 2012 MVP season, quarterbacks have dominated the award over the past 15 years. Despite a historic season, Peterson only beat out Peyton Manning by a slim margin of votes.
Considering that every signal-caller on last week’s edition of our NFL MVP watch was on the losing end of their Week 10 outing, it’s time to direct our attention to a few non-quarterbacks who could hear their name called at the 2021 NFL Honors.
Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
As one AFC South superstar running back nurses an injury, another has begun to put the league on notice.
Following his fifth 100-yard performance on the season, Jonathan Taylor’s 937 yards on the ground put him in a first-place tie with the sidelined Derrick Henry.
With a 200-yard margin over the next rushing leader, Indy’s workhorse is in the clear for this year’s yardage title and a potential MVP trophy.
Myles Garrett, Defensive End, Cleveland Browns
Myles Garrett’s Grim Reaper costume on Halloween was very fitting, as he’s been terrorizing quarterbacks all season.
Garrett has blown expectations out of the water since entering the league, which is a tall task for someone who was selected with the first overall pick. His career mark of 0.9 sacks per game currently ranks first all-time.
With Cleveland’s edge rusher on pace to flirt with the single-season sack record, voters may have no choice but to select him as the fourth defender in league history to win MVP.
Cooper Kupp, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams
All it took was a new quarterback in town for Cooper Kupp to enjoy the best season of his career to date.
Following the addition of Matthew Stafford, Kupp has exploded onto the scene to lead the NFL in every major receiving category. His 85 catches, 1,141 yards and 10 scores are all league-highs.
Thanks to the implementation of a 17-game season, another single-season record may be subject to change if Kupp continues to rack up yards by the masses.
Dak Prescott, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
Amid a terrific comeback from a season-ending injury in 2020, Dak Prescott has remained in the shadows of the MVP race for most of the season.
Now that some potential candidates have cooled off, it’s only fair to give Dak some love.
While he might not light up the stat sheet as other gunslingers might, Prescott has taken tremendous care of the football.
His five interceptions rank near the bottom of all starting quarterbacks, and he is yet to have a multi-interception game.
Dallas is in pursuit of the top seed in the NFC at 7-2. If Prescott can lead them to the coveted first-round bye, he’ll be a hot name in the MVP discussion.
Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens
If the MVP Award is based on which player’s performance is most pivotal to a team’s success, then Lamar Jackson should be the unanimous winner.
Despite a roster decimated by injuries, a poor rushing attack and a lackluster offensive line, Jackson has carried the Ravens to a 6-3 record atop the AFC North.
Jackson is eighth in the league in passing yards and has 14 touchdowns through the air. Not to mention, he leads the Ravens in rushing yards by a country mile at 639.
The AFC playoff picture is wide open, so all bets are off on Jackson steering Baltimore through the postseason en route to his second MVP trophy.
Grant Sheets is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at gcs5231@psu.edu
