As we method the back-end of the common season it’s rising more and more obvious that C.J. Stroud isn’t simply the offensive rookie of the 12 months, however placing a respectable declare on the Most Beneficial Participant award.

Earlier than you rush to the feedback and name me an fool, hear me out on why Stroud has been the MVP this season — then rush to the feedback and name me an fool.

Stroud had an actual assertion win on Sunday by beating the Bengals in a recreation the place he out-played Joe Burrow en path to getting the Texans to 5-4 on the season, one recreation out of 1st within the aggressive AFC South. If the playoffs began at this time Houston could be in, and that’s virtually fully due to Stroud, who has reworked one of many worst groups within the NFL right into a respectable menace in six months since being drafted.

We will make all kinds of semantic argument about what an MVP award ought to imply. Personally, I feel that too usually it merely equates profitable with worth, whereas failing to consider the transformative impact a participant has on a staff. In terms of the NFL the reality is that MVP is commonly synonymous with “finest quarterback,” and on this rubric you’d be exhausting pressed to seek out anybody within the league proper now extra deserving that C.J. Stroud.

Stroud’s projected stats by the tip of the common season simply clear the brink for MVP worthiness, and examine extraordinarily favorably to the final 5 recipients of the award.

Whereas Stroud doesn’t clear the brink in completion proportion, touchdowns, or passer ranking — he simply crosses the bar in yards and TD/INT effectivity. The reality is that this has been a down 12 months for prime quarterbacks across the NFL, with Stroud’s projected numbers exceeding these of Mahomes, Josh Allen or Justin Herbert with relative ease. His largest problem to MVP at quarterback is Tua Tagovailoa, however if you happen to ask anybody outdoors of Miami who has had the higher season they’re going to choose Stroud.

That’s to not say Tua isn’t deserving, as a result of in some ways he’s been the finest quarterback within the league this 12 months. Nevertheless, it’s troublesome to divorce his efficiency from being on a staff with one of the best offensive coach within the NFL, having one of the best receiver within the league this season in Tyreek Hill, including Jaylen Waddle to the combination — and capping that each one off with the Dolphins’ run recreation.

Voters historically reward quarterbacks who do loads with somewhat. That was the first driving pressure behind Mahomes’ 2022 win when he lacked receivers, and Rodgers when he solely had Davante Adams. Stroud has better-than-expected weapons in Tank Dell and Nico Collins, however virtually no one knew their names previous to this season — and particularly in comparison with Hill and Waddle.

The plain rub right here is that assuming stats maintain Tagovailoa might win the MVP, whereas Stroud could be rewarded Offensive Rookie of the 12 months (OROY), however I feel there’s an especially compelling case to be made for Stroud skipping that middleman step and vaulting instantly into the dialog for the highest award. If we have a look at a Texans’ roster that has been largely unchanged from 2022 to now we will clearly see how invaluable Stroud has been on the place.

Davis Mills at finest was a 3,000 yard passer with mediocre TD/INT numbers. The staff was 3-13-1 because of this. With the identical blocking, and the practical addition of 1 good receiver in Dell, Stroud has already eclipsed final 12 months’s win whole and is main a staff to a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. That’s vital, and why I really feel he deserves the highest award.

The hilarious a part of Stroud’s unbelievable season is how shut this dream got here to by no means being realized. There’s a variety of revisionist historical past occurring with Nick Caserio and the Texans entrance workplace in the case of Stroud, however the fact stays that this group actually needed Bryce Younger and have been crestfallen that the Panthers traded as much as take him. Stroud was very a lot a comfort prize, a desperation alternative, a participant they took as a result of they wanted a quarterback, not essentially as a result of they really needed C.J. Stroud — nevertheless it’s was one of the lucky draft selections in current historical past.

Houston doesn’t simply have its franchise QB, or one of the best rookie of the 12 months, however a respectable prime quarterback within the NFL.

Winner: Myles Garrett

It’s far previous time we mentioned the season Myles Garrett is having for the Browns. Misplaced within the Browns’ inconsistent offense and quarterbacking points is recognizing a easy truth: Cleveland have a participant delivering one of the legendary defensive seasons now we have ever seen.

Sunday was simply one other day on the workplace for Garrett who casually completed with 1.5 sacks. It brings his season whole to 9.5, however extra spectacular than simply attending to the quarterback is the extent of disruption he’s capable of carry to groups across the league.

Garrett’s projected stats for this season by its finish virtually defy perception: 20.2 sacks, 9 pressured fumbles, and 12.8 stuffed runs. This can be a defensive finish who is flourishing in each section of the sport and derailing offenses across the league.

If the Browns are capable of make a run to the playoffs this season (and indicators are pointing to that being the case) will probably be due to the work Garrett is doing on protection.

Loser: The Chargers protection

This must be one of many saddest developments of the 2023 season. Detroit has an excellent offense, however the Chargers are permitting their complete season to go up in flames as a result of they’ll’t do the naked minimal in the case of stopping opposing groups.

On Sunday the Chargers allowed 533 whole yards, 200 dashing yards, and couldn’t handle to capitalize on a 4 landing recreation from Justin Herbert. That ought to simply be sufficient for many groups to win, however Los Angeles retains getting dominated.

The Chargers now have a protection languishing within the 20s. They will’t rating sufficient to mitigate a unit that enables over 24 points-per-game, and all the things is crumbling with the staff at 4-5. This staff must be a critical menace within the NFL, they usually’re getting run over — once more.

Winner: Joshua Dobbs

No one is having a greater 12 months than Joshua Dobbs. It’s not like he’s going to win any awards, however the deal on the commerce deadline that despatched him to Minnesota goes to set him up endlessly within the league.

I don’t understand how lengthy the Vikings can journey this wave, nevertheless it’s working for now. Dobbs performed extraordinarily properly in opposition to the Saints, maximizing T.J. Hockenson’s function within the offense and enjoying environment friendly soccer. Dobbs can’t actually stretch the sphere, nevertheless it doesn’t matter if this staff retains profitable.

Loser: Atlanta Falcons

The excellent news: Working Bijan Robinson works! Who knew?!

The unhealthy information: Actually all the things else

Winner: Travis Kelce

The Chiefs are on a bye week, however Kelce received anyway.

Congrats, Travis.