Dark Horse MVP Candidates for the 2020 Season

Every year, there are going to be the obvious favorites to win the MVP like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. With that though, there always seems to be a few players that sneak into the mix as a sleeper candidate to take home the trophy. Let’s analyze some players who I feel can fit this description.

Phillip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts

Even though he is coming off his worst season and is only getting older, Philip Rivers could not be in a better situation than with the Colts, making him a dark horse MVP candidate. In 2020, Rivers will be protected by arguably the best offensive line that was ever put in front of him, a problem that he had for many years in Los Angeles and San Diego. Were the picks high in 2019? Yes, but maybe a change of scenery is what Rivers needs. The Colts have a loaded roster and now have a quarterback who can steer the ship, so why not Philip Rivers for MVP.

Cam Newton, New England Patriots

It is amazing how quickly people forget how talented some football players are, and that includes Cam Newton, who is now in line to be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. Newton is just two years removed from a 6-2 start before injuries began to haunt him, affecting his play. Since the injuries started piling up, Newton has not been a good quarterback. What if 2020 is different and Newton is fully healthy? The talent is there, plus combining that with a hall of fame coach named Bill Belichick will help. It is tough to tell how Newton’s season is going to go, but do not be surprised if Newton has a monster year if he is at full strength.

Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers

It almost never happens, but if any non-quarterback were to win the MVP award, Nick Bosa can be that guy. In order to do this, you most likely have to break a record or at least come extremely close to breaking it, plus your team has to be good to get the recognition. The 49ers are going to be good again in 2020 and Bosa will have a lot to do with that, so that helps one step of the equation. The other step is that Bosa is a special talent that may easily become the best defensive player in the league before we can even blink. If Bosa has a monstrous season and comes close to breaking the sacks record or any record of that sort, his name should be mentioned in the MVP conversation.

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers

Staying with the 49ers, we now have their starting quarterback as a dark horse MVP candidate, Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo, who in his first full season as a starter reached the Super Bowl, has received a lot of criticism regarding his ability to lift the 49ers up and not drag them down. When you have a career record of 21-5, a Super Bowl appearance, and are coming off a season where you throw 27 touchdowns on 69.1% completion percentage, you should not be criticized. It can be argued that Garoppolo was carried by his defense and running game through the playoffs, but he was still steering the ship. There is a reason why the 49ers were 4-12 the year he got hurt after 3 games. His value is extremely overlooked and 2020 may be the year that he breaks out and enters the class of elite quarterbacks. Now he needs to go out on the field and bring home wins for the 49ers while playing at an elite level. No pressure.

Drew Lock, Denver Broncos

Even with all the hype surrounding Drew Lock, many are hesitant to put the label “MVP’ anywhere near his name. In many cases, Lock is in the perfect situation to dominate and be in the MVP conversation in 2020. At the end of 2019, Lock took over as the starter and played extremely well, going 4-1. In 2020, Lock has three more options to play within Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler and Melvin Gordon to go along with Courtland Sutton, Phillip Lindsay, and Noah Fant. Lock’s supporting cast is loaded and one that should help him jumpstart his success. Another factor is the division they are in. If Lock can somehow win the division over the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, Lock’s name will be thrown around the MVP conversation just for that. Maybe it is not this year, but that is why he is a dark horse candidate, no one would expect it.

Stats from profootballreference.com

-By: Richie Dordas

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