3 Dark Horse Chiefs Who Could Win Super Bowl MVP
3. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (+49000)
I'll start off by admitting that this one is a lot more of a dart-throw. I can spin you a pretty cohesive thesis on the Sneed and the Valdes-Scantling bets, but this one might be a bit more disjointed, and might require a bit more buying into a story.
Isiah Pacheco is obviously going to dominate the touches out of the Chiefs' backfield, but we've seen physicality really ramping up in these playoffs, and this game is likely to be an incredibly physical one. That increases the chance of injuries, and there's not a position more prone to injuries than running back.
If Pacheco gets hurt, I'm not sold on McKinnon being ready to step into a big role. And that would mean Clyde Edwards-Helaire would stand to get a ton of run.
Now, even going from "CEH is getting the RB1 touches" to "CEH will win MVP" takes a pretty big leap, but he's shown some real efficiency as a receiver in limited opportunities this year, and a couple goalline touches could get him a statline that maybe looks better than his actual play did. Plus, like I mentioned before, a shot at MVP at all would mean a Chiefs win. And in a win the Chiefs would be more likely to be going run-heavy in the second half to grind out the clock. More chances for CEH.
And (now I'm really grasping at straws, but I told you I lead with my two favorite picks) don't forget that fan voting plays a role in the award, and that some NFL panelists don't seem to actually have much more knowledge than the common fan. CEH is a former first-round pick, and people know his name.
We're all suckers for a good storyline in the Super Bowl, and a guy often considered a draft bust stepping up on the big stage as an injury replacement and being the hero of the game is a story that would be easy to fall in love with.
Also, a $2 bet would return nearly a thousand bucks if he won. How much do you really need me to sell you on a lottery ticket?
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