With only four games remaining, the race for MVP seems to be between Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott.
As imperturbable as ever, the young 49ers quarterback set a career record by exceeding 360 passing yards against the Seahawks. But it was Dak Prescott who made the strongest impression by shattering the Eagles defense, like his direct competitor a week earlier. In a Dolphins attack that seemed very orphaned without him, Tyreek Hill took third place ahead of Christian McCaffrey who made the exceptional trivial. Finally, Lamar Jackson shows up as leader of the Ravens who continue to win.
1- Brock Purdy (-) Quarterback – San Francisco 49ers (10-3)
13 games – 3,553 yards at 70.2% – 25 touchdowns, 7 interceptions – 116.9 rating
Brock Purdy is increasingly strengthening his candidacy for the NFL MVP title. His exceptional season is not limited to his role on the NFC's leading team, but is also reflected in his impressive statistics. With 3,553 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and leading the league in passing rating and completion percentage, Purdy is putting up MVP-worthy numbers.
Purdy also dispelled doubts about his ability to throw deep, with spectacular touchdowns of 54 yards to Deebo Samuel, 76 yards to Brandon Aiyuk and 66 yards to George Kittle. These long plays reinforce his credibility as a passer. However, the presence of powerful offensive weapons around him, notably Christian McCaffrey, fuels the criticism. Some point out that Purdy's performances are enhanced by his teammates, such as Deebo Samuel turning short passes into spectacular touchdowns. However, it should be noted that all recent MVPs have benefited from an even higher rate of yards after reception than that enjoyed by Brock Purdy.
What also sets Brock Purdy apart is that he is by far the most successful quarterback the 49ers have had under Kyle Shanahan. Surpassing the accomplishments of Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance, CJ Beathard, Nick Mullens and Brian Hoyer both statistically and visually, Purdy transformed San Francisco's offense into a force as formidable as their defense, bolstering the 49ers' hopes of reaching the Super Bowl.
2- Dak Prescott (+2) Quarterback – Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
13 games – 3505 yards at 69.3% – 28 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 107.5 rating
With an almost perfect performance during the 33-13 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dak Prescott is more than ever in the running to get his first MVP. With 271 passing yards and two touchdowns, the Cowboys quarterback was a key part of the Cowboys' fifth consecutive victory, which puts them at the top of the NFC East.
His streak of seven consecutive games with multiple passing touchdowns, tying the franchise record held by Tony Romo, highlights his consistency and comfort in an offense that has taken a new direction under coach Mike McCarthy. This performance also changed the conversation around Prescott, who was often criticized for not winning high-stakes games. With a solid defense and balanced team play, the Cowboys showed they could count on Prescott to lead their offense.
However, Prescott knows he must continue to prove his worth, especially in the playoffs. His solid performance, although not reaching 300 yards, was effective in maintaining long offensive streaks. Despite a costly mistake in the third quarter, Prescott knew not to sink as he might have done in previous years.
3- Tyreek Hill (+2) Receiver – Miami Dolphins (9-4)
13 games – 1542 yards at 15.9 yards/reception, 12 touchdowns
Tyreek Hill is shaking up the NFL MVP race with a breakout season. With 1,542 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, Hill is on track to break Calvin Johnson's record for receiving yards in a season and become the first player to reach 2,000 receiving yards.
Despite his impressive performances, Hill bears the brunt of the eternal debate between the quarterback and his receiver. Which of the two is more worthy of being MVP? This week brought us a first element of answer as Tua Tagovailoa seemed unable to carry his attack to victory when Tyreek Hill was forced to stay on the sidelines. However, in a league dominated by quarterbacks, the MVP tends to go to quarterbacks, who are often considered the most indispensable players on their team.
Historically, the NFL MVP has been awarded to quarterbacks or running backs, with three exceptions since 1957. The new voting method introduced by the AP in 2022 could provide a better chance for non-quarterbacks to win. receive recognition for MVP. Although Tyreek Hill is having a historic season, his chances of winning the MVP remain slim in a league focused on quarterbacks. His case is strengthened by his exceptional performances, but he will have to overcome a history of voting heavily in favor of quarterbacks and even running backs to hope to win the title.
4- Christian McCaffrey (-1) Running Back – San Francisco 49ers (10-3)
13 games – 1177 yards at 5.2 yards/carry, 12 touchdowns – 437 yards at 8.4 yards/reception, 5 touchdowns
Christian McCaffrey is establishing himself as one of the best players in the NFL. Leader of the league in rushing yards with 1,177 yards and an average of 5.2 yards per carry, he is also second in rushing touchdowns with 12 units. But McCaffrey doesn't just shine on the floor; he also leads among running backs in receiving yards with 437 yards, totaling 63 receptions and five receiving touchdowns. With a total of 1,614 total yards, he is even ahead of Tyreek Hill, another candidate in the MVP race.
This year, McCaffrey broke Jerry Rice's 49ers franchise record for most consecutive games with a touchdown, and tied Lenny Moore's NFL record with 17 consecutive games with a touchdown. In addition to his statistics, McCaffrey is regularly the author of the biggest highlights for the 49ers. His standout performances, like his 72-yard run against the Seahawks or his four-touchdown game against the Cardinals, are key moments in his MVP campaign.
However, McCaffrey's main disadvantage is, much like Tyreek Hill, that he is not a quarterback. Not touching the ball in every action could harm him, despite the fact that he constantly attracts the attention of the defense. To have a solid chance at MVP, McCaffrey will need to reach 2,000 total yards and score more than 20 touchdowns. Otherwise, in addition to this race for the MVP of the season, he could be content with competition with Tyreek Hill for the title of Offensive Player of the Year.
5- Lamar Jackson (+1) Quarterback – Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
13 games – 2934 yards at 66.8% – 16 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 97.7 rating
Lamar Jackson delivered a remarkable performance against the Los Angeles Rams, strengthening his position in the MVP race. With a season underway that could set new personal bests in completions, passing yards and completion percentage, Jackson is showing impressive development as a passer while limiting his carries to preserve his health.
With 316 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Rams, Jackson shows that he is a serious candidate for the MVP. If the Ravens continue their winning ways and Jackson maintains this level of performance, he could well be in the running for another MVP award, especially if he leads his team to first place in an expectedly very competitive AFC. The main challenge for Jackson is to surpass his performance from his unanimous MVP season of 2019, especially in terms of passing touchdowns. His progression as a passer this year is evident, but his rushing production is lower than in 2019, which could influence perceptions of his current season.
But at this stage of the season given the lead of his competitors and although an MVP title is prestigious, Jackson could now favor a big run in the playoffs, and why not treat himself to a possible Super MVP trophy Bowl LVIII.
Special mentions
CJ Stroud (QB, Texans) – 3,631 yards at 62.4% completions, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 98.7 rating
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Dolphins) – 3,697 yards at 70% completion, 24 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 104.8 rating
Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs) – 3,398 yards at 66.9 completions, 23 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 93.3 rating
Jalen Hurts (QB, Eagles) – 3,192 yards at 66.5% completions, 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 93.5 rating
AJ Brown (WR, Eagles) – 1258 yards at 14 yards/reception, 7 touchdowns
Keenan Allen (WR, Chargers) – 1,243 yards at 11.5 yards/reception, 7 touchdowns
CeeDee Lamb (WR, Cowboys) – 1,253 yards at 13.1 yards/reception, 8 touchdowns
Myles Garrett (DE, Browns) – 33 tackles, 13 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 passes defended
TJ Watt (LB, Steelers) – 52 tackles, 14 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recovered fumbles, 1 interception, 7 passes defended
