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10 favorites to win the NFL MVP Award in the 2016-17 season

By Andrew C. Lovell

Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

It’s likely, barring a surprise reversal of his four-game Deflategate suspension, that Tom Brady will be available for only 12 games in 2016. Despite that, he still checks in among the top three favorites for the MVP award. Brady is still going to be more productive and valuable in 12 games than most other players will be in 16.

Brady’s numbers, even in an abbreviated season, will remain elite. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman are well-established weapons, while the addition of 6-foot-6 tight end Martellus Bennett gives New England another target in the red zone.

The combination of Gronkowski and Bennett harkens back to 2011, when the Patriots paired Gronkowski with Aaron Hernandez. That season, Gronkowski and Hernandez combined for 2,237 yards and 24 touchdowns. Similar dominance could be in store for the New England tight ends in 2016.

The Patriots open the season at Arizona, followed by home games against Miami, Houston and Buffalo. A 3-1 or, at worst, 2-2 record under backup Jimmy Garoppolo seems likely, but let’s pretend for a moment that the Patriots struggle without Brady’s leadership and start out 1-3.

Then, again hypothetically, say Brady returns and leads the team to a 10-2 finish (11-5 overall) and yet another AFC East title. That’d make a pretty compelling case for MVP, wouldn’t you say?

Next: No. 2: Aaron Rodgers

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