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KC Chiefs: Top five MVP candidates heading into week 15

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs shakes hands with quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs shakes hands with quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Don’t look now, but here he comes. The reigning MVP, KC Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, got a huge win to help his MVP case for a second year in a row. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson keep chugging along.

If it wasn’t clear before, Lamar Jackson is here to stay atop the MVP list. Aaron Rodgers has also solidified his position on the list with another win, albeit shaky. Week 14 was a little wacky, but the MVP picture is starting to clear up for the home stretch. Where does Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sit amongst the top candidates?

Last week’s MVP candidates were ranked as follows:

  1. Lamar Jackson
  2. Russell Wilson
  3. Aaron Rodgers
  4. Deshaun Watson
  5. Patrick Mahomes

With an awful game from Watson and the Texans, he’s been inevitably demoted from last week. The Broncos not only made Watson look like a pretender in the MVP race, but also made the Texans look extremely beatable. Watson shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for this, as the defense gave up 31 points to Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock in just his second NFL start.

On the other hand, Patrick Mahomes did his best to escape the Patriots in New England. While he wasn’t his best once again, he did enough to slide up in this list. Without further ado, let’s check out this week’s MVP rankings starting with our lone dark horse remaining.

Dark Horse Candidates

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

Michael Thomas flies back into the picture as a dark horse heading into week 15. He’s been the unquestioned best receiver in the NFL this year, leading the league in receiving yards by over 200 yards to go with seven touchdowns. He made the historic 49ers secondary look silly last week with 11 receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown.

Thomas was a dark horse in this column heading into week 12 and though wide receivers have almost no chance at this award, Thomas has been that good. The 49ers won the shootout, but the game had the look of a NFC championship game in the near future.

Thomas has been a constant for the Saints this year while Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara have missed time and that still puts him in the running for MVP, even if it is a long shot.