NFL Week 18 MVP Stock Watch: Congratulations, Lamar Jackson
In most MVP campaigns, there’s a moment when everyone agrees on the award winner. That moment came in Week 17 of the 2023 NFL regular season for any fair observers.
Lamar Jackson helped the Baltimore Ravens torch the Miami Dolphins, throwing for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a 56–19 blowout to clinch the AFC North and the conference’s top seed.
With that effort, Jackson now has thrown for 24 touchdowns. He has also rushed for more than 800 yards, consistently putting Baltimore in position to win despite significant injuries, including tight end Mark Andrews and running back Keaton Mitchell.
In short, Christian McCaffrey has been great, Tyreek Hill has been dynamic, but nobody has had a bigger impact on his team than Jackson in 2023.
Rising
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
Jackson threw five touchdown passes against the Dolphins on Sunday.
Mitch Stringer/USA TODAY Sports
Last week: Rising
Jackson is going to win his second MVP award in the past five seasons, putting him on a par with Patrick Mahomes in that regard.
At this point, all that’s left for Jackson is to win the Super Bowl. He’s won plenty of AFC North crowns. He’s gotten Baltimore to the playoffs time and again. The big issue has been winning in the postseason, where Baltimore only has one playoff win during his tenure.
Jackson has the MVP award locked up with the key thrown away. Now it’s onto the playoffs with his legacy on the line.
Holding steady
Falling
Josh Allen, QB, Bills
Allen's turnovers have hurt his case to win the MVP.
Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports
Last week: Holding steady
The candidacy for Allen was never a strong one, but it’s officially over after the stinker we saw from him Sunday.
Allen threw for 169 yards while completing half his passes, with an interception and two fumbles (none lost). While the Bills will be playing for the AFC East on Sunday against the Dolphins, and Allen is leading the league in touchdowns, the turnovers hurt his cause.
Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers
Last week: Falling
Whatever you think of Purdy, it’s impossible to argue that he hasn’t enjoyed a fine season.
With his performance against Washington on Sunday, Purdy has thrown for 31 touchdowns while also topping the 4,000-yard barrier. It’s an accomplishment for any quarterback, let alone a seventh-round pick in his first full season as a starter.
Purdy now eyes the biggest prize, the Lombardi Trophy, with San Francisco wrapping up the NFC’s top seed.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
Last week: Falling
Hill has been the league’s best receiver by a substantial margin, but he’s not going to take home MVP honors.
Historically speaking, no receiver has ever won the MVP. For Hill to have done so, he almost certainly would have needed to post the first 2,000-yard season in NFL history.
At 1,717 receiving yards, Hill would need an all-time day against the Bills on Sunday to hit the threshold.
