The 2020 NFL regular season is just 46 percent complete, but we’re monitoring the league’s top MVP candidates. Here’s a look at the eight players best aligned for MVP runs based on the first eight weeks of the 2020 campaign.
8. Los Angeles Rams DL Aaron Donald: The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is on pace for 18 sacks and six forced fumbles for the contending Rams.
7. Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry: He and Ryan Tannehill sort of cross each other out here, but another triple-digit-yard performance has Henry running away with the rushing crown for a Super Bowl contender.
6. New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara: He edges out teammate Drew Brees because he’s done more of the heavy lifting in a shorthanded Saints offense. Kamara is now on pace for 2,256 scrimmage yards and 16 touchdowns. He has to at least be in the Offensive Player of the Year mix.
5. Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray: The Cardinals are 5-2 primarily due to Murray’s play. The second-year top pick has nine touchdown passes to two interceptions over the last four games, and is on pace for 999 rushing yards and 16 rushing scores.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady: The 43-year-old has 17 touchdown passes to one interception the last five weeks for the first-place Bucs. It’s remarkable, especially considering his age and injuries to the receiving corps in Tampa.
3. Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: At this point, it’s almost a toss-up between the league’s three highest-rated passers. Rodgers has been excellent with a 20-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but he has two losses on his record now.
2. Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: Mahomes has an edge in rating, ratio (a league-best 21-to-1) and in terms of team success, as the Chiefs are 7-1.
1. Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: Wilson bounced back from a rough Week 7 performance and is still the NFL’s highest-rated passer for a 6-1 team. But it’s close.
