If anyone would like any context for what’s to come, https://x.com/emmanuelacho/status/1729547274429075581?s=46&t=5QOwMNyHv2_jBwVeAPneag is a good place to start.
While I agree with the “value” of Trent Williams to the Niners, his unofficial MVP ballot list is flawed. The definition of “value” here isn’t applied universally across the top 5. Going by his definition wrt to Trent Williams (the obvious odd one from his list):
- Hurts’ unique athletic build unlocks a further down for the Eagles offence in which they have a lesser turnover risk on 4th and short due to his ability to make the QB Sneak absolutely unstoppable. Apart from that he’s easily a top 5 QB so his “value” there is quite face up. However, how much importance are we giving to this unique ability and discounting the strength of other assets on that offence aka OLine and his receivers
- Mahomes’ talent as a QB can never be fully understood because he makes the impossible possible but in my opinion he’s overrated here. Remove him from that Chiefs offence and with certain I can say that they’re closer to .500 than 8-3. However, he is unanimously the best player in the league so him playing below his usual standards hurts his stock.
- The wildest shout on here. Tua’s a good QB. But if you were to pick any player to represent the effectiveness and dynamism of that Dolphins offence? It’s certainly going to be Tyreek Hill with his inhuman speed. In fact, the ability of the Dolphins offence actually diminishes Tua’s stock. Hill has helped Tua look better, not the other way around.
- Lamar Jackson’s maturity this season has catapulted him into the MVP race. A QB who formerly used to take off when plays break down is now posting career highs in passing completion rates. He’s understanding of the next best passing option when his main option is unavailable and the ability to find that option has made him an undeniable horse in the MVP race. #5 is really disrespectful imo Jackson is the best dual threat QB in the league.
- How does one make an MVP list for this season and leave out CMC? It’s just baffling. Kyle Shanahan has been given too much credit for CMC’s success imo. Yes, undeniably Shanahan’s run game is elite and gets the best out of his RBs. But if the system was the key reason behind the Niners successes, why sacrifice so much to acquire one of the biggest talents at RB in the league? CMC and the Niners run game is a match made in heaven. While this quote is true, it often comes at a detriment to CMC’s stock. The disparity between CMC and the rest of the RBs is not just due to system. It’s also his own prowess as a high IQ runner and a good pass catcher to add.
Ultimately, what Acho is trying to do here is to be novel, which will show in the interactions he gets from the tweet, benefiting him and FS1. If he’s going off his definition of “value”, CJ Stroud should be the only horse in the race. The competency he has shown as a rookie QB while having OLine struggles puts him at the top of the rankings in Acho’s notion of “value”. The Niners may have lost two games in Williams’s absence. But Houston were projected 3-5 wins overall even with CJ Stroud. Furthermore, leaving out Dak when he’s easily the main reason why the Cowboys are where they’re at is a smart play because America’s team is a good fanbase to target. My main horses for the MVP are CMC, Lamar Jackson, Tyreek Hill while Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott are just behind the front runners in the race. With key matchups for all MVP options still yet to come, it’s impossible to call it until the wire.
If any of y’all had spent time to read my opinions, thank you and I would love to hear your opinions in the comments as well.
Acho is a dumbass hot take artist that’s trying to be Skip Bayless. He is not a person to be taken seriously.
But he is an official league MVP voter, so unfortunately his opinion on this is taken seriously
He loves to hear himself talk on his FS1 show. Just endless ramblings about nonsense with random quotes trying to make himself sound smarter. Thats why nothing will ever top Mike Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser on PTI for espn. You can hate them and I’m sure many do but I’ve always been a fan because after the 2 minute segment is done, they have to move on. Makes a 30 minute show feel much better than an hour long show where they talk about the cowboys for 20 minutes
He was doing a victory lap about Deshaun Watson after they beat the Ravens. Guy is a clown.
It’s a bummer cause he used to have some in-depth film study videos on his TikTok that were really interesting
I just don’t think Lamar is truly going to be in the conversation unless he really has a crazy 5 game stretch to end the season. He is doing a good job leading the offense but too many TD’s are going to the RBs. He very well might end up with 25 TDS or so on the season even with a top 5 offense.
He’s playing great football but isn’t scoring enough TDs to really be in the conversation for winning.
I’ve never been more burnt out on MVP talks in my entire life.
I’m sorry to hear that. I often find barbershop talk fun because discussion brings the community together despite disagreements and differing views. Although I can see your point on how it can get long winded and repetitive. That being said, all the best for your game at the Linc this week. Looking forward to a great game!
Facts. Whichever QB takes their team the deepest into the playoffs will more than likely get it regardless of how deserving (or not) they are.
That’s the way it works, and all these 20,000 word think pieces on who should be considered isn’t about to change anything.
End.
MVP is voted on before the playoffs.
Ignore my flair, calling Tua the wildest shout on here is straight up disrespect when he 1) is 4th in yards, 3rd in passing tds, 3rd in rating, 2nd in yards per attempt and the dolphins will likely be tied for the best record in the afc after this week and 2) THERE IS LITERALLY AN O LINEMAN ON THE LIST.
Also saying Tua hasn’t helped Hill look better is blatantly wrong, with him having set career highs in receptions and yards last year, and being well on his way to best those marks again this year and potentially set the single season receiving yardage record. Last season was also his first season receiving any sort of vote for offensive player of the year and is currently the betting favorite for this award.
You want to see what the Dolphins offense and Tyreek looks like without Tua?
In 11 games that Tua started and finished last season the Dolphins offense averaged 25.6 ppg and Tyreek 94.6 yards per game. In 5 games that were completely without Tua the Dolphins offense averaged 18 ppg and Tyreek averaged 74.2 yards per game.
The narrative that its all the wrs and not Tua is tired, lazy, and factually incorrect. Tua operates the offense at an exceptionally high level. It isn’t something you can just plug and play any replacement qb into.
Im really not tryna slander Tua but Tyreek is clearly the most important part of the passing offense. If you put the 20th best qb in that offense I think there isn’t much drop off.
We just disagree then and I don’t think you really know how our offense works. The offense is entirely tailored around Tua’s ability to get the ball out quickly and throw people open. I don’t think some of the better qbs in the league would be able to replicate what Tua is doing because they have different strengths and this offense is built around Tua.
The offense didnt drop off much when tyreek was out it arguably was smoother since it wasnt being forced to him.
Hurts is locked for MVP unless Purdy beats him and Lamar with a dominant performances. No need to over complicate the MVP discussion
Acho is clueless. End of story lol.
Nobody watches his trash show
You’re attributing his hot takes to him being a dumbass, but as we’ve repeatedly seen within social media and sports media in general, to get attention you need dumb takes to get engagement.
So Acho is posting this list, it might be his but it could also be created by ESPN to just get people angry/annoyed which studies have shown raises engagement.
Everyone here knows who Skip Bayless and Stephen A Smith are because they go out of their way to be cartoon characters when they are clearly highly intelligent and are capable of intelligent nuanced views.
That being said, I love seeing an offensive lineman get some love. There are other non-QB players who deserve some consideration but obviously will not.
Apart from one small detail, you’ve got it right on. I don’t feel that Acho is clueless. He knows the media game and is playing it. Yes I had 5 bullet points explaining the flaws behind his list but those are mainly there for structure and discussion material for the community. A bit pointless and a waste of time many might think. But this to me is just a hobby and a way to connect with the community. Appreciate your time and effort in reading it!
How did this bumbling fool get an MVP vote lmao
OL never get love in the MVP discussion. Let Acho cook.
They don’t because they shouldn’t. Williams is honestly a good example of why; despite how good he has been the 49ers have statistically a bottom 10 offensive line.
I agree with you that the linemen, especially the OLine are often neglected by sports fans and MVP conversations are completely out of the picture for them. At least DLinemen have an award that they can contend for in terms of recognition. Acho couldn’t have picked a better representative of OLinemen than Trent Williams. However, if the intention was to give players that are key pieces but overlooked a shout in the MVP race, he would’ve been praised if he had stayed within his parameters of “value”. Unfortunately for him, now he comes across as someone who’s just having a hot take and is using Trent Williams’ name for novelty purposes. He might’ve had good intentions. But poor execution imo.
The problem with mvp is it just says most valuable player in a league were just based on positions the qb is the most valuable. It’s hard for other positions to win it. Like the last time a non qb won is in 2012. The last time a non offensive player won is 1986. Like I do understand looking to other players but it’s very hard even in a weak mvp year.