September 2, 2016

The RotoBaller NFL writing team casts its votes for who will be the Most Valuable Player in the 2016 NFL season.

This is the second piece in a series of articles where RotoBaller's football writers give their predictions for the upcoming season. In this article, we will get the predictions on who will be the NFL MVP for the 2016 season.

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2016 NFL MVP Predictions

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers QB

Joey Christopoulos(Tudddyguy)

Even if Cam Newton doesn't eclipse the 45 total touchdowns that he scored last season, it's still Cam's world offensively and the NFL will have to continue to live in it. Newton literally is the Carolina offense and he's at the peak of his powers. No other quarterback gets his team in the red zone with more efficiency, and very few running backs carry the ball in the red zone more than Cam. It would not surprise anyone if he rips off MVP-type seasons for the next three years.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers QB

Andrew Bua(@Andrew_Bua)

The entire Packers offense is due for a rebound season, and regardless of injury comebacks or players returning to form, the face of that rebound is Aaron Rodgers. The two-time MVP will have Jordy Nelson back, Eddie Lacy (hopefully) getting back to his productive ways, and may even have better tight end production with Jared Cook. A 60.7% completion rate, 31:8 TD-to-INT ratio, and 3,821 yards isn’t bad by any means, but it’s not Rodgers-esque. Look for the entire Packers offense to have a huge year, with Rodgers claiming his third MVP award as a result.

Joe Sorensen

Jordy Nelson. Randall Cobb. Eddie Lacy. One of the best offensive lines in the league. These are the weapons that Rodgers will have at his disposal this season. It also happens to be the same supporting cast he had in 2014, the last time he won MVP. When healthy, this group has shown the ability to make plays and make life easy for Rodgers. Nelson is set to return at full health and open the field up for Cobb and Lacy, making life that much easier for Mr. Discount Double Check.

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks QB

Pierre Camus(@Pfunk00)

Predicting that Wilson will have a Cam Newton-like season might be a stretch, but he could have the same effect on his team. Wilson has already joined the top ranks of NFL quarterbacks and could take the next step forward this season. The reason is simple enough - the Seahawks need him to. With Beast Mode officially gone and a murky running back situation, Seattle began leaning more and more on Wilson in the second half last season. He delivered by posting a whopping 24 touchdowns in his last seven games. Some see it as a fluke, but what if it actually is the start of a trend? The already-accurate passer jumped to a 68.1% Comp% as well. If Jimmy Graham proves healthy and settles into the offense, the sky's the limit for Seattle's passing offense. Despite being the fourth QB taken on average, he still could be a steal.

Andrew C. Lovell (@Andrew_Lovell)

Last season, Wilson became the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns and 500 rushing yards in a single season. If Seattle had gone 15-1 instead of the Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers, Wilson would likely have won the MVP. It could happen this season, which will be Wilson's fifth in the NFL.

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts QB

Bryan Levin

Luck is not only a candidate for comeback player of the year, but for MVP as well. Sure, he is coming off an extremely disappointing 2015 campaign that inevitably ended in injury, but people seem to forget that in 2014 Luck threw for over 4,700 yards and led the league with 40 touchdowns. Factor in his emerging offensive weapons and an improved offensive line, and Luck should be in for a monster season.

Nathan Powell(@NPowellFF)

Andrew Luck was my MVP pick last season, and after that swing-and-miss I'm swinging for the fences again with the quarterback in one of the best offenses in the NFL. Luck has the always-reliable T.Y. Hilton along with an emerging Donte Moncrief alongside a promising first round pick in Phillip Dorsett. With Frank Gore as the only legitimate option in the backfield, I expect Luck to be passing early and often, leading the Colts to a division win while leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns.

Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams RB

Ben Ruppert(@Ben_Ruppert_21)

The Rams first year in LA will be a memorable one with Todd Gurley winning NFL MVP, making him the Rams' first MVP since Kurt Warner in 2001. Gurley brings immense talent to the RB position, and he'll be the focal point in a run-first offense. Last season he broke the 1,100 yard mark after only starting 12 games while recovering from a torn ACL. He is capable of pass-blocking and receiving out of the backfield, making him one of the few true three-down backs left in the league. Now fully healthy and fully acclimated to the league, Gurley is set to have a monster season while carrying the Rams on his back all season long.

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