Brock Purdy Emerges as Early NFL MVP Favorite With 9 TDs as 49ers Start 3-0

Q: Has Brock Purdy done enough in just three weeks to erase the “system quarterback” label and become the NFL’s real MVP front-runner?

Not fully, but he has done enough to make the label much harder to defend and to be the NFL’s legitimate early MVP front-runner. Through three weeks, Purdy’s case is strong on both production and context. He has 789 passing yards, nine touchdown passes, one interception, a league-best 93.8 QBR, and a 133.1 passer rating, plus 93 rushing yards and a rushing score. San Francisco is 3-0, and he just delivered a four-touchdown game against Arizona, including the late go-ahead strike to George Kittle. What strengthens the argument is that this is not just empty efficiency inside a perfect setup. The 49ers have been dealing with significant injuries at receiver and along the offensive line, with Trent Williams also a concern. Purdy has continued to produce while the lineup around him has changed, which directly challenges the idea that he is only being carried by Kyle Shanahan’s system and elite surroundings. That said, three weeks is too small a sample to erase a national narrative entirely. Skeptics will still point to Shanahan’s scheme, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel Sr., and a roster that remains more talented than most. MVP races also shift quickly, and Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are still firmly in it. The fairest reading is that Purdy has not permanently buried the “system quarterback” debate yet, but he has clearly outplayed it so far. On current evidence, he deserves to be viewed as a real MVP favorite, not a novelty candidate.

2 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 28

Three weeks into the 2026 season, ESPN analyst Dan Graziano said Brock Purdy should be the NFL's MVP favorite, calling that verdict "not an overreaction."
Purdy has fueled San Francisco's 3-0 start with 789 passing yards, nine touchdown passes, one interception and a league-best 93.8 QBR.
His case is strengthened by added rushing production — 93 yards, one touchdown and eight first downs on 10 carries.
San Francisco's injury-hit roster, especially at wide receiver and with concern around Trent Williams, has made Purdy's early output stand out even more.