L.A. Chargers’ Justin Herbert earning early NFL MVP buzz

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif.
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Justin Herbert’s sophomore campaign in the NFL has been one of the biggest storylines to follow early in the 2021 NFL season.

Herbert, who entered the season with high expectations after being awarded Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, has delivered on preseason predictions that penciled him to take another step in Los Angeles.

The Chargers are off to a strong 4-1 start, sitting atop the AFC West with some signature wins to solidify their legitimacy in the AFC. Just last week, the former Oregon Ducks star led the Chargers to 47-42 victory in a shootout with the Cleveland Browns. In the two weeks leading up to that game, Herbert delivered impressive performances against division rivals Kansas City and Las Vegas.

On the season, Herbert has thrown for 1,576 yards with 14 total touchdowns and just three interceptions. Herbert ranks fourth in the league in both passing touchdowns and passing yards. His QB rating is also a 66.1, which ESPN reports is up by more than 30 in the fourth quarter and overtime from his rookie season.

All of this has led to Herbert rightfully being thrown into the early discussion for the league’s most valuable player award at just 23. Here’s where Herbert is getting mentioned in MVP talks around NFL media heading into Week 6:

ESPN

ESPN’s group of football analysts have Herbert No. 2 for MVP behind Arizona’s Kyler Murray:

Herbert and Lamar Jackson face off this Sunday after leading their teams to impactful wins in Week 5 in a game that will almost certainly factor into how this list looks several weeks from now. Currently, Herbert is +700 to win MVP, tied for the fourth-best odds.

PFF

Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus has Herbert as his MVP front-runner at the moment:

NFL.com

NFL.com’s Nick Shook has Herbert No. 3 behind Murray and Dallas’ Dak Prescott in his first-time MVP candidates list:

Herbert might have been the third quarterback off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he’s playing like the best choice of the entire group. Herbert has changed the dynamics around the Chargers franchise, a club that became all too familiar with failing to live up to its promise. They’re certainly seen as a real threat with Herbert at the controls, with his blend of arm strength, intelligence and moxie producing a quarterback who delivers in the clutch time and time again.

The Chargers couldn’t have dreamed of a better scenario for their first years of life after Philip Rivers. If Los Angeles ends up surprising most everyone by winning the AFC West, Herbert will certainly be in the MVP conversation.

The Washington Post

Longtime NFL reporter John Clayton has Herbert lower than others at sixth on his MVP list. In front of Herbert on Clayton’s rankings are Murray, Tom Brady, Josh Allen, Prescott and Lamar Jackson.

He’s playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in just his second season, and because of him and first-year coach Brandon Staley, the Chargers have a good chance to win the AFC West.

- Aron Yohannes

ayohannes@oregonian.com; @aronyohannes

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