Darkhorse MVP candidates for 2025
By: Jake Rajala
It’s easy to peg Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson as MVP favorites. Well, I want to go deeper and predict a few under-the-radar MVP candidates for 2025. Let’s begin.
Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford arguably has the best WR tandem in the league. Davante Adams is an upgrade over Cooper Kupp. Meanwhile, Puka Nacua was the best WR per PFF (with a grade of 92.8), despite missing six games! Stafford threw 41 touchdowns in 2021 under Sean McVay. He’s perfectly capable of having new career highs.
Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels really rose to the top last season. He led the Commanders to a 45-31 victory over the Detroit Lions in the playoffs! Daniels finished with 3,568 passing yards, 891 rushing yards, and 31 total touchdowns. To make matters more thrilling is that he has All-Pro WR Deebo Samuel in his back pocket.
Ja’Marr Chase
We all know it. Ja’Marr Chase led in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns last season! He also had 8 grabs of 40+ yards, which was first in the league. Joe Burrow led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns by leaning on Chase. Don’t expect anything to change, especially because Chase can slice a defense from anywhere on the field.
Jahmyr Gibbs
I believe that Jahmyr Gibbs has a real shot of being the next RB to win OPOY. Perhaps he can bring home the gold: the Lombardi trophy. He was fifth in rushing yards, despite having 53 fewer carries than the RB fourth in rushing yards. He also had 16 rushing touchdowns, which was tied with Derrick Henry and James Cook for first in the league.
Aidan Hutchinson
Lawrence Taylor won MVP, so it’s possible for a player on defense to win the award. Aidan Hutchinson led the league in sacks before suffering a season ending injury last season. The Lions are also up by a lot in many games. This allows Hutch to pin his ears back and hunt the QB without the fear of the foe running the ball.
There is two QBs, one RB, one WR, and one defensive player on this list. Clearly, there are two Lions on this list, as well. I really believe that these players can push for the MVP trophy for many seasons ahead. Obviously, Matthew Stafford is older than everyone by a long shot, but he should have a legit chance to win MVP within the next few seasons.
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