If Jonathan Taylor is going to force the NFL to give a RB the MVP he will have to beat out a veteran QB playing out of his mind

The MVP race is picking up as top QBs try to hold off the historical season RB Jonathan Taylor is putting together.

Adam Holt, Destin Adams, Kyle Crabbs, Mike Payton, Tyler Forness
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Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
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With the NFL season over halfway done, our team at A to Z Sports decided to vote on who should win each of the major NFL awards. Over the next week, we’ll release one article per day, covering each award. This article will cover the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award.

A panel of four writers was selected for each award, and we attempted to exclude the primary beat reporters for the top-five favorites by betting odds in each category. That way, we’ll minimize bias in the voting as much as possible.

And speaking of voting, we copied the NFL’s MVP point system, where first-place votes result in 10 points, second-place votes receive five points, third-place votes get three points, fourth-place votes are worth two points, and fifth-place votes are worth one point. Obviously, the player with the most points wins the award.

For the MVP award, our panel includes Kyle Crabbs, Tyler Forness, Mike Payton, and Destin Adams.

A to Z Sports midseason MVP voting

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

“What more can you say about Drake Maye that hasn’t already been said? He’s been phenomenal for a Patriots team that many didn’t think would even contend for a Wild Card berth. Instead, they are in serious contention for the AFC East title. Maye has thrived in every way despite not having the best surroundings with his pass catchers and offensive line. He is doing what an MVP does: elevate everyone around him.” – Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Minnesota

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

“Matthew Stafford has been red hot this season thanks to his pair of dynamic receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Sean McVay’s contributions to the cause are notable too; they’ve shifted dramatically to a 13p-heavy team this season to stress opposing defenses even more. It’s a testament to Stafford that the Rams can diversify in this way, and he’s playing at as high of a level as we’ve seen from him in years.” – Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports NFL anaylst

“Ahead of the season, there were rumors that Stafford’s most recent injury could cause him to miss time to start the season; some even speculated he was considering retirement. Instead, he made it back in time for the season opener and has looked like the best QB in the NFL. He is fourth in the league with 2,427 passing yards, the three in front of him have each played ten games, while Stafford has only played nine.

He leads the NFL in passing yards per game amongst QBs that have started at least three games with 293 yards per game. He leads the league with 25 passing touchdowns, five more than second place. Many expected to see Stafford show signs of regression this season. Instead, he’s on pace to throw 47 touchdowns, which would be the most of his career, and he’s on pace for nearly 4,600 passing yards, which would be the second most of his career at 37 years old.” – Destin Adams, A to Z Sports Indianapolis

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

“Look, I hate it, and you hate it. It’s boring and nobody wants to see the same guy win it a bunch of times, but the fact of the matter is that the Chiefs could be a dumpster fire without him. He’s one of the top passers in the league, and he’s third on the team in rushing, as well. The Chiefs go as he goes, and that’s the very definition of most valuable player. ” – Mike Payton, A to Z Sports Detroit

Final MVP voting results

  1. Matthew Stafford: 27 points (2)
  2. Drake Maye: 19 points (1)
  3. Jonathan Taylor: 16 points
  4. Patrick Mahomes: 13 points (1)

Most Valuable Player winner: Matthew Stafford

“Stafford has been the definition of decisive and efficient so far this season. The Rams look like a powerhouse in the NFC and are fourth in the conference in scoring. LA ranks second in passing offense per game, and their QB has plenty to do with that. Not many quarterbacks could facilitate production for two top twenty wide receivers in yardage (Nacua, Adams) – but that’s the case for the Rams starter. Stafford is leading the unit’s impressive charge with 25 touchdown passes, compared to just two interceptions. Since Week 4, the Rams QB has 20 TDs with just two turnovers. According to Next Gen Stats, Stafford has thrown more TD passes against the blitz so far this season than all but two quarterbacks in an entire season in the last decade. He’s playing confident football, but also understands Sean McVay’s expectations when it comes to protecting the football.

Overall, there are certainly a handful of notable contenders for MVP right now, but Stafford should be leading that pack.” – Adam Holt, A to Z Sports NFL anaylst

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