For most of the season, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had been in the top spot for Most Valuable Player in this weekly assessment. In fact, there was a time I was certain Mahomes would be the winner for the second straight year. Then Mahomes dropped to third last week after he slumped (by his standards), and Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson surged past him.
This week, Mahomes isn’t even on the list. That’s because he suffered a dislocated kneecap and will miss an estimated three to six weeks. So, there’s a shakeup on the MVP list. Wilson and Watson are on it. But the new No. 1 is a guy that wasn’t even on the list. Mahomes could return rather quickly, play exceptionally and claim the MVP. But that seems unlikely at this point.
Let’s take our weekly look at the top three candidates for each of the NFL’s top awards for coaches and players.
Most Valuable Player
3. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson didn’t have his best statistical outing against Seattle, but he led the 5-2 Ravens to a huge victory. Jackson threw for only 143 yards, but he bewildered the Seahawks with his legs by rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown. On the season, Jackson has thrown for 1,650 and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 576 yards and three touchdowns.
2. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
In a loss to Baltimore, Wilson threw for 241 yards, one touchdown and his first interception. That’s not enough to take him out of the MVP race. After all, he’s thrown for 15 touchdowns and 1,945 yards so far this season. Wilson held the top spot last week. But we’re dropping him to No. 2. That’s not really because Wilson was only average against the Ravens. It’s because someone else had a spectacular week and jumped to the top of the standings.
1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
It’s been a few years since Rodgers was in MVP form. But his long-standing feud with coach Mike McCarthy ended when the coach left last year. Rodgers is getting along just fine with new coach Matt LaFleur. That was evidenced Sunday against Oakland when Rodgers passed for 429 yards, five touchdowns, ran for a touchdown and led the Packers to their third consecutive win. On the season, Rodgers has thrown for 2,019 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. Those are MVP numbers, and that’s why Rodgers is on top of the list.
MVP / Offensive Player / Defensive Player / Offensive Rookie / Defensive Rookie / Coach
Offensive Player of the Year
3. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans
Watson and the Texans lost 30-23 to Indianapolis on Sunday, but it wasn’t as if Watson had a bad game. He threw for 308 yards and a touchdown. He also was intercepted twice. We’ve seen Watson have much bigger games. He has a prime opportunity to bounce back Sunday against a Raiders defense that was just scorched by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
2. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson had his least productive passing game of the season Sunday, throwing for 143 yards and zero touchdowns. But the Ravens still won at Seattle, largely because Jackson did so much with his legs. He rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, which came on a gutsy fourth-down call.
1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
McCaffrey had a bye week, but he’s still holding steady atop this category. In his previous game against Tampa Bay, he was held to 31 rushing yards. But he still had a rushing touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass. No running back can do more things than McCaffrey. On the season, he’s rushed for 618 yards and seven touchdowns, in addition to catching 35 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns.
MVP / Offensive Player / Defensive Player / Offensive Rookie / Defensive Rookie / Coach
Defensive Player of the Year
3. Devin McCourty, S, New England Patriots
At 32, McCourty is having his best season since 2012, when he had five interceptions. McCourty already has five interceptions this season and that figure leads the league by two.
2. Jamie Collins, LB, New England Patriots
Collins is stringing together one of the best all-around defensive seasons in the league. He’s playing the run, rushing the passer and creating turnovers for an undefeated team. On the season, he has 31 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
1. Shaquil Barrett, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Barrett has gone quiet the past two games. But that doesn’t diminish what he did in the first four games. He still is tied for the league lead with nine sacks, and he also has three forced fumbles and an interception. But he needs to return to his early-season form if he’s going to win this award.
MVP / Offensive Player / Defensive Player / Offensive Rookie / Defensive Rookie / Coach
Offensive Rookie of the Year
3. Erik McCoy, C, New Orleans Saints
It’s a huge stretch to even mention a center for Offensive Rookie of the Year. But why not do it with McCoy? He was supposed to come with a learning curve. But he’s played very well since Week 1. During Drew Brees’ injury absence, McCoy has done a fine job of protecting Teddy Bridgewater.
2. Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders
The Raiders gradually have increased Jacobs’ workload as the season has progressed. They’ve given him 26 and 21 carries the past two games, and he’s responded with the first two 100-yard games of his career. His number of touches is likely to keep increasing moving forward. Plus, the Raiders have started to throw him the ball a bit in recent weeks.
1. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
After a dismal start by the Cardinals and a mediocre beginning by Murray, the team and its No. 1 overall pick have come to life. They’ve won three straight games. Murray didn’t put up big numbers in a win against the Giants (104 passing yards and 28 rushing yards), but didn’t make any mistakes. Since he’s a quarterback who’s winning, Murray is the favorite for this award.
MVP / Offensive Player / Defensive Player / Offensive Rookie / Defensive Rookie / Coach
Defensive Rookie of the Year
3. Brian Burns, EDGE, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers had a bye week following their trip to London. But Burns still makes the list because he’s been one of the best defensive weapons on a Carolina team that has won four consecutive games. On the seasons, Burns has 4.5 sacks, 15 tackles and a forced fumble.
2. Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
In a rainy and sloppy game in Washington, where San Francisco’s defense was needed more than ever, Bosa helped deliver a victory to keep the 49ers undefeated. He had a career-high seven tackles and his fourth sack of the season.
1. Devin Bush, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers had a bye, but Bush still sits at the top of this list. He might be the best overall rookie in the league. Through six games, he has 52 tackles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, a sack and a touchdown.
MVP / Offensive Player / Defensive Player / Offensive Rookie / Defensive Rookie / Coach
Coach of the Year
3. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
The Packers are sitting atop the NFC North with their first-year coach. LaFleur has quarterback Aaron Rodgers playing like an MVP again. If Rodgers continues to play like an MVP, a deep playoff run is possible.
2. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Shanahan and the 49ers remained undefeated. It wasn’t pretty on a rainy day in Washington. But the 49ers got the win, and that’s all that matters. Plus, Shanahan got some revenge on an organization that didn’t treat him or his father, Mike, well.
1. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Payton appears to have come through the biggest crisis of his career with flying colors. Quarterback Drew Brees appears ready to return after missing five games with a thumb injury. The Saints and replacement Teddy Bridgewater went 5-0 in that span. Of course, give Dennis Allen’s defense plenty of credit, too.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
