NFL MVP Race after Week 2: Allen, Jackson tied at top, Daniels cracks first five

There is still a lot of season still remaining. In fact, we are just getting started, but it’s never to early to start looking at who the favorite is for the MVP. We came into this season with a couple of former MVPs as the frontrunners to win the award again, and to no ones surprise those two top the oddsmakers board heading into Week 3.

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens QB, (+300)

The Ravens QB played just about as perfect of a game as you could play in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills. He had his team in control for most of the night, but a Derrick Henry fumble changed all of that. Last week against the Browns he took a little while to get going, but once the clicked into gear, he was like a train going downhill on a wet track. He passed for 4 TDs and 225 yards on 19/29 passing. Most of those incompletions were early in the game, but once Baltimore caught their rhythm he and his receivers looked like they were on the practice field running routes. They put it on the Browns win number one of the season, and they did it in blowout fashion.

Pass Stats: CMP: 68.8%, YDS: 434, TDs: 6, INT: 0, RTG:136.6

Rush Stats: CAR: 8, YDS: 83, TD: 1

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills QB, (+300)

After topping Lamar Jackson in a battle of the latest MVPs, Josh Allen didn’t have to be a super hero against the New York Jets. The Bills jumped out to a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter, and it was mostly their work horse running back James Cook doing the heavy lifting. Allen threw the ball 25 times but only connected on 14 of those passes. He ended the day with 148 yards, but with his team comfortably in the lead he was happy to hand it off to his running back and let him cook for 132 yards and 2 TDs. It was especially welcomed considering he took a shot to the face that bloodied his nose at the end of the first quarter. When he needs to be great, he is great but there is not need to force it in a game that was well in the bag by halftime.

Pass Stats: CMP: 66.2%, YDS: 542, TDs: 2, INT: 0, RTG: 98.4,

Rush Stats: CAR: 20, YDS: 89, TD: 2

Jordan Love Green Bay Packers QB, (+700)

It’s a toss up between the Bills and the Packers for best looking team through two weeks of the season. Obviously you have to put the defending champs in the conversation too, but the eye test would tell you the Packers are maybe the most complete team so far. One of the main reasons for that is their QB Jordan Love who looks prime to turn into a star in this league. He’s been a good quarterback for the last couple years, but he has looked great to start the season. He was in command from start to finish on Thursday against the Washington, throwing for 292 yards and 2 TDs. The best thing about what he’s been doing is the distribution to his pass catchers. Six different players had receptions, four of them had three catches or more. That makes preparing for this already great team even harder, because Love can beat you with any one of his weapons.

Pass Stats: CMP: 66%, YDS: 480, TDs: 4, INT: 0, RTG: 120.0

Rush Stats: CAR: 6, YDS: 16, TD: 0

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers QB, (+1200)

The hot pick for MVP this season was Justin Herbert. Under the orders of QB genius, Jim Harbaugh, he looks to be transforming into the gunslinger that we have been expecting him to be since the golden boy came into the league back in 2020. In the first game of the season all he did was outperform Patrick Mahomes and lead his team to a victory over their AFC West foes, the Kansas City Chiefs. Last week in Las Vegas he had another efficient game in which he didn’t make any mistakes, connected on almost 70% of his passes while throwing for 242 yards and 2 TDs. It wasn’t a pretty game from Sin City, but with a defense like the Chargers it doesn’t always have to be that pretty. Bottom line, he and LA have started with two division games, and they have yet to step foot inside Sofi Stadium yet.

Pass Stats: CMP: 72.1%, YDS: 560, TDs: 5, INT: 0, RTG:127.8,

Rush Stats: CAR: 16, YDS: 63, TD: 0

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders QB, (+1300)

The Offensive Rookie of the Year tops off our top five after Week 2, despite getting beat up by the stingy Packers defense on Thursday night. The Commanders were handed a dose of reality against a team that looked better than them in every facet of the game. It’s true that Washington had to hit the road for a game on a short week in Week 2. It doesn’t get much harder than that early in the season. It showed. Daniels was under constant pressure, by Micah Parsons and the GB D Line. He was sacked 4 times but that doesn’t paint the picture of just how much pressure he had to deal with all game. He ended the nigh with 200 yards and 2 TDs but the Commanders were always chasing the Pack, and Daniels ended the night with a sprained knee that could keep him out for this week, and maybe longer.

Pass Stats: CMP: 59.7%, YDS: 433, TDs: 3, INT: 0, RTG:90.8,

Rush Stats: CAR: 18, YDS: 85, TD: 0

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.