According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Brock Purdy and Lamar Jackson have emerged as the leading contenders for this season's NFL MVP award, with Purdy currently holding the top spot. Christian McCaffrey has the fourth-best betting odds for the coveted honor.
The upcoming clash between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas night, two teams leading their respective conferences' playoff standings, is poised to play a decisive role in shaping the MVP race. After all, the winner of the Week 16 matchup will likely emerge as the Super Bowl favorite entering the postseason.
Steve Young believes the perception surrounding Purdy could help McCaffrey's case for MVP. The Hall of Fame quarterback explains that, typically, the front-runners are these larger-than-life players who can carry a team to success.
"And then Brock has created this, I don't know, strange kind of space where people are like, 'Wait, what?'" Young shared on Bay Area radio station KNBR's "Tolbert and Copes" show. "And so there's going to be some voters that, I think, if there's going to be a running back, it could be this year.
"And that's not a knock on Brock. That's just knowing that you've heard it all year long. People just can't wrap their heads around it."
Some still label Purdy as a "game manager" or "system quarterback," attempting to downplay everything the second-year quarterback has accomplished this season. Purdy has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes while boasting a league-leading 29 passing touchdowns and a league-best 119.0 passer rating. He is also on track to set a franchise record for the most passing yards in a single season.
Young believes Monday night's game will be pivotal in the MVP race, suggesting that a dominant performance from Purdy, Jackson, or McCaffrey at Levi's Stadium could be a game-changer.
"If Brock has a big game, he'll win it," Young explained. "If Christian has an even bigger game, he might win it. But if Lamar has a big game and wins, they'll give it to him. Monday night seems like that's that kind of an event."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Young below.