5 Darkhorse NFL MVP Candidates

NFL MVP is a three-player race through Week 10, but there are five players with an outside shot at stealing MVP

Andrew Luck, DeMarco Murray, and Peyton Manning, in some order, have led the NFL Most Valuable Player race for the entire season.

Since Week 1, Luck, Murray, and Manning established their dominance and have been virtually unstoppable the entire season.

Peyton Manning

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Andrew Luck

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DeMarco Murray

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While I expect one of these three players will win the NFL MVP award, there’s still seven more games in the regular season.

As we saw yesterday with Carson Palmer’s season-ending ACL injury, everything can change with one awkward step.

The MVP race is still wide-open, but the field is narrowing every week.

Early in the season, it looked like J.J. Watt might have a chance to be the first defensive player to win MVP since Lawrence Taylor won the award in 1986. Watt’s “Hungry Eyes” haven’t looked as hungry in the last few weeks and the rest of the widened their lead.

While I’m on the subject, can someone please make a J.J. Watt highlight video to the “Hungry Eyes” from Dirty Dancing and send it to me. I’ll include it in my next NFL column, I promise.

Other than Watt, though, there have been few challengers for MVP.

It’s just been that kind of a season in the NFL, and right now, there’s five darkhorse candidates on the outside looking in at the MVP picture. Depending on how the next seven weeks go, there’s a strong possibility they could emerge as a real threat to the MVP crown.

SPOILER ALERT: All five players are quarterbacks.

Next: Can Matthew Stafford improve his numbers with Calvin Johnson's return?

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

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Stafford’s numbers don’t jump off the page and don’t even appear to be Pro Bowl-worthy, let alone MVP.

While it’s likely Stafford won’t come close to winning MVP, if I had to pick a quarterback to catch fire over the last seven games of the regular season, Stafford would be my pick.

Calvin Johnson, who has missed three full games and hasn’t been himself since the very beginning of the season, is finally getting his strength back and should be healthy soon. Johnson means more to Stafford than any receiver means to any other quarterback around the league. Stafford can literally throw the ball up and let Johnson go get it. Lately, Stafford hasn’t had that player to get him out of trouble. That will change.

While Johnson has been out, Golden Tate has emerged as a weapon in Detroit’s offense. With a healthy Johnson and the explosive Tate, Stafford has two options on the outside that few other quarterbacks have around the league. Each are capable of 200-plus yard receiving games.

Stafford is a top talent in the league, but he’s not one of the five best quarterbacks. He desperately needs good receivers around him or else he has a tendency to force throws. With Johnson and Tate creating space, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a huge spike in Stafford’s production.

If he gets hot down the stretch and the Lions keep winning, there’s a good chance the Lions could be in contention for home field in the NFC. As the weather starts to turn, Ford Field and playing under the dome might be the difference for Stafford, which could vault him into the MVP conversation.

Next: Even a Broken Back Won't Stop Tony Romo's Chance At MVP

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

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Tony Romo threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns against the Jaguars in Week 10 with a BROKEN BACK! I can’t believe he was allowed to play, but I find it even harder to believe that he was able to play such a flawless game.

I mean, it was against the Jaguars, but still.

The Cowboys are 7-3 and right in the thick of the playoff hunt in the NFC. If DeMarco Murray continues to be the Cowboys’ first offensive option, there’s a really good chance Romo is going to keep producing at the same rate, which has been fantastic.

This season, Romo has yielded to the up-and-coming star, Murray, and is now letting Murray be the focal point of the offense. By allowing that to happen, defenses have to adjust to stop Murray, which gives Romo a much better look in the passing game.

Romo is like a really good second-option on an NBA team. On his own, like he’s been in the past, he’s been able to put up numbers, but in pressure situations against the best defensive teams, Romo has always come up short. With Murray forcing the defense to stop him by loading more guys in the box, Romo is getting one-on-one coverage down the field. It’s the perfect strategy with a player like Romo.

My only concern is his Romo’s health.

Romo took some huge shots against the Redskins in Week 8 and suffered a broken back. The Cowboys still have the Philadelphia Eagles twice and Washington again this season, which leaves ample opportunity to get destroyed by teams with a solid pass rush.

Romo isn’t going to win MVP if Murray stays healthy. Right now, Romo isn’t the MVP of his own team. On the other hand, if Murray were to get banged up or injured, Romo would have an opportunity to prove he’s the Cowboys best player and possibly one of the best players in the league.

Next: Quietly, Ben Roethlisberger Is Having A Huge Season

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Roethlisberger might have sealed his MVP fate with last week’s awful loss to the New York Jets, in which Big Ben threw two interceptions. That’s not much of an MVP performance.

Big Ben was so stellar in the previous two weeks, throwing for six touchdowns in each game, that there’s a good chance he’ll hang around in the discussion as long as he keeps playing well and the Steelers stay in the playoff hunt.

Roethlisberger has the opportunity to make up some ground in the MVP chase by just being consistent and getting the ball to his play-makers, like Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell. If those guys keep up their production, Roethlisberger is going to have plenty of time and space to find other targets down the field.

It’s going to take more huge performances from Roethlisberger, but it’s definitely not outside the realm of possibility to see Big Ben hoisting up that MVP award before the Super Bowl.

Next: Is Tom Brady Back?

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

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So…

Is anyone still thinking about Jimmy Garappolo should be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots?

After the 41-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, Brady looked done, washed up, and just old, like Brett Favre looked before he retired the first time. There was a spark there, but physically, the throws weren’t where they were supposed to be.

Fast-forward to Week 10 and the Patriots are 7-2, in position to be the top-seed in the AFC, and Brady looks like he did during the the great 2007 season. It’s like he’s turned back the clocks.

If the Patriots can continue the tear they’re on right now AND Gronkowski can stay healthy, Brady has a great chance to win MVP. Statistically, he might not have the totals that a Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck might have, but Brady should have head-to-head wins on his side. Plus, Brady is making far less mistakes than Manning and Luck, who have seven interceptions and nine interceptions, respectively. Brady has three through nine games and 22 touchdowns.

Brady is back in the MVP conversation once again!

Next: Aaron Rodgers: King Of Bears

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

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For as good as Brady has been since Week 4, Rodgers has been equally impressive for a longer period of time, though.

After Rodgers torched the Bears on Sunday Night Football and threw six touchdown passes in the first half, tying the NFL record.

If there’s anyone not named Murray, Manning (not Eli), or Luck taking home the MVP trophy at the end of the season, Rodgers is going to be that guy.

The Packers don’t have a great defense, so I think their ceiling is limited, but there offense is as good as any offense in the league. With Eddie Lacy as a great change of pace, the Packers can force teams to stop the run and then air it out with their great receivers.

I significantly undervalued Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Those two receivers make it easy for Rodgers because they run such good routes and find themselves wide-open. I don’t understand how it happens so often.

Rodgers will have some trouble against the Lions’ pass rush. Those dudes want blood, and Rodgers has had some problems with injuries in the past, so it might be something to watch. But, if the Packers win the NFC North with a 11-5 or better record. There’s a really good chance Rodgers will be the NFL MVP, no doubt about it.

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