Welcome to the MVP Chase, where I, James Leroy Wilson, rank players and teams using objective data.
After one week of the NFL season, it is time for power rankings, right?
For mine, go this this link. I'm not associated with TeamRankings.com, but it ranks the teams based on point differential. That seems to make the most sense of any way to rank NFL teams after just one game. And for the top four of the top five, Cowboys, 49ers, Browns, and Rams, it is well-earned: they pummelled teams that had winning records in 2022.
MVP Chase
My view of the "most valuable player" in a team sport is one who made major contributions to the most victories. I therefore assign one "MVP Point" to any quarterback with a 100.0 passer rating in a win and an MVP Point to any ball carrier who had 100 yards from scrimmage in a win.
The player with the most games with a 100 rating or 100 yards in a victory ought to be the league's MVP. And this was the case in 2019 (Lamar Jackson), 2020 (Aaron Rodgers), and 2022 (Patrick Mahomes). The case for choosing someone else has to be compelling. In 2021, Aaron Rodgers got the nod over MVP Chase champ Cooper Kupp, and the voters were wrong.
I'll put defensive and special teams players in the MVP Chase if there is reason to. A returner who scores a touchdown every game, for instance. A CB with an interception or a DL with two sacks (or other tackles for loss) in every win. If some players do put together a series of wins with these kinds of achievements, I'll take notice. Until then, we'll assume this award will go to a quarterback or other ball handler.
Week 1 saw 18 players get a good start in the MVP race. In a nice congruence, there were 6 QBs, 6 RBs, and 6 WRs. Five of the six QBs are pretty young. Most of the regulars on the list the past couple of years, such as Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, lost the first week (and didn't have 100 passer ratings anyway). Unfortunately, Aaron Rodgers didn't lose the week, he lost the year.
One QB, Russell Wilson, had a 100 passer rating in a loss and therefore is not on the list. Several 100-yard backs and receivers also lost.
Here are the first entrants in the 2023 NFL MVP Chase, listed alphabetically.
1 MVP Point
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers
Tutu Atwell, RB, Rams
Nick Chubb, RB, Browns
Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Raiders
Breece Hall, RB, Jets
Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
Aaron Jones, RB, 49ers
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
Jordan Love, QB, Packers
Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
Puka Nacua, WR, Rams
Chris Olave, WR, Saints
Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers
Desmond Ridder, QB, Falcons
Calvin Ridley, WR, Jaguars
Rasheed Shaheed, WR, Saints
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins
James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase (subscribe) and JL Cells (subscribe), and is a monthly columnist at Meer. Thank you for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for writing, editing, research, and other work: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.