The blueprint for MVP winners are clear; be a decent quarterback on a winning team. 

Lamar Jackson, Russel Wilson, and Patrick Mahomes are the league’s top three candidates for the league’s most prestigious award. Although multiple notable players could be recognized at other positions, they do not receive adequate recognition.

Unless something unbelievably unpredictable happens the NFL will crown a quarterback as MVP for the seventh consecutive season; the longest streak since the award began in 1957.  

The most notable non-quarterback players this season have put up record numbers. New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas had 94 receptions through the first ten games, the most through ten games in NFL history. Thomas is also on pace to break the single season reception record of 143. The league’s leading receiver also has 200 more yards than the next closest receiver. Even though Thomas is the one breaking records, his quarterback is the one receiving credit for MVP candidacy. 

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is first in the NFL for touchdowns with 18 through week 15 of the season. McCaffrey is on a historic run with 2,121 yards from scrimmage with two games left to play. Although he will not break the single season record of 2,523 yards he is still on a shockingly similar pace. But, he is still a minute side note in the conversation due to the fact the Panthers are not a playoff contender.

Although it makes sense the hardest position in sports gains the most consideration for this award, once in a generation talents deserve the respect of being considered.