Week 9 NFL MVP Chase and Picks

 Welcome to the MVP Chase, where I look for, or chase, the best objective criteria in determining greatness without personal bias.

Today's topics: NFL MVP Chase and Week 9 picks

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NFL MVP Chase

We now have a sole leader in the MVP Chase, with nine others right behind.

To review;  to earn an MVP point in a game:

• A quarterback must have a 100.0+ passer rating in a win or tie.

• A back or receiver must have 100+ yards from scrimmage in a win or tie.

• Multiple players on the same team can earn an MVP point in the same game if they meet the standard.

Last season, wide receiver Cooper Kupp shared the lead in MVP Chase for most of the season before winning it outright. This year, another receiver has emerged to take the lead

Stefon Diggs has 100 yards in five of the Bills' six victories. This gives him more "great games" than his quarterback Josh Allen, who's tallied four games with a passer rating of 100. This past Sunday, October 30, is the difference. Allen had a below-average game, but Diggs did not. Diggs accounted for 108 of Allen's 218 passing yards in the Bill victory over the Packers.

I haven't actually until today to see how the players in the thick of the Chase rank among the statistical leaders. I'll make a note of that beside each player.

Here are the MVP Chase leaders entering Week 9:

5 MVP Points, 1 player

Stefon Diggs, WR, Bills (6-1): 2nd in yards receiving

4 MVP Points 9 players 

Josh Allen, QB, Bills (6-1): 4th in passer rating, 3rd in yards

Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals (4-4): 6th in passer rating, 1st in yards

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers (4-4), 7th in passer rating, 17th in yards 

Derrick Henry, RB, Titans (5-2); 3rd in yards rushing (1st in yards per game)

Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles (7-0): 5th in passer rating, 13th in yards

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings (6-1): 3rd in yards receiving

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs (5-2): 2nd in passer rating, 4th in yards

Geno Smith, QB, Seahawks (5-3): 3rd in passer rating, 8th in yards

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins (5-3): 1st in passer rating, 18th in yards

3 MVP Points 8 players

Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants (6-2): 2nd in rushing yards

Nick Chubb, RB, Browns (3-5): 1st in rushing yards

Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings (6-1): 9th in rushing yards

Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings (6-1): 16th in passer rating

Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins (5-3): 1st in receiving yards

Daniel Jones, QB, Giants (6-2): 17th in passer rating

Tony Pollard, RB, Cowboys (6-2): 14th in rushing yards

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins (5-3): 4th in receiving yards

24 players have two MVP points, and 46 have one.

WEEK 9 picks

Last week, I was  5-9 against the CBS Sports line. Week 3 was my first one making picks, and I'm 40-51 for the season. I'll be tweaking my system. 

Week 9 has a slate of 13 games. Here are my picks:

Eagles-Texans: Eagles by 9

Chargers-Falcons: Falcons by 2

Dolphins-Bears: Dolphins by 1

Panthers-Bengals: Bengals by 1

Packers-Lions: Packers by 4

Raiders-Jaguars: Raiders by 2

Colts-Patriots: Patriots by 2

Bills-Jets: Bills by 5

Vikings-Commanders: Vikings by 1

Seahawks-Cardinals: Seahawks by 8

Rams-Buccaneers: Rams by 3

Titans-Chiefs: Titans by 1

Ravens-Saints: Saints by 1

Some of these picks seem to defy common sense, but my policy is to just plug in a formula like a robot, making no exceptions. My goal is to pick at least 7 of the 13 correctly vs. the CBS line.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles (subscribe), The Daily Bible Chapter (subscribe), JL Cells (subscribe), and The MVP Chase (subscribe). Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com

Photo credit: Torsten Bolten