Bryan DeArdo#4 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 23, 2026

After two weeks, DeArdo ranks the NFL MVP candidates most likely to win the award, with Josh Allen first, Kenneth Walker second and Jaxon Smith-Njigba third. They also name Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd the early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.

Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original

Waiting3 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 3Settled3 still waiting

#4Bryan DeArdo’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Bryan DeArdo said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

If the MVP vote happened today, Allen would be the winner .

Bryan DeArdo, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: CBS Sports
The piece: Ranking MVP candidates after Week 2: Josh Allen takes early lead, but a RB not too far behind
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

1Top Player Lists“Who will win league MVP in 2026? To find out, we're doing a week-by-week ranking of the candidates most likely to win the honor. 1. Josh Allen ... 10. Derrick Henry”
2Josh Allen to win MVP“If the MVP vote happened today, Allen would be the winner .”
3Devin Lloyd to win Defensive Player of the Year“He should be considered the early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
“Who will win league MVP in 2026? To find out, we're doing a…”¹	Top Player Lists	—	—	—	—
Josh Allen to win MVP²	Award Picks	—	—	—	—
Devin Lloyd to win Defensive Player of the Year³	Award Picks	—	—	—	—
3 calls · 3 waiting			—	—

How each call scored

3 checkable claims — 2 award picks and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.

1Top Player Lists
“Who will win league MVP in 2026? To find out, we're doing a week-by-week ranking of the candidates most likely to win the honor. 1. Josh Allen ... 10. Derrick Henry”
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
2Award Picks Josh Allen Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen to win MVP
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
3Award Picks Devin Lloyd Carolina Panthers
Devin Lloyd to win Defensive Player of the Year
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?