A third quarterback from the same class is on the fringe of the race, even after cooling down from a hot start.
Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are in familiar positions. Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have won five of six (with the loss an odd one to the Cleveland Browns) and are in second place in the AFC North. Allen, meanwhile, has the Buffalo Bills (7-2) feeling comfy in the AFC East, with their closest competitor (New York Jets) four games back.
Sam Darnold is the third quarterback and has the Minnesota Vikings (6-2) in second place in the NFC North.
In fact, all four active quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft are slinging the leather around the field. It is Jackson, however, who sits in the top spot through week nine.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson secured his second MVP award last season and with the way he is playing this season through nine weeks, on track to lock down a third.
The last five games have seen Jackson make a dramatic jump into the race. Always solid, Jackson has the Ravens clicking, scoring 41 points three times in the last five games. In this span, Jackson has twice passed over 300 yards and the lowest was 280 (in which he was 16 of 19). Discounting the loss to Cleveland (15 incompletions) and an overtime victory over Cincinnati (16 incompletions), Jackson has been stellar with only 14 incompletions in those other three games.
Having a fantastic and consistent running back in Derrick Henry has also helped Baltimore's offense click.
For the season, Jackson is completing 68.2 percent of his pass attempts, throwing for 2379 yards. Fifteen of his twenty touchdown passes have come in the last five games and Jackson has only thrown two interceptions all season.
And Jackson's ground game is still a factor, where he has 505 yards and two touchdowns.
Chances to get back to the top of the division are on the horizon, with games against Cincy and first place Pittsburgh on the horizon. Last time out against the Bengals, Jackson had 348 yards and four touchdown passes. The next four weeks are tough for Baltimore, but they have a good chance to go 3-1 (or better).
Weeks 10 - 13: vs CIN (11/7), @ PIT (11/17), @ LAC (11/25), vs PHI (12/1)
Josh Allen
Allen is once again running neck-and-neck with Jackson for MVP consideration. This time around, through week nine at least, Allen has the Bills in prime position for a top spot in the AFC (where they'd be, if not for pesky undefeated Kansas City).
Stats for Allen are not in another stratosphere and, in many categories among these four quarterbacks, sits in the fourth spot. An emergence of a consistent running attack with James Cook helps, keeping Allen from having to do everything himself. And it resulted in 17 touchdown passes against only two interceptions, the first of which didn't happen until week eight.
Allen had a tough performance in a week five loss to the Houston Texans, going 9 - 30. Since, the Bills have won four straight, with Allen tossing nine touchdowns and 956 yards.
Overall, Allen is completing 64.1 percent with 2001 yards. Running is down, with only 211 yards on the ground. But the Bills are protecting Allen, allowing only 11 sacks, and the passing game should rise with the trade for Amari Cooper.
A bye week is on the horizon but so are three tough games. Included in this is a matchup with possibly still undefeated Kansas City, where the Bills hope to gain ground either way.
Weeks 10 - 13: @ IND (11/10), vs KC (11/17), BYE, vs SF (12/1)
Sam Darnold
Sacks and turnovers have been an issue for Darnold in the last four games. The Vikings are 2-2 and Darnold has been sacked 15 times with four interceptions and one lost fumble. Sacks are not all on Darnold, with a banged up offensive line part of the equation.
Still, Darnold is enjoying one of his best seasons as a pro, throwing for 1900 yards with 17 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions. Completion percentage (69.5) is solid and Darnold has the Vikings one game behind the Detroit Lions.
Aaron Jones is providing nice support in the ground game, with Darnold contributing 102 yards, and the offense has not yet reached its potential. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is an all-universe talent and Jordan Addison is getting better each week. Plus, the Vikings activated tight end T.J. Hockenson last week, adding another weapon to the arsenal.
A test awaits for the Vikings with three straight road games. The opponents are not necessarily top tier but as we have seen this season, big upsets take place each week. With any luck, Darnold should lead the Vikings to no less than a 3-1 record in the coming weeks.
Weeks 10 - 13: @ JAX (11/10), @ TEN (11/17), @ CHI (11/24), vs ARI (12/1)
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) are going through things right now, having lost four of five. Two have these have been in overtime, including the most recent hard-fought affair with Kansas City.
Injuries to top receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were devastating. Evans should return this season, while Godwin's injury will keep him on the shelf for the season. A defense that has allowed 27+ points in five straight games has also not helped.
Mayfield is out there battling, often forced to pass much more than desired. He has thrown 30 or more passes in four straight games (and seven of nine this season).
Despite a slight interception problem (nine on the season), Mayfield is tossing up career numbers. His completion percentage sits at 71.9 and Mayfield has passed for 2389 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Life does not get any easier in week 10 but much better opportunity awaits after a bye week. Currently two games back of the Atlantic Falcons in the NFC South, Mayfield and the Bucs have work to do. And a 2-1 stretch in the coming weeks would go a long way in helping them out.
Weeks 10 - 13: vs SF (11/10), BYE, @ NYG (11/24), @ CAR (12/1)
Josh Rosen
No updates. Still kicking it in business school, maybe playing pickup games of flag football somewhere. Maybe not.
Thanks for checking in on this continuing series following the careers of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Back with more updates after week 13.
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