It’s that time of the season when MVP talks start to heat up, and the frontrunners are solidifying their cases.

Right now, Lamar Jackson looks like the favorite—he’s playing lights-out football, the offense is clicking, and Baltimore’s winning.

But while the spotlight is on Lamar, I’ve got my eye on a few dark horse candidates who could break into the conversation:

• Kyler Murray

• Justin Herbert

• Joe Burrow

Kyler Murray: The Dual Threat

Now, Kyler isn’t exactly a wild card—he’s been a known talent since his rookie year.

But what’s remarkable is just how far he’s come in recent seasons.

The Arizona Cardinals are putting up points and winning games, and it’s clear Kyler’s growth is central to that success.

Plus, it helps that Marvin Harrison Jr. has started to find his groove. He was the fourth overall pick and came into the league with huge expectations, but his involvement in the offense is only now starting to really blossom.

As that connection strengthens, Kyler’s production has every reason to keep climbing.

The Definition

The thing with Kyler is that he’s the definition of a true dual-threat quarterback.

When he scrambles, he forces defenses to make a tough call: cover his receivers downfield and risk giving up a big run or leave a guy open and hope he doesn’t find them with that rocket arm.

And his mobility isn’t just about racking up yards on the ground; it’s about forcing defenders into mistakes and creating space for big plays.

Through 10 Weeks

Through ten weeks, Kyler’s been making smart decisions and protecting the football.

He’s showing the kind of maturity you hope to see in a former No. 1 pick.

The athleticism? Still off the charts. The arm talent? Strong and accurate as ever.

As the season unfolds and he keeps pushing this Cardinals offense forward, don’t be surprised if he starts sneaking into the MVP conversation.

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Justin Herbert: Adapting At The Highest Level

Now let’s talk about Justin Herbert, who’s been quietly making a serious case for MVP this season.

While he might not be putting up the flashy numbers he did in his early seasons, he’s found an impressive rhythm over the last month, as the highest-graded passer in the league over that stretch.

Herbert’s not out there throwing for 350 yards and four touchdowns every game, but what he is doing is playing efficient, turnover-free football, with a high completion rate and a lot of smart decisions on the field.

Pure Versatility

He’s also been showing off his legs more.

Just last week, he had this huge run on a third-and-goal, where he cut back, made three defenders miss, and scored a touchdown.

It’s that versatility in Herbert’s game that’s been making a difference, especially now that the Chargers are developing their ground game and have the number-one-ranked defense backing them up.

Those elements combined make the Chargers a real force and give Herbert a solid foundation to keep this MVP momentum rolling.

The Supporting Cast

But here’s the thing: the biggest challenge for Herbert might not be the competition for MVP but rather the supporting cast he has at wide receiver.

We’re not seeing the dynamic talent of years past with Keenan Allen or Mike Williams at their best.

Instead, we’ve got Ladd McConkey, a rookie second-rounder who’s quickly emerging as a reliable target but isn’t that star playmaker yet.

Quentin Johnston’s getting better each week, the tight ends are stepping up, and McConkey’s proving to be a solid secondary piece.

Still, it’s not the arsenal other elite QBs around the league have to work with. 

Foot On The Gas

Despite that, Herbert’s adapting.

He’s playing at a high level, making the right plays and pushing this team forward.

Looking at the Chargers’ schedule and how they’re executing right now, I don’t see Herbert taking his foot off the gas.

He might be an under-the-radar MVP candidate, but the way he’s climbing the boards, I wouldn’t count him out.

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Joe Burrow: Playing His Best Football

Finally, we come to Joe Burrow—the “darkest horse” in the MVP conversation.

Now, don’t get me wrong: Joe’s not the only one out there making a case for MVP, but here’s what makes him stand out:

He’s playing out of his mind right now, maybe as good as anyone in the league, and depending on how you look at it, you could argue he’s playing the best football of his career.

The challenge? His record just isn’t reflecting that MVP-level play.

Not The First Time

Look, Burrow’s not the first quarterback to have an MVP-worthy season personally but still end up on the wrong side of the win-loss column.

It’s frustrating, but he’s dealing with the usual culprits: inconsistent protection, crucial penalties, untimely defensive lapses—issues we see league-wide but that feel especially pronounced in Cincinnati.

Despite all of that, if you break down the film and take the wins and losses out of the equation, there’s a real argument that Joe Burrow would be a frontrunner in this race.

He’s just consistently finding ways to elevate his game.

An Uphill Battle

Of course, that’s why he’s the “darkest” of my three dark horses.

As much as he’s playing lights out, the Bengals’ record makes it an uphill battle for him to stay in the conversation.

But there’s no way I could leave him off this list.

He’s just performing at such a high level that it’s impossible not to wonder what could happen if they start putting it all together.

The Real Question

Can guys like Lamar Jackson maintain their edge?

Can Jared Goff bounce back from a rough five-pick game?

And who else might emerge as the season rolls on?

It’s a fun time to dive into MVP projections and start looking ahead.

We’re at the halfway point, and now’s when we’ll see who has what it takes to turn a great first half into a full-blown MVP season.

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