With a commanding share of the first-place votes, Baltimore Ravens player Lamar Jackson was voted the NFL MVP for the second time in his career. With 49 of the 50 first-place votes, the 27-year-old won handily over his competitors.
Aaron Schatz may not have been a familiar name amongst NFL fans but that changed earlier this week. The lone voter who did not choose Jackson as his first choice was Chief Analytics Officer for FTN Fantasy, who chose quarterback Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bill
Many experts were taken aback by the decision, and others chastised the expert for it. Sports celebrity Stephen A. Smith was arguably the most well-known figure to follow Shatz.
That puts everything at risk. When you are able to vote, objectivity is required. Smith remarked, “And that writer—I don’t know who the h*** it was—that’s embarrassing.
Smith made the remarks during a recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take.
Some people are making fun of Shatz’s pick, but others are applauding the seasoned expert for making such a daring decision. Shatz is well-liked in his industry. He was the creator of the NFL analytics website Football Outsiders. He has extensive understanding of the game and is currently employed with FTN Fantasy.
This season, Allen completed 4,306 passes for 4,306 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. Jackson completed with 24 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and 3678 passing yards.
The MVP typically leans significantly in the late frontrunner’s favor. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs received 48 votes for first place in the previous season. Aaron Rodgers received 39 of the first-place votes in 2021.Sahir Bhojwani is a sports fan who mostly follows European and American football. Having completed his Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies, he has over 12 years of experience working with various organizations in the media and IT industry. His objective as a writer is to provide educational, historically correct, data-driven articles that highlight the interesting realm of sports.
