2018 NFL Honors: Early front-runners for MVP and other awards
By Erik Lambert
The 2018 NFL honors races are off and running and already they’re getting out of control, both in intensity and rather incredible surprises.
Many of the old guards who dominated last year aren’t even in the picture for several of the awards this season. There is a long way to go of course but it’s a great reminder of how entertaining and unpredictable the NFL can be. This might be a fun time to examine who the early leaders for every major award is and then see if they can maintain their grip by season’s end.
As always it must start with the big days of honors: the Most Valuable Player. Or to most fans, the “Who’s the hottest quarterback?” award these days. Fair or unfair, the fact is this showdown is both electric and baffling all rolled into one. Not only does it include a young man who’s never started a full season, but it also includes a man who has spent his entire career as a journeyman.
MVP
- Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
There’s no getting around the Mahomes argument. He’s been the primary reason the Chiefs are 2-0 to start the season. It isn’t their defense which has allowed 65 points in two games. The second-year QB has an absurd 10 touchdown passes through his first two games, both of which were on the road. Can he keep the pace up? He may have no choice.
Fitzpatrick is doing that thing he does. Moves to another team, comes out of nowhere and plays out of his mind. He has 8 TD passes with just one interception and is putting Jameis Winston, a former #1 pick in the trade rumor discussions. As for Brees, what else is new? He’s kept the Saints afloat with five touchdowns, no interceptions and is completing over 81% of his passes.