2021 NFL MVP watch: Aaron Rodgers nonetheless forward of Tom Brady, with Jonathan Taylor, Cooper Kupp shut behind

We’re by means of the primary 16 weeks of the 2021 NFL season, which suggests it is as soon as once more time for our weekly check-in on the MVP race. We’ve been and can proceed to make use of this area over the ultimate few weeks of the common season to take the temperature of our rotating panel of specialists, making an attempt to get a really feel for who’s within the lead, who’s in rivalry, who’s hanging on the fringes, and the way these teams are altering from week to week. 

Every of our specialists was requested to submit their top-five MVP rankings. 5 factors have been awarded for a first-place vote, 4 for a second-place vote, three for a third-place vote, two for a fourth-place vote, and one for a fifth-place vote.

We’re into the stretch run of the marketing campaign now, and the image is solidifying. It seems we’ve a two-man race on the high between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, with a complete mess of candidates preventing for down-ballot votes. Whether or not or not any of them have an opportunity to crash the celebration clearly stays to be seen. 

With out additional ado, let’s get to the voting…

The panel of voters: Jonathan Jones, Will Brinson, Ryan Wilson, John Breech, Jared Dubin, Jordan Dajani, Bryan DeArdo, Cody Benjamin, Josh Edwards, Chris Trapasso, Tyler Sullivan, Jeff Kerr

The total MVP leaderboard

1. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (55)

2. Buccaneers QB Tom Brady (44)

3. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (24)

4.  Rams WR Cooper Kupp (19)

5. Payments QB Josh Allen (15)

6. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (9)

7. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (5)*

8. Bengals QB Joe Burrow (4)*

T-9. Rams QB Matthew Stafford (1)

T-9. Steelers DE T.J. Watt (1)

*New on the record this week

Dropped out: 49ers WR Deebo Samuel, Chargers QB Justin Herbert, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

Most first-place votes:

• Aaron Rodgers (9 out of 11)
• Tom Brady (2)
• Cooper Kupp (1)

Most second-place votes:

• Tom Brady (7)
• Cooper Kupp (3)
• Aaron Rodgers (2)

Most whole ballots: 

• Aaron Rodgers (12 out of 12)
• Tom Brady (11)
• Jonathan Taylor (8)
• Cooper Kupp, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes (7)

Positional illustration:

So who will truly win?

Rodgers is each the chief in our ballot and a heavy betting favourite. Caesars Sportsbook lists Rodgers’ odds at -170, with Taylor and Brady trailing behind at +700 apiece. The one different gamers with higher than 50-to-1 odds are Mahomes (+900), Allen (+1200), Prescott (+1800), Kupp (+2500), Burrow (+4000), and Stafford (+5000). 

We have been saying for the final a number of weeks that the race for the highest seed within the NFC will play a serious position in figuring out who in the end wins MVP, and that also appears more likely to find yourself being the case. Rodgers and the Packers are at the moment within the driver’s seat, and in the event that they win their final two regular-season video games (in opposition to the Vikings and Lions), it is tough to see anyone else surpassing him within the voting. 

If the Packers falter, nonetheless, that might open the door for anyone else. Particularly, the Cowboys have one of the best shot to take over the No. 1 seed down the stretch, because of their possession of the convention file tiebreaker. If Prescott performs something remotely like he did in opposition to the Soccer Workforce on Sunday night time, in opposition to he Cardinals this weekend and the Eagles in Week 18, main Dallas to the No. 1 seed, he might soar into the combination. 

If Dallas have been to lose one in all its two video games as nicely, then Brady and the Buccaneers might seize the No. 1 seed, maybe vaulting him again forward of Rodgers after getting knocked off his perch final week. The Chiefs are in line for the No. 1 seed within the AFC, and if Mahomes continues enjoying like he has during the last a number of weeks, then he would possibly truly be finest positioned to take the award away from Rodgers. 

It is notable that Taylor now could be tied with Brady for the second-best odds at Caesars, although this can be very tough to see a working again from a crew that finishes in second place in its personal division truly successful MVP. (If the Titans beat the Dolphins on Sunday or the Texans in Week 18, they will clinch the AFC South.) Stafford and Kupp’s fortunes within the race appear considerably tied collectively, because it’s unlikely for Stafford to succeed until the passing offense runs by means of Kupp, because it has for a lot of the 12 months. If Burrow and the Bengals beat the Chiefs this Sunday, then there might be a groundswell of help for the second-year quarterback based mostly on his comeback from an ACL 12 months, monster recreation in opposition to Baltimore final week, and de-throning of a possible Tremendous Bowl contender. 

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