By Jamal Baker
NDG Contributing Writer
DraftKings Sportsbook currently has Josh Allen favored to win the regular season MVP with Lamar Jackson and Saquon Barkley rounding out the top three candidates. Each of these NFL superstars present a strong and unique argument to claim the MVP throne. The MVP has been judged on three consistent criteria over the past decade—stats, team success, and whether the player is a quarterback (sorry, Saquon).
Allen is coming off a 48-42 Week 15 victory over the Detroit Lions, in which he passed for 362 yards and two touchdowns while adding 68 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. The Buffalo Bills currently sit second in the AFC standings with an 11-3 record.
“The MVP race is over, folks. In 2024, No. 17 is running away with this and that’s saying a lot because Saquon Barkley and Lamar Jackson are having tremendous seasons. What this dude is doing right now is absolutely unbelievable,” ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky said.
Over the past two weeks Allen has posted 854 total yards and 10 total touchdowns. He truly defines what it means to be a dual-threat quarterback as he is equally special with his arm and legs. With three games to go in the regular season, Allen has 3,395 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 484 rushing yards, and 11 rushing touchdowns. If he continues playing football at such a high level for the last three weeks of the season, one can argue we are witnessing the greatest season a quarterback has ever put together.
Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens to a 35-14 victory over the New York Giants to improve to a 9-5 record on the season. Jackson threw for 290 yards and five touchdowns while adding 65 yards on the ground. His MVP odds have steadily risen over the last week going from +1000 to +550. The reigning league MVP is also having a special season—tallying 3,580 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 743 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. Although Jackson’s team record is worse than Allen, Jackson has put up numbers that measure up to the stats Allen has produced. Jackson has a chance to separate himself in the race if he manages to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing while also passing for over 4,000 yards—a feat that has never been done by an NFL quarterback.
Barkley broke the Philadelphia Eagles’ single-season rushing record this year, which was previously held by LeSean McCoy. The Eagles are one of the hottest teams in football—currently on a 10-game winning streak. Barkley’s impact has been immeasurable during his first year with the team, amassing 1,964 yards from scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns so far this season.
The final three weeks of the season will be the determining factor for who will walk away with the prestigious award. Heisman hopefuls have a chance to display “Heisman Moments” at the end of the collegiate season to give voters something to remember when casting their ballots. Jackson, Allen, and Barkley all have a chance to perform MVP moments to walk away with the award.
