Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff is among three MVP candidates

After four weeks of NFL action, Todd Gurley is not the leading Los Angeles Rams MVP candidate. Instead, it is quarterback Jared Goff.

The Los Angeles Rams have started the season exactly as planned and have practically coasted to a perfect 4-0 record.

The Rams’ closest game came in Week 4 when the team defeated the Minnesota Vikings 38-31. The game was not as close as the score indicates and the rest of the Rams’ contests have been decided by multiple possessions.

According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Rams are second in total points scored and first in total yardage. Defensively, the Rams are fifth in total points allowed and ninth in total yards allowed.

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The team is dominant and the leader thus far is not who many had expected. Offensively, Todd Gurley was set to have an even better year than last season and had the best chance of being the first running back to win the MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012.

Heck, even defensively, Aaron Donald was in the running to be a huge difference maker and to yet again be Defensive Player of the Year. Prior to the season, many fans would have listed Gurley as 1A and Donald as 1B.

Gurley nor Donald have been the best Los Angeles Rams player this season.

While Gurley is having a good year (is on pace to eclipse 2,000 yards from scrimmage for the second year) and Donald has been fine, it has been Jared Goff that has led the way.

Not only has Goff been the team’s best player, but he has also legitimately entered the MVP discussion, similar to Carson Wentz’ situation last season. When it comes to MVP candidates, here is our top-five:

1. Patrick Mahomes

It is hard to argue against Patrick Mahomes, who has led the also undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs were expected to take a step back with Mahomes under center but the gunslinging young quarterback has made the Chiefs better.

Through four games, Mahomes leads the league with 14 touchdown passes, is 11th in passing yards with 1,200 and is yet to throw an interception. His 126.5 passer rating is second in the NFL.

2. Jared Goff

Quite frankly, you could flip a coin between Goff and Mahomes right now and either quarterback would be deserving of the MVP. However, due to Mahomes’ touchdowns and lack of interceptions and the narrative surrounding his success, he would likely win the award if the season ended today.

Goff leads the league with a 127.3 passer rating and is second in the league with 1,406 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns. He has a pair of interceptions to his name but also has a 72.4 completion rate, the third-best among starting quarterbacks.

3. Drew Brees

Drew Brees is creeping up on Peyton Manning’s record for the most passing yards all-time and is giving a vintage performance that is worthy of an MVP discussion. If the two young quarterbacks ahead of him fizzle out late in the year, Brees will be positioned to win the one thing that has alluded him.

Brees is seventh in passing yards, 10th in touchdown passes and trails just Goff and Mahomes in passer rating. Like Mahomes, he has not thrown a single interception and has the best completion percentage in the NFL.

Outside of those three quarterbacks, it is hard to make a legitimate MVP case. We thought about throwing Todd Gurley and Philip Rivers in there to make it a top-five but neither are really MVP worthy right now, despite having the fourth and fifth best odds.

Right now, the competition for Jared Goff is slim and the Los Angeles Rams could have the franchise’s first MVP since Kurt Warner in 2001.