Oregon Football: Justin Herbert is a serious NFL MVP candidate in Year 2

Fresh off an Offensive Rookie of the Year season, former Oregon football star Justin Herbert is looking like a true NFL MVP candidate.

Through five games, Herbert is on pace to break all of his career-highs set during that impressive rookie year.

Although he got off to a slow start with two touchdown passes to three interceptions and a 1-1 start through two games, Herbert has really come along and he looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the league and potentially the top NFL MVP candidate.

Herbert has bounced back to lead the Chargers to three straight wins and he has been the main reason the team has improved so drastically after a 1-1 start.

In fact, he has 901 passing yards and 11 touchdowns with no interceptions over the past three games and he’s added 49 rushing yards and another score.

Herbert has to be considered one of the top three NFL MVP candidates right now.

How does Justin Herbert compare to other MVP candidates?

On the year, Herbert has 1,576 yards and 13 touchdowns with just three interceptions (zero since Week 2). He has a QBR of 66.2 as well. His passing yards are fourth in the NFL, he’s third in touchdown passes, and fourth in QBR. He also owns a 67 percent completion rate which is 11th in the league.

How does he compare to other top quarterback MVP candidates?

• Kyler Murray: 1,512 yards, 10 touchdown passes, four interceptions, and a league-best 75 percent completion rate; 110 rushing yards, three touchdowns
• Tom Brady: 1,767 yards, 15 touchdowns, two interceptions, 66 percent completion rate
• Matthew Stafford: 1,587 yards, 12 touchdowns, three interceptions, 68 percent completion rate
• Patrick Mahomes: 1,490 yards, 16 touchdowns, six interceptions, 69 percent completion rate
• Josh Allen: 1,370 yards, 12 touchdowns, two interceptions, 62 percent completion rate; 188 rushing yards, two touchdowns
• Lamar Jackson: 1,519 yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, 67 percent completion rate; 341 rushing yards, two touchdowns

It looks like Herbert’s numbers compare favorably to the field and he should be considered one of the top candidates to win the award in year two.

Not too shabby.