The Midseason MVP Case

“BenVP”

“HenVP”

“WentVP”

“GlenVP”

And Jake Sullivan (sorry, “SullivanVP” felt a little forced).

Alex Malchow’s moniker for Ben Holmes, the “BenVP,” works well with most of the top candidates in the MVP race, and it’s been fun to throw around. The midseason consensus circling the league is that the race is between Surge quarterback Reilly Hennessey, Panthers linebacker AJ Wentland, Fire running back Glen Toonga, and Thunder quarterback Jakeb Sullivan. Additionally, there have been calls from credentialed media (such as Malchow) to include Vikings quarterback Ben Holmes. MVP can mean something different to everyone. In this case, I am examining the Most Valuable Player as the player who adds the most value to their respective team, with value viewed as the impact on winning combined with personal performance. Sometimes it’s as simple as being the best player on the best team, but other times it requires deeper examination and could be someone with lesser stats who impacts their team’s winning at a higher rate than others.

AJ Wentland

The case for

There may not be a more feared defender on the field. Wentland is a rare combination of size, speed, power, agility, and killer instinct. Not to mention, when he hits people, he HITS people. On a Wroclaw squad that is struggling and constantly cutting players and coaches, Wentland has been the one bright spot in what has been a dreary season for a very dedicated Polish fan base.

The case against

Wroclaw’s defense is still a bottom-half defense. With defenders, you can sometimes give them a pass on team record as long as they are leading an elite-level defense, which unfortunately is no way to describe Wroclaw. While Wentland’s personal performance reigns supreme, there is nothing special about this defense, which, while out of his control, makes his stats feel more empty. I look for value provided in my MVP, and unfortunately, the value added isn’t enough here. Wentland’s talent on a contending team or at least a highly-touted defense would propel him higher in these discussions, but for now, it is hard to say that he is the Most Valuable Player. If Wroclaw is able to turn their season around, we can always revisit this discussion.

Ben Holmes

The case for:

The “BenVP” case, which was the original of the monikers before we stole it from Alex Malchow, is a simple case to make: he is the quarterback on the (tied for) best team. Whether you have Stuttgart slightly ahead of Vienna or not, Vienna has been steamrolling the bottom-tier teams and seems unfazed by better competition. The Vikings have become dominant in the ELF, and Ben Holmes is a part of that. There was speculation after the injury of Jordan Bouah whether Vienna’s offense would be as effective, but between Holmes and emerging star receiver Reece Horn, the Vikings never lost a step.

The case against

Oh yeah… Holmes has missed almost half the games in Vienna’s undefeated season. Emergency quarterback Shelton Eppler played two games on Holmes’ behalf and lit it up! While Holmes is still a step ahead of Eppler, the fact that Eppler was such a perfect plug-and-play makes it difficult to say that Holmes brings the most value to his team. As the season progresses and Vienna continues to be dominant, Holmes may have a case, but with Vienna being equally dominant with Eppler, it is easier to say that Vienna’s success may stem from great team construction and position players stepping up. They also have a top-tier defense, which goes against Holmes’ case.

Glen Toonga

The case for

The case for Glen Toonga is simple: without him, the Fire could easily be 4-3 instead of 6-1, thanks to multiple big performances from the veteran running back. He leads the league in rushing yards with 974 through seven games, which is 314 more than Tobias Bonatti, who is in second place. Toonga also has 16 touchdowns and no fumbles, giving him quarterback-like numbers from the running back position. The only game he has looked human this year was Rhein’s first matchup against Madrid, which even with a “subpar” performance for Toonga still included 112 total yards and a touchdown. This was the only game the Rhein Fire have lost, and it is the only game where Toonga didn’t look superhuman, adding to the idea that the value he brings to this team and their 6-1 record is unmatched.

The case against

Rhein’s defense is pretty damn good. The three-headed monster of Tony Anderson, Till Janssen, and Omari Williams makes it difficult for teams to do anything through the air, and no team’s running back can go pound-for-pound with Toonga this season. Rhein’s defense has definitely made significant contributions and has held some high-powered offenses to low scores.

Jakeb Sullivan

The case for

Jakeb Sullivan can sling that thing! As far as pure arm talent, there may not be a better quarterback in the European League of Football than Jakeb Sullivan. He leads the league in yards and is second in touchdowns. He can fit balls into tight windows, launch it deep, and the zip he puts on the ball helps him pull off throws in tight windows. He is a gritty quarterback who is not afraid to step into the pocket, take a big hit, and deliver a strike down the field.

The case against

There are two things holding Sullivan back: winning and turnovers. With Berlin currently sitting at 4-3, their hopes for making the playoffs are still alive, but they are on the fringe. As good as Berlin has been, they beat up on bad teams and struggle against better competition. Additionally, as great as Sullivan has been, he is very Brett Favre-esque in that for every great game he has, it is tainted by interceptions and fumbles. Currently, he has five interceptions and two fumbles, placing him in the worst half of the league. There have been instances this season where he trusts his arm too much and makes bad decisions.

Reilly Hennessey

The case for

This is where the “best player on the best team” really checks out. Reilly Hennessey has been phenomenal the entire season! With the highest quarterback rating of all qualifying quarterbacks and the sheer domination with which Stuttgart’s offense moves the ball, it is hard to argue against Hennessey being MVP. Stuttgart is trouncing every team they play, and their offense is monstrous, averaging over five touchdowns a game (which also leads the league). Hennessey is also doing a great job of protecting the ball, having only thrown a single interception this season!

The case against

Unfortunately, this is out of Hennessey’s control, but it is no secret that Stuttgart has played some weak competition through the first seven weeks of the season. Teams like Helvetic, Milano, Munich (twice), and Wroclaw are all .500 or below teams, and most of their schedule moving forward is soft (with the exception of a pair of Raiders Tirol games). This conversation about Hennessey being a solidified MVP frontrunner will hinge significantly on his play and Stuttgart’s success against Raiders Tirol. It is likely we will not get to see what this Stuttgart team is truly made of until the playoffs, again hindering Hennessey’s case.

MVP Dark Horses (Submitted by the Fiasco Team)

Kyle Kitchens (Jordan’s Pick)

The case for

Kyle Kitchens is an unstoppable force for Berlin, a one-man wall that could rival the Berlin Wall itself. While Berlin’s defense is not what it used to be, Kitchens is every bit the animal he has always been, putting up numbers so jarring that he often gets double-teamed, and offenses consistently try to avoid him. Even with this, he is still averaging over a sack a game and has forced three fumbles along with a blocked kick.

The case against

The same case that can be made against Sullivan can be made for Kitchens. With Berlin still on the outside cusp of the playoff picture, these stats could all be for naught if they don’t make it to the next stage of play. Additionally, Berlin has a middle-of-the-road defense, with a highly graded pass defense and a low-graded rush defense. There is much to be desired from them as a whole on that side of the ball.

Reece Horn (Tanner’s Pick)

The case for

When Jordan Bouah went down, fans panicked at the idea that their team would have to compete both without their WR1 and without their QB1, but Reece Horn has put up video game numbers in Bouah’s absence, and it doesn’t matter who is throwing him the ball! It has been very impressive to watch Horn explode onto the scene like he has. While he is #3 in the league in terms of receiving yards, the reason why he was added to the list is because he has stepped up and emerged as a star in this league.

The case against

As impressive as he has been, Vienna as a whole has been outstanding in every facet of the game. Their defense is stacked with depth, and with rookie receiver Toure also putting up impressive numbers, it might be easier to say that this is just a well-coached and constructed roster. Look for his numbers to take a hit once Bouah returns in a couple of weeks.

Zach Edwards (Danny’s Pick)

The case for

Zach Edwards is a freak of a human being. With rightful comparisons to Cam Newton, Edwards has the arm and rushing ability to be a force in the ELF, and Paris has proven to be a contending team with eyes set on a championship. Edwards has outperformed some of the bigger-name quarterbacks who have been getting more love for this award, and with a 5 TOT performance against Hamburg, his video game-like numbers should be propelling him further.

The case against

Edwards, similar to Sullivan, is turnover prone. While putting up big numbers, he has done a majority of it against weaker competition. The one strong roster he faced was the Rhein Fire, and he lost due to some costly turnovers late in the game. Paris also has the #1 ranked pass defense and #3 rush defense, which has been on full display all season. Even if Edwards wasn’t playing at this level, Paris would still likely have the same record.

Final Rankings

This season has been nothing short of exciting, with multiple players deserving to be in this conversation. One of the best parts is that there are multiple non-quarterback candidates with a legitimate case to not only be in these conversations but to bring the MVP trophy back to their club. Given the pros and cons of each player, their situation, and their team’s overall success, I have crafted a final ranking for the midseason MVP.

1. Glen Toonga

2. Reilly Hennessey

3. Zach Edwards

4. Jakeb Sullivan

5. Kyle Kitchens

6. Ben Holmes

7. Reece Horn

8. AJ Wentland

Yes, I agree that it feels like I am drinking the Wentland “Hater-ade” with this ranking, but it really came down to record. Based on stats alone, Wentland should be a Top 3 candidate, but I am stingy and cannot rank him that high with his impact on winning being so low. I don’t think the rest of my list is all that controversial (unless you’re on the BenVP train). Again, we are only halfway through the season. There is plenty of time for the Panthers to turn it around, and if Holmes plays like he has been through the rest of the season, there is plenty of opportunity to jump up in these rankings.