NFL 2018

DARK HORSE MVP CANDIDATE FROM EVERY TEAM

It’s time to take a look at the top dark horse MVP candidate for each NFL team during the 2018 season.

Before football fans know it, the start of the 2018 NFL season will finally be here, and even though training camp won’t officially get underway until the end of July, there is already discussion over which players are the early favorites to take home MVP honors when the time comes. From Tom Brady to Aaron Rodgers, these two along with a handful of other players will be considered some of the early favorites to win the award, but what about some of the early dark-horse candidates that could emerge unexpectedly in the race?

Last season, it was Todd Gurley that came out of nowhere as a surprise MVP candidate before finishing second to Brady after helping the Rams bounce back from a four-win season by winning the NFC West. Seeing Gurley finish with 2,093 yards from the line of scrimmage to go along with 19 touchdowns certainly made plenty of fantasy football owners quite happy, and while he most likely will see his name in the discussion once again, his teammate, Jared Goff, could be a dark-horse candidate.

Around this time last year, there were some Rams fans that questioned whether Goff was the right answer under center after failing to win a single game as a rookie in seven starts, although it wasn’t entirely his fault since the offense was a joke overall. Thanks to the hiring of an offensive mastermind in Sean McVay, Goff ended up being one of the players that benefitted the most by earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl during his sophomore campaign, and all signs point to him only getting better with experience.

Only time will tell when it comes to whether Goff can elevate his game to a MVP level since that’s always easier said than done, and Los Angeles will be facing a new level of pressure as an early Super Bowl contender. But for now, let’s take a look at the top dark-horse candidate and early favorite to win MVP for each

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

DARK HORSE: T.J. WATT

Based off how dominant his brother has been over the years, the Steelers seemed confident they were getting a special player in T.J. Watt after using a first rounder on the linebacker in 2017. For the most part, the Steelers have been known for their high-powered offense since Ben Roethlisberger has players like Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell to work with, but the defense is going to be the difference maker when it comes to competing in the AFC.

That’s where Watt comes into play, as Pittsburgh has high expectations for their young linebacker in 2018. Watching the Steelers lose in the Divisional Round of the playoffs last year may have seemed surprising at the time, but hopefully Watt and company learned from their mistakes from that tough meeting against the Jaguars.

TOP CANDIDATE: ANTONIO BROWN

In a way, the argument can be made that Pittsburgh is one of those teams with numerous early candidates talented enough to take home MVP honors since Big Ben, Bell, and Brown all seem capable. However, for the sake of the article, Brown seems like the safest bet when taking a closer look at his numbers.

The fact that Brown has recorded 100+ catches in each of the last five seasons shows how much of a nightmare he can be for opponents. With his quick hands and blazing speed, expect Brown to increase that impressive streak to six seasons once 2018 is in the books.

AARIZONA CARDINALS

DARK HORSE: SAM BRADFORD

Over the last couple of years, the Arizona Cardinals knew that it was only a matter of time before Carson Palmer decided to call it a career, and the argument can be made that it seemed to catch everyone off guard this offseason. Drafting Josh Rosen certainly has all sorts of potential in the long run, but the pressure will be on Sam Bradford to come through in 2018 when looking at all of the money he’s making just for one season.

While there have been times when Bradford has proven to be effective, being able to stay healthy has been the main factor that has hurt him the most throughout his career. More than ever, Bradford needs to stay healthy just to have a chance at finding work beyond the 2018 season, and playing all 16 games would certainly benefit Arizona when it comes to potentially being a surprise contender in the NFC.

TOP CANDIDATE: DAVID JOHNSON

Fantasy football owners were crushed to see David Johnson suffer an injury during the first game of 2017 after an unbelievable sophomore campaign that resulted in 2,118 yards from the line of scrimmage to go along with 20 touchdowns. Clearly, Johnson has quickly become one of the league’s most dangerous running backs since he’s just as much of a threat at receiver, and Bradford would be smart to use him as much as possible on offense to help take some of that pressure off under center.

ATLANTA FALCONS

DARK HORSE: DEVONTA FREEMAN

His numbers may not stand out like some of the other No. 1 running backs across the league, but keep in mind that Devonta Freeman shares carries with Tevin Coleman to provide the Atlanta Falcons with one of the most dangerous duos in the backfield. Rewarding Freeman with a five-year extension prior to last season was one of the smartest decisions the Falcons could have made, and there’s every reason to believe he will continue being a workhorse on offense.

Atlanta’s offense is stacked with talent at numerous positions, and when Matt Ryan isn’t focusing on finding key targets like Julio Jones or Mohamed Sanu, Freeman is usually the one with the football. After recording just eight total touchdowns during the 2017 season, don’t be surprised if Freeman returns to the double-digit mark this year.

TOP CANDIDATE: MATT RYAN/JULIO JONES

Two years ago, Ryan took home MVP honors for the first time, and even though Atlanta’s Super Bowl dreams came up short last January, this team is in great position to reach the playoffs for a third year in a row. Plus, with one of the league’s best receivers in Jones causing all sorts of problems for opponents, this only makes a stronger case for the Falcons in the NFC.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

DARK HORSE: ALEX COLLINS

Will the Baltimore Ravens finally return to the playoffs in 2018 after missing out in each of the last three seasons? For a team with a strong reputation for always having a top defense, inconsistency on offense has been one of the main reasons behind the Ravens failing to reach the playoffs, but at least there is hope heading into next season.

As great as it was to see Joe Flacco receive help in the passing game with receivers like Michael Crabtree, one of the surprise contributors at running back last season was Alex Collins after the former Arkansas star rushed for 973 yards with six touchdowns. If all goes well for Collins, topping those numbers shouldn’t be an issue at all.

TOP CANDIDATE: TERRELL SUGGS

The fact that Terrell Suggs will be 36 by the conclusion of next season, and is still putting up Pro Bowl kind of numbers shows how valuable of a member he’s been for Baltimore’s defense. After starting all 16 games in 2017 while managing to record 11 sacks, Suggs doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

Defense has been the major strength of the Ravens over the years, and Suggs will once again play a key role in making sure it remains this way to help his team avoid missing out on the postseason for a fourth year in a row.

BUFFALO BILLS

DARK HORSE: AJ MCCARRON

Assuming the Buffalo Bills allow Josh Allen to learn from the sidelines as a rookie, AJ McCarron will finally be looking to prove himself worthy of being a starter in the NFL after spending all of those years as a backup to Andy Dalton. Sticking around with the Cincinnati Bengals only would have hurt McCarron’s chances of ever starting since Dalton isn’t going away anytime soon, but living up to the hype is always easier said than done.

When looking at how much the Bills’ offense struggled for the most part throughout 2017, McCarron is going to have quite the work cut out for him while trying to get the best from receivers like Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones. If McCarron does end up struggling, at least throwing Allen into the mix earlier than expected could be considered an option.

TOP CANDIDATE: LESEAN MCCOY

Despite all of the inconsistency on offense, LeSean McCoy has been one of the lone highlights for the Bills on offense over the last couple of years with his playmaking abilities. With 3,209 yards from the line of scrimmage over the last two seasons to go along with 22 touchdowns, McCoy should be in for another big season in Buffalo to give the team a better chance of making another playoff run.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

DARK HORSE: CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY

Heading into the 2017 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers seemed to have their eyes set on Christian McCaffrey from the start, and even though his numbers as a rookie may not seem all that great on paper, it’s tough to ignore his playmaking abilities. One of the reasons why the Panthers expressed such strong interest in the first place with McCaffrey was due to the fact that he could be used in multiple ways, which most running backs can’t do.

Whether it was finishing with more receiving yards (651) than rushing yards (435) or being able to use him on special teams, McCaffrey isn’t an average running back. And now that he officially has a year of playing experience in the NFL under his belt along with officially becoming the No. 1 running back, expect McCaffrey to be even more involved in 2018.

Top candidate: Cam Newton/Luke Kuechly

From a leadership perspective, Carolina is fortunate enough to have two star players on both sides of the football in Cam Newton and Luke Kuchley. While Newton has proven to be one of the toughest quarterbacks to take down at times, Kuckley is the kind of linebacker that always seems to be everywhere on the football field.

After the Panthers suffered an early exit in the playoffs last January, don’t be surprised if Newton and Kuchley use what happened as a little extra motivation come September.

CHICAGO BEARS

DARK HORSE: MITCH TRUBISKY

In what turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the draft in 2017, the Chicago Bears traded up one spot in the first round to select Mitch Trubisky, despite the fact they signed Mike Glennon to a hefty deal in free agency. At the end of the day, Trubisky seems well worth the risk when looking at the potential displayed as a rookie, and now that he will have legitimate weapons to work with in 2018, the sky seems to be the limit for the North Carolina product.

Between signing Allen Robinson and Trey Burton along with a reliable running back in Jordan Howard, Trubisky’s sophomore season in Chicago should be a lot smoother than the first. And who knows, maybe the Bears will end up being a surprise contender in the NFC if Trubisky lives up to the hype.

TOP CANDIDATE: JORDAN HOWARD

Thank goodness the Bears decided to select Howard in the fifth round of the draft over two years ago when looking at the impact he’s made this quickly in the NFL. Based off the previous two seasons, Howard seems like the kind of player that is only going to continue getting better with experience and 2018 could very well end up being his best season to date.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

DARK HORSE: GENO ATKINS

Despite missing out on the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, Marvin Lewis continues to receive extensions from the Bengals he clearly doesn’t deserve. When looking at all of the previous coaches across the league that have lost their jobs after struggling for a few years, its mind blowing to see Cincinnati continue to bring Lewis back and his career 0-7 playoff record.

On the defensive side of the football, Geno Atkins continues to be a wrecking force for the Bengals when looking at the 29 sacks recorded over the last three seasons. If Cincinnati is going to have any chance of avoiding another year spent watching the playoffs from home, Atkins will need to come through on his end once again on defense.

TOP CANDIDATE: A.J. GREEN

Some football fans criticized the decision by the Bengals in 2011 to go with A.J. Green in the first round, but clearly this was one of the rare times in which the team seemed to know what they were doing. Without question, the presence of Green certainly makes life much easier for Dalton running the offense, and maybe 2018 will finally be the year when the Cincinnati star wideout finishes with 100+ catches after recording just 75 receptions for 1,078 yards last season.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

DARK HORSE: JARVIS LANDRY

Sadly, the Cleveland Browns ended up on the wrong side of history last season after becoming the second team to go an entire year without winning a single game. Also, let’s not forget the Browns only won a single game the year before, meaning their 1-31 record over the last two seasons is simply embarrassing.

With that being said, Cleveland deserves some credit for the approach they’ve taken this offseason by improving on both sides of the football, including the addition of Jarvis Landry at wideout. Football fans can criticize Landry all they want, but seeing him catch 400 passes over the last four seasons is reason for excitement on the Browns’ offense.

TOP CANDIDATE: MYLES GARRETT

As bad as it sounds, the one positive factor about Cleveland winning just one game in 2016 was it helped them land Myles Garrett the following year with the top overall pick in the draft. Like most rookies, Garrett saw his ups and downs during the 2017 season after appearing just 11 games, but hopefully the results will be much different this time around.

Now that Garrett has some experience under his belt along with the Browns improving in general as a team, the former Texas A&M star has a chance to make a significant impact on defense during his sophomore campaign.

DALLAS COWBOYS

DARK HORSE: DEMARCUS LAWRENCE

Expectations were high for the Dallas Cowboys heading into last season after finishing with the best record in the NFC the year before, so seeing them fail to even earn a playoff spot was a major disappointment. On top of dealing with the pressure to bounce back, the Cowboys will have to get used to playing without Dez Bryant (release) and Jason Witten (retirement) on the offensive side of the football.

At least when it comes to the defensive side of the football, Dallas has plenty of reasons to be excited over Demarcus Lawrence coming off a career year with 14.5 sacks. When looking at all of the high-powered offenses in the NFC, the Cowboys will need all of the help they can get from players like Lawrence.

TOP CANDIDATE: EZEKIEL ELLIOTT

Workhorse is one of the best ways to describe Ezekiel Elliott at running back when seeing how he never wants to come out of the football game. Last season, Elliott and the Cowboys were distracted by the suspension that eventually came into place later on in the season instead of right away.

This time around, Elliott seems 100 percent focused on football, and should be motivated more than ever to help Dallas get back to the playoffs.

DENVER BRONCOS

DARK HORSE: CASE KEENUM

Even though he was in the topic of discussion for the MVP award last season after helping the Minnesota Vikings reach the NFC Championship, Case Keenum will need to prove himself once again in 2018 now that he’s on a new team in the Denver Broncos. Seeing the Vikings part ways with Keenum after all he accomplished was a tough pill to swallow at first for the veteran, but at least he happens to be in a great position with the Broncos.

During the previous two seasons, Denver has struggled to be a top contender in the AFC as a result of poor play at quarterback since players like Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler were far from the answer. With a dynamic duo in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to work with, Keenum will be quite happy in his new offense.

TOP CANDIDATE: VON MILLER

Von Miller knows just how frustrating it’s been on the Broncos since the defense has managed to come through on their end for the most part over the last two seasons, only to see the offense fail to do their job. Since Keenum entered the picture, Miller and the rest of his teammates on defense have been thrilled to see the offense finally address their need at quarterback so there’s less pressure on their end.

DETROIT LIONS

DARK HORSE: EZEKIEL ANSAH

Unfortunately for the Detroit Lions, the team had no one other than themselves to blame for missing out on the playoffs last season since they were in the perfect position to earn a Wild Card spot late in the year, only to end up ruining their chances. Now that Matt Patricia has taken over the duties at head coach, the Lions hope to make a return to the playoffs as one of the top teams to beat in the NFC.

If that is going to be the case, the defense will need to play at a high level, especially when it comes to Ezekiel Ansah, and the 12 sacks he recorded in 2017. Many questioned the team’s decision to place the franchise tag on Ansah this offseason since he’s not getting any younger, but if he can continue playing at the high level from last season, it will be worth the move.

TOP CANDIDATE: MATTHEW STAFFORD

Don’t act surprised to see Matthew Stafford in this position of the top candidate on the Lions with the best chance of MVP when looking at the impact he’s made throughout his career. Stafford has always been the kind of quarterback that makes the players around him better, and the former No. 1 pick has to be excited over finally having some help in the backfield for a change in 2018.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

DARK HORSE: MUHAMMAD WILKERSON

One can only imagine how last season would have played out for the Green Bay Packers if Aaron Rodgers never suffered that broken collarbone, but at least the team ended up being one of the biggest winners of the offseason with numerous key additions. As great as it was to see the offense add Jimmy Graham as a weapon for Rodgers to work with, the signing of Muhammad Wilkerson by the Packers will go down as one of the most underrated moves.

Even though his numbers have been down over the last two seasons, it wasn’t long ago back in 2015 in which Wilkerson set a career high of 12 sacks as a member of the New York Jets. Obviously, there’s nothing Green Bay would love more than to see him return to that level, and if it does happen, it will give the team a much better chance of competing in the NFC North.

TOP CANDIDATE: AARON RODGERS

Rodgers has always been the type of quarterback that is extra motivated when things don’t play out as expected, and watching the Packers fall short of the playoffs most likely left a bad taste in his mouth in 2017. With a full offseason to get healthy, expect Rodgers to return to his MVP ways.

HOUSTON TEXANS

DARK HORSE: J.J. WATT

Unfortunately, the Houston Texans were one of the biggest victims of the injury bug last season since they lost both Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt to season-ending injuries, resulting in the team winning just four games. This time around, the Texans are considered one of those teams in the AFC that is expected to bounce back, and make a run at the playoffs when looking at all of the talent they have to work with on both sides of the football.

In previous years, J.J. Watt seemed to be an easy candidate for MVP at the beginning of each season, but injuries have prevented the defensive star to playing in just eight games since 2015. If Watt can manage to stay healthy, Houston’s defense is going to be dangerous once again to give them a better chance of competing for the AFC South title.

TOP CANDIDATE: DESHAUN WATSON

After years of arguably being a franchise quarterback away from being a top contender in the AFC, the Texans seem to have finally found their answer in Watson, although it was devastating to see him suffer a torn ACL in the middle of his rookie campaign. Only time will tell when it comes to whether Watson returns to his normal ways, but Houston seems confident enough in his progress during the offseason.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

DARK HORSE: ANDREW LUCK

First off, let the record show that Andrew Luck is listed as a dark-horse candidate heading into 2018 season since nobody knows what to expect with his shoulder, not even the Indianapolis Colts. The team and fans can be excited all they want about the Colts quarterback throwing on numerous occasions this offseason, but until he proves himself on the football field in a game, none of it matters.

Even Indianapolis was thrown off last season when Luck ended up missing the entire year when he was only supposed to miss part of the beginning, which resulted in Jacoby Brissett handling the starting duties. But most importantly, if the Colts are going to have any chance of turning things around, Luck needs to be fully healthy, or 2018 will quickly turn into another disaster.

TOP CANDIDATE: T.Y. HILTON

Since Indianapolis doesn’t really have that much to offer when it comes to MVP candidates, it only seems fair to make T.Y. Hilton the top candidate at this point in the season since he was arguably the best player on the squad a year ago. Nobody suffered more from a production standpoint on offense than Hilton with Luck missing the entire season, but hopefully all of that will change if the Colts quarterback returns to full strength.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

DARK HORSE: LEONARD FOURNETTE

After years of failing to live up to high expectations, the Jacksonville Jaguars finally emerged as a top contender in the AFC last season, and even came close to advancing to the Super Bowl before blowing a 10-point lead to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. While the defense earned most of the credit behind the team’s success, the Jaguars also benefitted from adding Leonard Fournette to the backfield.

Blake Bortles for the most part never had a consistent running back to rely on, and Fournette’s rookie season displayed all sorts of potential for the future to help Jacksonville continue being one of the top contenders in the AFC. Not to mention, the Jaguars’ defense should be one of the top units in the league for a second year in a row.

TOP CANDIDATE: CALAIS CAMPBELL

Speaking of the defense, Jacksonville’s gamble of making numerous key additions during the 2017 season paid off in a big way, especially when it came to Calais Campbell. After spending the first nine years of his career with the Cardinals, Campbell arguably put together the best season of his NFL career with the Jaguars last year by recording 14.5 sacks, crushing a previous career high of nine to show he was well worth the risk.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

DARK HORSE: PATRICK MAHOMES II

Around this time next year, Patrick Mahomes II could be listed as the top candidate for MVP when it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs if all goes according to plan during his first full season as the starter. For now, it only seems fair to have Mahomes considered a dark horse until he proves himself worthy as a starter.

Replacing Alex Smith isn’t going to be easy when looking at everything the veteran accomplished over the years as the starter in Kansas City, but the team never would have made the move if they didn’t believe Mahomes was ready. When looking at the key weapons like Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill he gets to work with, the Chiefs couldn’t have done a better job setting Mahomes up to succeed.

TOP CANDIDATE: KAREEM HUNT

Talk about an unexpected surprise as Kansas City was fortunate enough to earn one of the biggest steals from the draft in 2017 when it comes to Kareem Hunt. Right away, Hunt made an immediate impact during his first NFL game against the Patriots after finishing with 246 yards from the line of scrimmage to go along with four touchdowns.

All of a sudden, the Chiefs seem to have found their new star running back in Hunt, and there’s nothing the team would love than to see him become quite the duo on offense with Mahomes.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

DARK HORSE: JOEY BOSA

Back in 2016, the Los Angeles Chargers felt confident enough that Joey Bosa was the right selection in the first round at No. 3, and when seeing how quickly he’s become a top defender in the NFL, their decision has paid off in a big way. Bosa’s presence alone is one of the main reasons why the Chargers’ defense had such a strong finish in the second half of last season, and early signs point to the unit picking right up where they left off in 2018.

Seeing Bosa record 23 sacks in 28 games over his first two NFL seasons shows just how special of a player he is on defense, and chances are he’s going to finish with double-digit sacks for a third year in a row next season. And who knows, maybe the Chargers will get off to a much better start to give them a better chance of reaching the playoffs.

TOP CANDIDATE: PHILIP RIVERS

Competitive wise, Philip Rivers ranks near the top of the list when it comes to NFL quarterbacks, and the veteran knows he’s closer to the end of his career, meaning the window to win a Super Bowl is closing in. By starting every single game for the Chargers dating back to 2006, Rivers has done so much for the organization over the years, and it would be amazing to see the team reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2013 season.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

DARK HORSE: JARED GOFF

Watching the Rams become the first team in NFL history to go from worst to first in scoring last year was truly amazing, and all eyes will be on Goff to see if he can help this offense finish near the top of the league for a second year in a row. Goff was already lucky enough to have star players like Gurley and Robert Woods to work with on offense, but the addition of a speedy deep threat in Brandin Cooks makes this unit even more dangerous.

Without question, the Rams have done an amazing job when it comes to providing their beloved quarterback with the necessary weapons to succeed, and after seeing Goff exceed all expectations last year, 2018 should be even better. After years of struggling to find a quarterback to build the franchise around, Los Angeles has finally found Goff.

TOP CANDIDATE: TODD GURLEY/AARON DONALD

Eventually, the Rams are going to have to open up their checkbooks to take care of Gurley and Aaron Donald since they clearly deserve to be paid as two of the top players in the league. While Donald’s deal will hopefully come at some point before training camp to avoid another situation like last summer, Gurley hopes to put together another stellar season like 2017 to make a strong case for himself when the time comes.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

DARK HORSE: RYAN TANNEHILL

One year after earning a surprise playoff berth, the Miami Dolphins were in a tough spot before last season after losing Ryan Tannehill for the year before making the decision to convince Jay Cutler to come out of retirement. Clearly, convincing Cutler was a terrible decision when looking at how inconsistent he was throughout the 2017 season, and even though the Dolphins want to give Tannehill another chance to show off his skills, nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.

Staying healthy will be a top priority for Tannehill, and play a key factor in whether Miami is capable of truly competing in the AFC. Landry may no longer be in the picture on offense, but at least Danny Amendola will help make up for his absence.

TOP CANDIDATE: CAMERON WAKE

Despite all of the talk surrounding his role potentially getting reduced in 2018, it’s tough to ignore the fact that Cameron Wake has 22 sacks over the previous two seasons. Even at 36, Wake still seems capable of making a significant impact on defense for the Dolphins, and the unit will need all of the extra help they can get with Ndamukong Suh no longer around.

Not to mention, Miami’s defense in general faces the ultimate task of playing in the same division as Brady and the Patriots, meaning they’re always going to have the work cut out for them.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS:

DARK HORSE: EVERSON GRIFFEN

The Vikings fell short of becoming the first team in NFL history last season to play in their own stadium for the Super Bowl, but as painful as it was to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship, at least the team has the talent to make another run. In fact, the argument can be made that Minnesota has one of the top overall teams in the NFL since they’re loaded on both sides of the football, especially when it comes to Everson Griffen.

Throughout his career, the veteran has always been a key member to the Vikings’ defense, and seeing Griffen earn a trip to the Pro Bowl for a third year in a row after recording 13 sacks shows how special of a player he truly is. If all goes well, Griffen’s Pro Bowl streak should increase to four in 2018.

TOP CANDIDATE: KIRK COUSINS

As tough as it was to move on from Keenum, Minnesota has plenty of reasons to be excited over the addition of Cousins to run this high-powered offense packed with skilled players. For years, Cousins has been battling for a hefty deal instead of playing under the franchise tag, and the quarterback seems determined more than ever to prove to the Vikings that he’s worth every penny of that contract he signed this offseason.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

DARK HORSE: ADRIAN CLAYBORN

As impressive as it was to see Adrian Clayborn set a career high last season while playing for the Falcons with 9.5 sacks, it should be noted that six of those sacks came in one game alone against the Cowboys. Still, the fact that Clayborn was able to accomplish this in one game alone shows what kind of talent the Patriots now get to work with, as the defensive lineman hopes to put the defending AFC champions in great position to make another deep run.

There’s a reason why New England is always one of the early favorites in the AFC, and as great as things were in Atlanta, Clayborn should benefit from playing in his new system. In fact, it will be interesting to see if Clayborn has what it takes to top his career high in sacks from last season as a member of the Patriots.

TOP CANDIDATE: TOM BRADY

It sounds crazy to even consider the possibility of Brady playing for another couple years in the NFL, but the fact that he’s coming off another MVP season in 2017 makes it more likely to happen. Even if he has to adjust to playing without one of his favorite targets in Julian Edelman to start off the year, Brady can overcome any obstacle standing in his way.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

DARK HORSE: ALVIN KAMARA

Early signs pointed to the New Orleans Saints heading towards another year of finishing below .500 when they lost their first two games of last season before turning things around to become a serious threat in the NFC. By winning their next eight games, the Saints were finally the team everyone had been waiting to see for years, and as a result, expectations will be high once again in 2018.

As much credit as the defense deserves since they played a major factor, Alvin Kamara was one of the surprise success stories surrounding New Orleans when seeing his involvement as a rookie. After recording 1,554 yards from the line of scrimmage to go along with 13 touchdowns, the Saints hope to see Kamara top those numbers during his sophomore campaign with the team.

TOP CANDIDATE: DREW BREES

Cards on the table, there was never really a major concern over the possibility of Drew Brees leaving in free agency since the veteran quarterback loves being part of the Saints, and doesn’t appear to be ready for retirement soon. With one Super Bowl title to his name, Brees would love the opportunity to earn at least one more before that time comes to call it a career, and when seeing this current New Orleans team, this could be his best opportunity to do so in years.

NEW YORK GIANTS

DARK HORSE: SAQUON BARKLEY

A rookie like Saquon Barkley taking home MVP honors during his first NFL season may seem like a long shot for the former Penn State star, but also keep in mind the New York Giants rookie is no ordinary player. The Giants were beyond thrilled to see Barkley fall to No. 2 in this year’s draft when the Browns decided to go with Baker Mayfield, and Eli Manning should benefit the most from having the youngster in the backfield.

Whether it’s handing off the football or using him as a receiver, New York can use Barkley in multiple ways on offense. Plus, Barkley has the type of work ethic in which the Giants are going to give him as much action as he’s willing to handle during his rookie season.

TOP CANDIDATE: ODELL BECKHAM JR.

Losing Odell Beckham Jr. early on last season was a crushing blow for New York’s offense, although the struggles were already taking place before the injury happened. Still, when seeing how Beckham caught 35 touchdown passes over the first three seasons of his career, it’s clear the Giants would have been in much better shape with him healthy.

Assuming Beckham returns to his normal ways on offense, New York should have little trouble getting the necessary production from their star wideout during his fifth NFL season.

NEW YORK JETS

DARK HORSE: JAMAL ADAMS

In a way, the New York Jets overachieved last season by winning five games since there was some experts that believed the team would win one or two games at best when looking at the talent they would be working with. One of the main reasons why the Jets were able to perform better than expected was due to the presence of rookie Jamal Adams

While there were a few other positions they could have focused on in the first round of the draft in 2017, going with Adams at No. 6 was the best option for New York. Now that he has a year of experience under his belt, expect Adams to take a major leap with the Jets during his second season in the league.

TOP CANDIDATE: JOSH MCCOWN

Realistically, a team like New York doesn’t have many players that stand out when it comes to possibly taking home MVP honors, which is why Josh McCown seems like the right choice at the moment. Then again, McCown has to win the starting job at quarterback first since Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold will make the race interesting once training camp gets underway.

McCown’s career record may not be anything to brag about, but at least his veteran experience gives him some sort of extra advantage.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

DARK HORSE: MARSHAWN LYNCH

Convincing Marshawn Lynch to come out of retirement last year was supposed to make the Oakland Raiders one of the top teams to beat in the AFC, especially when it came to taking down the Patriots. Instead, the Raiders watched their season go downhill following an impressive 2-0 start, and ended up watching the playoffs from home.

Lynch’s numbers (891 rushing yards with seven touchdowns) may not have been what Oakland expected, but if all goes well with Jon Gruden taking over as head coach, the veteran running back should see a major improvement. The Raiders are in the perfect position to return to being a serious contender in the AFC, and Lynch’s production could play a big role in making it happen.

TOP CANDIDATE: KHALIL MACK/DEREK CARR

While Khalil Mack has wasted little time making a case for himself as one of the league’s top defensive players, it should be noted that Carr was playing at a MVP level before last season while helping Oakland put an end to their playoff drought. In order for the Raiders to live up to the hype in 2018, both Mack and Carr will need to play at high enough levels to make sure the team’s season doesn’t end in disappointment for a second year in a row.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

DARK HORSE: BRANDON GRAHAM

Brandon Graham picked the perfect time to have his best season with the Eagles after playing a key role in bringing the franchise their first Super Bowl after decades of disappointment. Eagles fans will be forever grateful for Graham’s strip sack on Brady in the final minutes of that epic game in February, and as long as his recovery from ankle surgery continues to go well, the defensive star should be ready to go for Week 1.

Philadelphia will be experiencing a different feeling come September since this marks the first time they will enter a new season as defending champions, meaning the pressure will be on the entire year. At least with Graham’s presence on defense, the Eagles have to love their chances of making a run to repeat.

TOP CANDIDATE: CARSON WENTZ

One can only imagine if Carson Wentz would have gone on to win the MVP award last season when looking at the kind of numbers he was putting up before suffering a torn ACL in December. The former first-round pick has been doing everything in his power to make sure he will be ready to go for that first game against the Falcons, but at least the Eagles have another option in Nick Foles if needed to start off the year.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

DARK HORSE: RICHARD SHERMAN

All hope seemed lost for the San Francisco 49ers last season following a 1-10 start, but the team was at least able to finish the year on a positive note by winning each of their final five games. Thanks to their surprise success, expectations are actually high for the 49ers heading into the 2018 season, and the defense hopes to end up with a steal in Richard Sherman.

Seeing Sherman in a different uniform is going to take some time to get used to, but the cornerback will most likely be motivated by his season being cut short last year following an Achilles injury. Not to mention, Sherman has to love the idea of playing for San Francisco means he gets to face his former team twice a year.

TOP CANDIDATE: JIMMY GAROPPOLO

Until Jimmy Garoppolo shows he was the right choice for the 49ers under center, some football fans will question the decision by the organization to give him such a hefty contract this offseason. Winning each of his five starts in 2017 was quite impressive, but he still has a long way to go in San Francisco.

With a new contract on top of the responsibility of making sure the 49ers live up to the hype, Garoppolo better be ready for this new level of pressure.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

DARK HORSE: BOBBY WAGNER

Sadly, the Seattle Seahawks may be in for some tough adjustments at the beginning of the 2018 season since their defense lost numerous key players this offseason, ranging from Sherman to Michael Bennett. Over the last couple of years, it was clear the Seahawks’ defense was far from the same level as previous seasons, but at least linebacker Bobby Wagner is still in the picture.

When seeing how he’s coming off another Pro Bowl appearance for a fourth year in a row, Wagner could take on an even larger role in 2018 for Seattle on defense, as weird as that may sound. More importantly, the Seahawks could use all of the extra help they can get from players like Wagner so they don’t miss out on the playoffs again after missing out on the division title to the Rams.

TOP CANDIDATE: RUSSELL WILSON

Russell Wilson learned the hard way last season how there’s only so much he can do on his own without the proper support from his teammates on offense. Between a poor offensive line and lack of support in the backfield, Wilson took all sorts of unnecessary hits last season, but at least his numbers (3,983 yards with 34 touchdowns) were still impressive.

No matter what, Wilson is always going to be one of those players with his name most likely in the MVP conversation when healthy, and despite key losses like Graham on offense, the Seahawks quarterback will be just fine.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

DARK HORSE: JASON PIERRE-PAUL

Expectations were high for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading into last season after falling just shy of the playoffs the year before, but unfortunately the pressure was too much for them to handle after winning just five games. Without question, inconsistent play on the defensive side of the football was one of the main reasons behind Tampa Bay’s struggles, but the team deserves some credit for adding talent this offseason.

After eight years with the Giants, Jason Pierre-Paul is preparing for his new stint with the Buccaneers to provide a little extra boost to the defense. If that does happen, maybe Tampa Bay will have what it takes to actually compete for a playoff spot in the NFC.

TOP CANDIDATE: MIKE EVANS

Normally, Jameis Winston would seem like the best candidate for this spot, but since he’s going to miss the first three games of the season as a result of a suspension, Mike Evans seems like the next best option.

Talent wise, Evans enormous size and strength sets him apart from some of the other receivers across the league, and he’s always going to find a way to produce, no matter who lines up under center. More than ever, Tampa Bay may end up heavily relying on Evans at the beginning of the year since the offense is going to need all of the help they can get without Winston.

TENNESSEE TITANS

DARK HORSE: DERRICK HENRY

Unlike the Buccaneers, the Tennessee Titans came through last season by earning one of the Wild Card spots in the AFC, and to top the excitement off, the team should be a strong contender again in 2018. Losing DeMarco Murray may have seemed like a tough decision at the time, but when seeing how it’s going to open up the way for Derrick Henry to take a larger role, it’s all going to be worth it for the Titans.

Watching Henry rush for 156 yards along with a touchdown in the playoffs against the Chiefs is just one of many examples as to why Tennessee feels confident in their decision to move on from Murray. Now that he’s going to be taking on a heavier workload, Henry is going to be an exciting running back to follow for the Titans.

TOP CANDIDATE: MARCUS MARIOTA

Despite Tennessee earning a playoff berth, the argument can be made that Marcus Mariota took a step back at quarterback, which is unacceptable when seeing the impact made over his first two NFL seasons. The last thing the Titans want to see happen is their expectations coming up short as a result of poor play on Mariota’s end, so here’s to hoping an offseason to work on his game pays off for the former Oregon stud.  

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

DARK HORSE: DERRIUS GUICE

There may have been some questions surrounding Derrius Guice during the NFL Draft in April, but if he manages to focus on football, and lives up to the hype, the running back could turn out to be a steal for the Washington Redskins. Keep in mind that the former LSU star was originally expected to fall late in the first round, so the Redskins weren’t upset when he was still available in the second.

If Guice’s numbers with the Tigers are any indication of what to expect in the NFL, Washington is going to love having their new rookie running back. Also, the presence of Guice will hopefully take some of the pressure off Alex Smith under center as he adjust to playing in his new offense on the Redskins.

TOP CANDIDATE: ALEX SMITH

Speaking of Smith, the veteran quarterback may not have been thrilled over seeing his former team in the Chiefs send him to the Redskins, but this situation may end up better than expected. Believe it or not, Washington has plenty of young talent for Smith to work with, and with his history of being an effective game manager; chances are he’s going to bring out the best in them throughout the 2018 season.