Now that we are about a third of the way through the 3GML season, our friends at TBHague wanted to go through the season and give a synopsis on some of the highlights, lowlights, surprises, and odds on the remainder of the season.
MVP Frontrunners
At this point in the season you start to get a really good feel for who the final four or five candidates are going to be in the MVP race. While injuries, changes in playing style, a late season run, or any litany of things could change the order, typically it’s almost impossible for someone to make a run when they aren’t receiving votes early in the season. Through 5 or 6 games you have to be able to make a solid case or at least somewhat of a case to be the Most Valuable Player in the 3GML universe. This next list we are dividing into two tiers.
The Long-Shot Tier:
10. Trumaine Johnson, CB New York Jets
VEGAS ODDS: 125:1
A very long shot here coming in at 125 to 1 right now. That said, TJ does lead the league in interceptions with 4 and couple that with 3 pass breakups. Adding 29 tackles at the corner spot, and making several big time plays on a defense that has survived via the takeaway, Johnson has a small shot at making a run toward an unlikely MVP. James Bradberry a couple years ago almost won the award with a huge interception based season, maybe this is the year a corner wins the most coveted award in 3GML.
9. Julio Jones, WR New England
VEGAS ODDS: 100:1
Jones is a very long shot to win this award but perhaps if the disappointing Patriots make a hard charge to reach the playoffs Jones can make a play. He leads the 3GML with 677 yards through 6 weeks, and could turn games around with huge plays down the field. His MVP odds rely largely on the next week’s game against the Jets in what amounts to an elimination game for New England.
8. Brandin Cooks, WR Buffalo
VEGAS ODDS: 100:1
Cooks has been a huge force in the receiving game for the Bills. He is their big play guy, and has 216 RAC yards through 5 games. His 4 touchdowns lead the divas as do his 118.4 receiving yards per game. He’ll have a hell of a time ousting the 4 teammates ahead of him on this list but if he can keep taking slants 77 yards to the house like he did 2 weeks ago maybe Cooks can deliver some big time plays down the road to insert himself directly into the MVP discussion.
7. Eric McCoy, C Miami
VEGAS ODDS 100:1
What a crazy stat that this guy as a rookie is in the number 7 spot in Vegas MVP odds. But let’s think about this a bit. The team has lost its starting quarterback, star Tight End and had a preseason over under in wins of 5.5. They are already 4-1 on the strength of a power and movement based run game and an offensive line much bigger than the sum of its parts. McCoy has been the best linemen on the team, has only given up 1 sack in 5 games and last week was the highest graded game he’s played this season. A continued improvement from the pivot could lead him to getting MVP votes this season.
6. Quentin Nelson, G Buffalo
VEGAS ODDS 85:1
The best linemen in the NFL was acquired via CPU trade this offseason and sets up shop in upstate New York. Nelson has absolutely mauled so far this year in being one of the best players in the 3GML universe. Nelson is a dominant player and hasn’t allowed a sack in 342 snaps. Rodgers never even gets breathed on in this season and a huge part of that is the dominance that is QN in front of him. The odds of a linemen getting an MVP award are virtually nil, but right not Vegas has 2 in the top 10.
Guys with a Legit Shot:
5. Desmond King, DB Miami
VEGAS ODDS 50:1
He might not win this award but it won’t be because he doesn’t make plays all over the place. In week 1, his fumble return TD won the game for Miami. This past week the team is losing against Washington and King makes yet another game altering pick. He has 160 defensive return yards, and 3 picks, 2 fumble recoveries, to go along with 5 deflections. He’s a big time playmaker who is also on pace for over 80 tackles. Unsung hero but a legit shot at an MVP award.
4. Todd Gurley, RB Buffalo
VEGAS ODDS: 25:1
The guy with the best chance of getting on the plaque twice is this guy. After a rookie season that saw TG set the NFL record for receptions and get him an OROY and an MVP award he’s been solid if understated the past 3 years. Add in Nelson in front of him and a budding star in Risner and Gurley is once again in prime spot to be an MVP. He leads the 3GML in carries with 118, has 3 touchdowns and is on pace for over 2000 rushing yards. His 26 broken tackles leads the conference. Pair that with the fact his team is 5-0 and you have a potential champ.
T3. Leonard Fournette, RB Miami
VEGAS ODDS: 12:1
The reason his odds are higher than Gurley’s are simply because the Dolphins don’t throw and the Fins couldn’t win without him. He has 5 more yards that TG right now but 3 more times has hit paydirt. This past week he dominated in a win for Miami and his two runs coming out of the lockerroom with his team down 10 were two of the biggest runs of the year. Its simply his importance to his team that gives him the edge currently.
T3. Aaron Rodgers, QB Buffalo
VEGAS ODDS: 12:1
The guy tied with Fournette for the 3rd best odds is the guy who is my odds on favorite at this point and where TBHague things the money should be placed with 10-11 games to go. Rodgers has been outstanding leading the league’s best team. He has a 116.4 rating and an 11-2 touchdown to interception ratio. The main thing though is that he simply has avoided negative plays, only being sacked 4 times, and completing 78% of his passes. This may be the year that the award goes to a QB.
2. Myles Garrett, DE Buffalo
VEGAS ODDS: 10:1
Garrett has been a game wrecker this year for the Bills. He was the biggest factor in the team beating the Jets in week 1 and his 10 sacks are more than the next 3 players in the 3GML COMBINED. He pairs that with 7 tackles for loss and you have a guy who has owned the league this season. The only thing that has held him back isn’t that he hasn’t dominated, which he has, but the guy in first has simply had perhaps the greatest first 5 games in NFL History for a defender.
1. Jamal Adams, S Miami
VEGAS ODDS: 2:1
A 2:1 favorite to win the award is the guy who just won player of the week for week 6. Adams has been a one man wrecking crew, Adams has 9 FORCED FUMBLES HIMSELF, has deflected 2 passes, picked off another one adds 9.6 tackles per game which leads the 3GML, including 5 for loss. The team is 4-1 and would likely be 2-3 without him. The pick 6 he had against Washington this past week, the forced fumble in week 1, and the 4 fumbles he forced against Dallas all were game winning plays. The other few guys on this list have had incredible years, but Adams has changed the game this year and the enforcer is the MVP by a mile and a half at the 1/3 point in the season.
BIGGEST SURPRISES
The biggest surprise so far in this season has been the play of the Dolphins. With a litany of injuries this year the team has still managed to get out to a 4-1 start. Behind a league leading running game and a defense that forces more turnovers than anyone, the opportunistic Dolphins are eyeing a playoff spot and are only one game behind the dominant Bills.
A close second would be the Pats starting out the year at 2-4 after a nice win this past week. The team had high aspirations but the loss of Andrew Luck has been too tough for New England to recover from early in the year.
MOST IMPORTANT STORY FOR EACH TEAM MOVING FORWARD
Buffalo -
Can the team keep the momentum rolling and get the number 1 seed? The Bills have dominated through 5 games and realistically only a major injury or two could derail them from the top spot in the AFC. They simply have too much talent and a first round bye is huge with the new style of NFL play against the CPU this season.
Miami -
Can the team keep winning games relying on turnovers? The short answer is no. They can’t keep forcing 3.33 turnovers per game moving forward. That would be an NFL record and you can’t see that continuing for an entire season. At some point Tyrod Taylor needs to make plays with his arm, a huge throw while getting hit this past week in crunch time was the biggest throw of Taylor’s career so far. Maybe he can build on that.
New England -
Can they get consistent play from Bridgewater? Teddy has really struggled in the team’s four losses. He has thrown 13 touchdowns and is on pace for over 5000 yards so we can say that he’s struggling but honestly the Pats play the closest thing to a wide open attack that we have in the Madden universe. He also has 7 interceptions and has taken 26 sacks so far. If they get the good Teddy, the team can beat anyone, if they get the mistake prone Bridgewater this team will need to start selling off pieces.
New York Jets -
Can this team keep overachieving? The Jets have 3 wins and yet are scoring fewer than 20 points per game, are a bottom 5 team in defense, have been outscored by 40 points and have lost 2 games at home. Somehow though they have a winning record and are sniffing playoff contention. The team needs to keep finding ways to win one score games with the understanding that they may get blown out from time to time.
MOST POSITIVE SURPRISE FROM EACH TEAM SO FAR
Buffalo -
Dalton Risner, C - He’s been excellent in the middle of the line so far. Handling his business week in and week out. He hasn’t been as dominant in terms of blowing people off the ball as McCoy but he’s been one of the most steady players on the best line in football.
Miami -
Eric McCoy C - Easy pick here as he’s in the MVP discussion through week 6. McCoy has consistently gotten the reach blocks that other centers can’t get and has shows a good ability to anchor in the pass game. If he keeps playing like this the OROY is going to come down to the two centers.
New England -
Eric Ebron TE - What a start to a season for Ebron. He has 49 catches to lead the 3GML league, 529 yards which puts him in position to end up with almost 1400 yards. He’s been the player who has most consistently moved the chains and while we all knew he was a good option, he has been the most reliable player on the Pats so far.
New York -
Trumaine Johnson CB - In real life he can’t get on the field, in 3GML the Jets are relying on him. In a zone and blitz heavy scheme you have to have ball hawks and TJ leads the 3GML in INT’s so far, all while being a reliable tackler and playmaker. He gets beat here and there but he bounces back more often than not.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT FROM EACH TEAM SO FAR
Buffalo -
Backup RB’s - The team only has 26 carries from players who aren’t Todd Gurley so far and 6 are kneel downs. The other 20 carries have gotten the team 68 yards for a 3.4 yard average, which is the lowest average in the 3GML. If Damien Williams can’t get them going then Gurley will have to continue to get 20 carries per game. Can he stay healthy all year to continue to carry that type of load?
New England -
Ben Jones C - He has given up 7 sacks so far and that isn’t even all of it. His continued issues anchoring and allowing heat up the middle has forced a small quarterback off his spot consistently. Jones is on pace to allow 18 sacks this season, which would be a league record, and not in a good way. Particularly as he’s a center and almost all pressure in Madden comes off the edge.
Miami -
Olivier Vernon & Shaq Barrett DE’s - They have combined for 2 sacks this season. Miami has survived by playing bend don’t break and getting turnovers from Jamal Adams, that can’t continue for 16 games. This guys eventually have to get pressure or the Fins will fall apart from their super impressive 4-1 start.
New York -
Xavien Howard CB - Howard hasn’t been bad by any stretch. Teams typically aren’t picking on him a ton but he’s not grading out super well either. He has zero interceptions, only 2 PBU’s and has simply just been okay. The team paid a ton of money and draft capital to get a superstar and they’ve gotten adequate play outside.
GUY WHO MIGHT BE A SNEAKY ALL LEAGUE GUY FROM EACH TEAM
Buffalo -
Budda Baker - In a league with 2 of the 5 enforcers it’ll be extremely tough for Budda to get himself on to an all league team. That said he is on pace for 100 tackles, has 6 TFL, 2 int, 2 PBU, and a forced fumble. On top of that he has consistently made plays each and every week playing in different spots in zone coverage. Might be a long shot but he might be my league flex at this point.
New England -
Danny Trevathan - He’s so damn solid it’s annoying. It seems like he has 7-12 tackles very game including a couple for loss. He’s good in coverage, is underrated as a blitzer, and makes plays all over the field. In a league where finding all around linebackers is increasingly difficult DT is a good one.
Miami -
James Bradberry - The most underrated corner in the 3GML right now is the former Bill, Bradberry. He only has 3 PBU so far an 0 INT but in a system where you’re supposed to keep it in front of you he’s been great at simply doing his job. Teams have started to throw away form him at this point and he’s quietly having a damn good season.
New York -
Kelvin Beachum - He’s been quietly the most consistent pass blocker on the Jets this season. He’s given up 0 sacks so far in 320 sacks, not missing one snap. While there are some other solid candidates, and he’s given up some pressures no one has gotten home yet. Quietly consistent from the vet.
BIGGEST IDEAS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR
Do the Patriots start the sell off to not be in the awful position of being too late in the draft to get a QB but not good enough to make the playoffs? They only have 2 more weeks to make the decision.
Do the Bills make ANOTHER splash trade to go all in? The move for Ramsey was a gigantic upgrade but how much do they want to sacrifice in the “ALL IN” mode they’re in? They could really use an impact player as an insurance policy to Gurley or even a really good backup quarterback should Rodgers go down.
How does Miami balance going for it with a surprising run vs knowing they are likely still a couple seasons away? With two weeks left are they truly buyers? If they are they have to figure out a way to get more pressure and they need a corner upgrade sooner rather than later as Paul Richardson torched them. The move for Anderson was bold, do they have another one in them?
Are the Jets really sellers? They have survived the first 5 games at 3-2 despite not being very good. You watch that team and they are simply lacking depth and high end talent. They just sold expiring contracts in Daniels and Anderson this week. Are players like Vonn Bell, Brandon Copeland, or Steve McClendon the next to go or is this team trying to walk the delicate balancing act of winning now and later?
