NFL MVP stock watch, Week 7: Derrick Henry enters the chat
By Dustin Baker
5. Lamar Jackson, QB (Baltimore Ravens)
Last Week’s Ranking: Unranked
Highest Ranking of Season: 2nd (-3)
2020 Stats: 1,135 Passing Yards, 10 Passing TDs, 2 INTs, 63.0% Comp, 99.2 Passer Rating, 346 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing TDs
First things first — Jackson reenters the rankings for two reasons. Foremost, his team is 5-1. After losing to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football a few weeks ago, Jackson’s Ravens have responded tremendously. Baltimore has won consecutive games, and Baltimore sits as the fourth seed of the AFC standings.
Next, Jackson is rushing the ball like a mini-halfback, much like last season. He’s on pace to rush for just under 1,000 yards, and that’s basically Herculean for any quarterback. The toll on his body may rear its ugly head in the coming years. But for now, Jackson rushing acumen in a marvelous, indefensible asset.
NFL pundits and fans are growing to expect this performance from Jackson. The excitement surrounding his 2020 campaign is somewhat muted because we’ve seen this before (last year). His greatness has become customary much like the process of LeBron James not winning NBA MVP awards.
Tune into a Ravens game, and you know you will see Jackson throwing lasers, rushing for 50+ yards, and the Ravens finding a victory — MVP stuff for an ordinary man.