MVP Race after Week 5: Mahomes top spot, OT winner for Jackson, Stroud tops Allen, rookie Daniels

A couple of MVP candidates went head-to-head last weekend in Houston and it was the second year QB who led his team to a narrow, last second victory to inch his way up the MVP ladder. The AFC’s only remaining QB keeps his spot at the top of the oddsmakers boards, while the reigning MVP won a spectacular overtime game. And, for the first time this season, and maybe ever, we have a rookie quarterback in the top five of the MVP candidates according to MGM Grand.

Here are the MVP odds after Week 5

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (+240)

The Kansas City Chiefs finally looked like the Kansas City Chiefs of old. We’re talking about the Chiefs teams two or three seasons ago when the offense was the driving force behind this KC’s success. For the last season and some change the defense has been responsible for leading KC to the finish line, but on Monday night in New Orleans Patrick Mahomes looked like the two time MVP that he is. What’s even more impressive about his 300 yard game on Monday is he showed he can do it without his top WR, and top running back. When Isaiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice went down with injuries that will keep them out for an extended period, questions began to circle around Arrowhead and the Chiefs chances for a three peat. I’m not sure why we doubt this team, or Mahomes when he has shown us time and time again he can win even if Andy Reid were to line up at WR. His best play of the night extended the Chiefs drive on 3rd and 9 as he ran for a spectacular first down and essentially closed the Saints out with his 9 yard Houdini act in the fourth quarter.

Pass stats: 69.4% CMP, 1,235 YDS, 6 TD, 6 INT, 88.9 RTG

Run stats: 23 CAR, 83 YDS, 0 TD

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens (+650)

The Ravens were flirting with their third loss of the season in a tough divisional game from Cincinnati this past weekend. It doesn’t matter how good a QB has been playing, 3 losses in 5 weeks would have dropped Lamar Jackson down the MVP odds ladder. Fortunately for him and Ravens fans, he dug deep into his bag of tricks to pull off a comeback win over the Bengals. We are used to seeing Jackson turn broken plays into highlight reel touchdowns, but each of his TD passes in his 348 yard day was more incredible than the next. The Ravens trailed by double digits most of the second half, and Jackson had to play out of his mind just to claw his team back in the game. They would win it in overtime thanks to Derrick Henry’s long run to set up a field goal, but make no mistake this was Jackson’s breakout performance of the season as he bids for a third MVP.

Pass stats: 65.3% CMP, 1,206 YDS, 9 TD, 1 INT, 107.3 RTG

Run stats: 53 CAR, 363 YDS, 2 TD

C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans (+650)

Give credit to the second year QB, who was rattled in the Texans only loss to the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago. We wondered how he would respond after having no answer to the Robert Flores’ scheme, and what does he do? He goes for back to back 300 yard games and leads game winning drives in each of them. This week he wasn’t perfect despite his big statistical day. In fact, we saw him make a handful of mistakes that nearly cost his team. He threw a pick that stifled a drive deep in Buffalo territory that took points off the board. Then he fumbled inside his own 20 to allow the Bills to tie the game up with a field goal with just over 3:00 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. With the Texans in prime field goal range with under a minute to go, Stroud was flagged for intentional grounding that pushed Houston out of field goal range and forced a punt. Luckily for Stroud and Houston they would get the ball back and kick a game winning field goal at the end of regulation.

Pass stats: 68.9% CMP, 1,385 YDS, 7 TDS, 3 INT, 98.2 RTG

Run stats: 14 CAR, 68 YDS, 0 TDS

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills (+750)

Two straight losses for the one time MVP favorite, Josh Allen, and the Buffalo Bills. After a dream start to a season the Bills have been handed a couple doses of reality. First by the Ravens in a blowout loss and then by the Texans who jumped all over the Bills in the first half and left Allen having to make a comeback bid for the final 30 minutes from NRG Stadium. The Bills QB did respond after the halftime break, nearly erasing a 17-3 lead heading into the third quarter. Two third quarter TD drives closed the lead to 20-17 but Allen had chance after chance to give his team the lead and couldn’t come up with the goods. He went just 9/30 for 131 yards and was unable navigate his team into the end zone on three different occasions the Bills had to take their first lead of the day. The final series in which the Bills gifted possession back to the Texans in the final minute of the game is hard to blame all on Allen. He wasn’t the one that called three straight pass plays when Buffalo had a chance to bring the game to OT, but he did throw the three straight incompletions to stop the clock.

Pass stats: 60.3% CMP, 945 YDS, 8 TDS, 0 INT, 102.8 RTG

Run stats: 26 CAR, 160 YDS, 2 TDS

Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders (+1000)

We are going to have to check the history books to see if a rookie QB has ever been in the MVP conversation this “late” in the season. I know it’s still very early, but what Jayden Daniels is doing in the nation’s capital is unlike anything we have ever seen. CJ Stroud was sensational in his rookie season, but Daniels is one upping him through the first five weeks of the season. He has the best completion percentage of any QB in the league, hitting almost 80% of his passes. He takes care of the ball while taking big shots down field and has made stars out of his WR corps that wasn’t getting a lot of attention before the season. Most importantly, he has led the Commanders to four straight wins, and Washington currently has the best offense in the league, scoring the most points per game (31.0) and in the top five in yards per game (392). Let me remind you that he’s a rookie. This rookie is going to have a massive chance to make a statement this weekend against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens from M&T Stadium.

Pass stats: 77.1% CMP, 1,135 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT, 106.3 RTG

Run stats: 57 CAR, 300 YDS, 4 TD