NFL MVP Stock Watch, Week 2: Josh Jacobs debuts
By Dustin Baker
4. Patrick Mahomes, QB (Kansas City Chiefs)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2nd
2020 Stats: 24/32 (75% Comp), 211 Passing Yards, 3 Passing TDs, 0 INTs, 123.3 Passer Rating
Mahomes and Chiefs were the pace-setters for the 2020 season when they snuffed out the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. The Chiefs were dominant while the Texans looked exactly like a team without DeAndre Hopkins was theorized to look like.
LSU rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire took a considerable amount of responsibility off the Lombardi-hoisting shoulders of Patrick Mahomes against Houston. That should terrify everyone. Mahomes wasn’t asked to put up gaudy numbers. Instead, he threw for a meager 211 yards and three touchdowns.
Sarcasm aside, the 2020 Chiefs look more daunting than the 2019 edition, if only for a week. Mahomes exploited the midsection of Houston’s defense early with Travis Kelce’s contributions. Kelce, Sammy Watkins, and Tyreek Hill all hit paydirt in the matchup with Houston while Kansas City blazed to victory in beginning its title defense.
Although the Chiefs wide receiver and tight end rooms largely look the same as 2020, Edward-Helaire will likely provide a Kareem Hunt-like sizzle that the team boasted in 2017, minus the domestic violence.
As for Week 2, the Chiefs head to Los Angeles to take on the undefeated Chargers.