Two weeks into the NFL season and Kyler Murray has already separated himself as a bonafied MVP candidate.
The Arizona Cardinals are 2-0 for the first time since 2015 and Kyler Murray is the primary reason behind their success. In his two outings, Murray has 674 total yards from scrimmage which includes five touchdowns (two passing, three rushing). The former number one overall pick is completing nearly 67% of his throws and is averaging roughly seven yards per play.
As of Monday morning, Kyler Murray is now tied for the fourth best odds (via FanDuel Sportsbook) to take home the MVP hardware.
Updated NFL MVP odds
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) September 21, 2020
• Russell Wilson +250
• Lamar Jackson +500
• Patrick Mahomes +500
• Dak Prescott +1000
• Kyler Murray +1000
• Aaron Rodgers +2000
• Drew Brees +3000
• Cam Newton +3500
More → https://t.co/gT1OpqMITU
Murray was a trendy MVP candidate entering this season with many in the national media proclaiming the young quarterback primed and ready to take the same second year leap we’ve seen from the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
Both Mahomes and Jackson would secure MVPs as well as the top seed in their conference during only their second year of play.
While Kyler is off to a scorching hot start, he’ll have to contend with a fellow candidate in his own division. Russell Wilson has thrown nine touchdown passes in two games to only 11 incompletions on the young season. Like Murray, Wilson’s Seahawks are also 2-0, looking dynamic offensively thanks to a revised approach that has been long overdue.
“Let Russ Cook”.
With Wilson gaining national headlines, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals can quietly go about their business in the coming weeks. They’ll have prime opportunities to feast on the likes of Detroit, Carolina and the pitiful New York Jets.
Those three teams have a combined 0-6 record to start the season.
If Arizona can exit this three week stretch with continued momentum (and an unbeaten record of 5-0), Kyler Murray will set himself up nicely for a Monday Night Football showdown against fellow MVP candidate Dak Prescott. The two playmakers are set to clash on October 19th in what is Arizona’s lone Sunday/Monday night contest this year.
That is, of course, unless Murray and the redbirds are flexed to Sunday night later this season.
Yet you refuse to put them on Sunday Night Football... https://t.co/YNFqpp26q9
— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) September 20, 2020