KC Chiefs: Top five MVP candidates heading into week 12
By Gage Stagner
Dark Horse Candidates
Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
The Saints are 8-2 and there’s a case to be made that wide receiver Michael Thomas is the sole reason why. He’s been that good.
No, wide receivers never win the MVP, that is why he is just a dark horse for now, but he deserves recognition because of the way he has produced all year.
Without Drew Brees for five games, Thomas has still been as steady as they come. He has had 89 or more yards in every game except one and six 100-yard games. That leads to 1,142 yards and 5 touchdowns for the year with five weeks to go.
For Thomas to be considered, he may need over 2,000 receiving yards and for New Orleans to grab the one-seed in the NFC. Both of which are doable.
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is coming off, statistically, the worst performance of his career against the Chargers. The Chiefs won, but it was not convincingly. Mahomes made enough plays to get the job done, but he’s still nowhere near the other candidates in the MVP conversation.
He is still a dark horse, however, based on respect alone. He’s the reigning MVP and could go on a 15-touchdown tear here in his next five weeks after the bye. At this point, Mahomes needs a crazy run like that and for the Chiefs to go unbeaten for the rest of the way to be considered in the conversation.
He may also need a slippage from some other guys.