3 reasons why Josh Allen should be frontrunner for NFL MVP over Saquon Barkley
Josh Allen and Saquon Barkley exited Week 13 as two of the top frontrunners for MVP. The running back position hasn't won an MVP since Adrian Peterson did it with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012, but Barkley might be the closest to get it since. However, Josh Allen has done just enough to extend ahead of Barkley thus far and it isn't at all the Eagles running back's fault.
Here's a look at three reasons why Josh Allen is currently beating out Saquon Barkley in the MVP race.
#1 - Josh Allen is a quarterback
By default, the MVP award is a quarterback award. A quarterback has won the award every year since 2013. Only four running backs have won the award since 2000. By default, the quarterback position gets the edge in the vast majority of seasons. This is the case again this year.
As a quarterback, Allen holds the game in his hands on every throw. If the quarterback throws five interceptions, he is not winning 99% of the time. Of course, as a player who sometimes throws the ball 60 times or more in a game, there is more of an opportunity for Allen to ruin a game than Barkley.
As such, when Allen succeeds, he is dodging more chances for ruining the game than Barkley. Even a missed throw or a bad read could ruin the game. Plus, he also has the intangibles and leadership responsibilities on top of delivering athletically. Put simply, quarterbacks do more for teams than running backs.
#2 - Eagles offense is overloaded with talent
The point of an MVP is to ask the question whether the team could be as good without them. Without Barkley, the Eagles went 11-6 last season. While they are undoubtedly better with him this season, they have proven to be a winning football team without him.
Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and others have proven they can still produce at a high level without Barkley. One could even argue that the talent in Philadelphia should be credited for boosting Barkley to new heights as defenses are forced to pick their poison.
As such, Barkley isn't a serious frontrunner for MVP. Could he be the Offensive Player of the Year? Absolutely. However, the MVP is a different type of award altogether.
#3 - Josh Allen is working with limited talent
Heading into the year, many braced for the exit of Stefon Diggs to reveal that Allen had been depending on him the entire time. However, with Gabe Davis also gone, the responsibility has fallen squarely on Josh Allen to make something out of nothing.
The trade for Amari Cooper was notable, but Allen is clearly keeping the Bills afloat all on his own.
If one were to take Allen out of the lineup, the Bills most likely would return to their Tom Brady-era form. Instead, with Allen, they have a shot to win the No. 1seed in the AFC.