The NFL MVP award is, for all intents and purposes, a quarterback’s award. It’s been nine years since anyone other than a passer was deemed the league’s Most Valuable Player. With passing offenses more important than ever, it would take a superhuman performance from a running back or wide receiver or pass rusher to sway voters to their side.
That narrows down 2022’s candidate list. While Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson have both been great, it’s a longshot either would be able to rage their way into serious consideration for the award while a handful of quarterbacks are absolutely cooking behind center. This fall has been the backdrop to some notable fades — Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott foremost among them — but the league’s best teams have been powered by high octane aerial attacks.
Knowing that, we can narrow this year’s field down to a handful of quarterbacks who’ve been difference makers for teams in contention. After 10 weeks, here’s how the MVP race is shaping up in my eyes.