NFL MVP stock watch: Aaron Rodgers says hello
By Dustin Baker
2. Aaron Rodgers, QB (Green Bay Packers)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2nd (+1)
Highest Ranking of Season: 2nd (+1)
2020 Stats: 3,685 Passing Yards, 39 Passing TDs, 4 INTs, 69.6% Comp, 119.7 Passer Rating
Aaron Rodgers is on pace to finish the season with the following statline: 4,535 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, and five interceptions. These numbers are better than Patrick Mahomes but not by a lot. Regardless, they’re better. And, the Packers are now the No. 1 seed in the NFC’s stacked-at-the-top postseason race.
In every quarterback metric, Rodgers currently bests Mahomes — PFF, QBR, and Passer Rating. Instead of subscribing to a “how can you not give the MVP to Mahomes” talking point, the narrative should sound something like “if Rodgers doesn’t win it, he’s getting screwed.” The men should probably split the damn thing. That’s how prestigious each man has played in 2020.
The race will be extraordinarily tight — especially if Rodgers has no quiet games the rest of the way. To ignore his individual numbers because Mahomes is younger and more marketable would be unfair.
Green Bay finishes up the regular season vs. Carolina, vs. Tennessee, and on the road in Chicago. These games should give Rodgers a stiff challenge.