Thursday is MVP! This week, we saw him! Saquon Barkley, who we thought had seen it all, released one of the best performances in history for a running back and logically placed himself on the podium in the MVP Race. Author of an excellent match against the Chargers, Lamar Jackson logically maintains the lead ahead of a rested Josh Allen this week.
Behind, it's Derrick Henry, the other running back star of the season who returns to the top 5 just behind Jared Goff who has been much more of a follower than a leader in recent weeks.
Star of the week: Saquon Barkley (RB), Eagles
Saquon Barkley is having a season that could well break down a taboo: that of rewarding a running back with the title of MVP. Against the Los Angeles Rams, the Eagles runner delighted with 255 yards and two touchdowns, contributing to his team's seventh consecutive victory (37-20). It's not just another performance, it's an achievement. At 1,392 yards, 6.2 yards per carry and 126.5 yards per game, Barkley is on better footing than Adrian Peterson's MVP season in 2012 and establishes himself as a serious contender for the Offensive Player of the Year award. year. But the real question is: can he win the MVP?
With his 12 touchdowns (including 10 on the ground), he displays statistics that have nothing to envy of those of quarterbacks, and yet, he is indeed a running back. His impact on Philadelphia's offense is gigantic, and defenses can no longer slow him down. At 27, he finally seems to have found the ideal balance in an offensive system where he fully flourishes. But, even with such crazy numbers, the fact remains that the reality of the MVP is often in favor of the QBs. And this season, several of them are posting solid records.
Barkley fully deserves to break this quarterback monopoly, but it's likely that he still ends up in second place, beaten by a quarterback. This does not change the fact that, whatever happens, this season will mark the history of running backs. Saquon Barkley not only met expectations, he far exceeded them.
The revelation of the week: Tua Tagovailoa (QB), Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa is back, and with him, the Miami Dolphins have found their identity. After a period of void without him, where the attack struggled to exceed 10 points per game, Miami had three victories, regaining its frantic pace. Against the Patriots, Tua showed why he is essential to this team: 317 yards, four touchdowns and surgical precision on 73.3% of completed passes. Since his return, he has simply been the most accurate quarterback in the NFL, and his pass rating of 116.2 is the best among those who attempted at least 50 passes.
But beyond the numbers, it is above all his calm and his confidence which transform the Dolphins' game. Each pass, each movement seems imbued with this serenity which gives the rest of the team the strength to perform. Since his return, Miami is no longer the same team: the attack is found, and it is now the best in the league on third attempts and in the red zone.
However, a big test looms in Green Bay. The Dolphins have always struggled in the cold, and this year Tua will need to prove he can finally turn that corner. But the message is clear: with him on the field, Miami can compete with anyone. And if this weekend, against the Packers, he manages to prove that the climate no longer has any control over him, then a major turning point in their season could take shape. Tua is there, ready to lead the Dolphins on his shoulders in their crazy comeback.
Disappointment of the week: Jayden Daniels (QB), Commanders
Jayden Daniels finds himself in a difficult spiral with the Washington Commanders, and his performances suffer heavily. If the young quarterback seemed full of promise, he is now stifled by the flaws of an offensive system which is becoming more and more predictable. Facing defenses like the Dallas Cowboys, this predictability turns into a real ordeal. During the last game, Daniels suffered several sacks, and it's not just an offensive line problem: it's the entire tactical scheme that showed its limits.
The figures bear this out. During the first seven games of the season, Washington completed 43 of 60 passes under pressure, without interceptions, with 4 touchdowns. But since then, everything has changed. Over the last five games, the record is disastrous: 24 passes completed out of 52, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, and 7 sacks conceded. It is not only a question of individual performance, but of a game pattern that has become ineffective against opponents who have perfectly identified the fault. The offensive line, especially the tackles, was exposed and left Daniels to his own devices, without adjustment from the staff.
Result: Daniels is now under constant pressure, and his mistakes are increasing. The solution will not only come from better player development, but from a total overhaul of protections and blocking strategies. If Washington fails to correct this, Daniels' future as head of the Commanders' offense will be in jeopardy, and it will be difficult to imagine him playing in this system that systematically puts him in trouble. Time is running out to adjust the shot before the rise of the young quarterback is definitively slowed down.
The ranking: Saquon Barkley breaks down the door to the Top 3
1- Lamar Jackson (-) Quarterback – Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
12 games – 3,053 yards at 67.3% completions – 27 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 117.9 rating
2- Josh Allen (-) Quarterback – Buffalo Bills (9-2)
11 games – 2,543 yards at 64% completions – 18 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 98.2 rating
3- Saquon Barkley (+2) Running Back – Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)
11 games – 1392 yards at 6.2 yards per carry, 10 touchdowns – 257 yards at 9.5 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns
4- Jared Goff (-1) Quarterback – Detroit Lions (10-1)
11 games – 2761 yards at 72.9% completions – 20 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 109.9 rating
5- Derrick Henry (+1) Running Back – Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
12 games – 1,325 yards at 6 yards per carry, 13 touchdowns – 96 yards at 9.6 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns
