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Now that we're past the half way point of the 2021 NFL season, there's no debate that we've had our fair share of highlight reels through the first 11 weeks of play. With so many familiar faces in new places and the emergence of so many young and determined contenders, there's been a countless number of players that have put on some memorable performances and had MVP-caliber seasons in the process. Nonetheless, in this post we're looking at NFL MVP candidates at this juncture in the season.
As we get closer to the start of the NFL playoffs, things have really started to heat up as the race for the 2021-22 NFL MVP seems to get closer each week. So with all this happening in what's been a crazy NFL season, we'll now break down the top five NFL MVP candidates through the first 11 weeks of the 2021 season, ranked.
NFL MVP Candidates
5. Cooper Kupp
Currently in the midst of a milestone season, Cooper Kupp has emerged as a top-5 receiver in the NFL and showcased his elite playmaking abilities in the Rams pass-heavy offense. With Kupp setting a new record with each game he plays, there's no denying that the Rams offense has benefited from this in a major way. Kupp has come through for the Rams and helped them pull off a few crucial wins against some of the best teams in the league.
Not to mention he and Matthew Stafford have formed one of the best quarterback/receiver duos in the NFL this season. Even with all the talent the Rams possess on offense, there's no doubt that they'd be much worse off without the presence of Kupp in their receiving corps. As the league leader in reception yards, Kupp has officially entered the NFL MVP race for the 2021 season and it doesn't look like he's planning on slowing down anytime soon.
4. Justin Herbert
Coming off an impressive rookie campaign where he won the offense rookie of the year award, Justin Herbert has unquestionably elevated the Chargers offense and is a big reason why they look like a legitimate playoff threat. With his high-IQ pocket presence, mobility, and deep arm threat, Herbert has been playing MVP-caliber football all year long.
He even outdueled the mighty Patrick Mahomes earlier this season while leading the Chargers to an impressive road win. After leading LA to another close win against the Steelers on Sunday night, Herbert has added to his already stellar resume and further showcased his candidacy for 2021 NFL MVP.
3. Matthew Stafford
After a long and brutal tenure playing for the Detroit Lions and coming up short each season, Stafford was long overdue for a change of scenery. Now that he's in a functional and winning situation in Los Angeles, Stafford has shown that he is worth every penny the Rams are paying him. Especially when factoring in that he's singlehandedly transformed the Rams offense and brought more flare to their deep and talented offense.
Having a receiving corps that features Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson, Tyler Higbee, and Odell Beckham Jr. definitely helps a lot, but considering the level of production he had on the Lions with virtually no help on offense, it's hard to overlook the impact that he's had on the Rams.
Even though he's cooled off some from his hot start through the earlier parts of the season, it goes without saying that Stafford will bounce back huge next weekend and lead the Rams to more big wins throughout the year as he guns for his first title while cementing his place in this year's MVP race.
2. Kyler Murray
Despite missing the past few weeks with an ankle injury, Kyler Murray has taken his game up a few notches this season and the Cardinals offense has blossomed as result of this. Murray's wherewithal to create and improvise in the pocket is exactly what has made him so successful this season and allowed him to thrive in Cliff Kingsbury's air raid offense.
Whether he's getting it done through the air or on the ground, Murray's elite playmaking and Pro Bowl level play all season long has put him in the MVP conversation this year and gave the Cardinals new life. As he looks to make his first playoff appearance under center for Arizona, watch out for Murray to be an MVP finalist this season.
1. Dak Prescott
With the Cowboys sitting atop the NFC East and looking primed for a Super Bowl run this season, it seems like the Cowboys and Dak Prescott now are on the same page after a ton of turmoil that stemmed from contract talks that stalled and a season-ending injury from last year. Now that they've put all this behind them, Prescott looks better than ever and has led the Cowboys by example and put together a string of impressive wins for Dallas this season.
If he can stay healthy and continue playing at a high level, then Prescott may end up as the frontrunner for the 2021 NFL MVP. In his bounce back season, Prescott has been more fluid in the pocket and properly utilized the Cowboys offense to perfection while forming great on-field chemistry with his teammates. Back with a chip on his shoulder and ready to make a deep playoff run this season, this could be the year that Prescott finally wins league MVP.
