2022 NFL dark horse MVP candidates, sleepers that should not be slept on.

The NFL season is here, and the MVP projections are out. These are a few players that have all the potential to climb up the MVP ranking. This is the dark horse MVPs.

1. Trey Lance

If there is a QB you should believe in going into the season, it's the young 2nd-year player who was undefeated at North Dakota State. Just like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, Lance can also be another player to win MVP in their 2nd year. Lance can be another young QB to win MVP in their second year. Lance brings excitement to the offense that they could not get with Garoppolo, who was more of a game manager rather than a QB asked to make big plays for the team. Lance can scramble out of the pocket and has serious arm strength. Offensive guru and 49er coach Kyle Shanahan, who was the offensive coordinator for the former MVP Matt Ryan potentially has the best raw QB talent in his career.

2. Justin Jefferson

Jefferson is coming off a monster season where he had over 1600 receiving yards where he was 2nd in the NFL, 108 receptions in which he was 4th in the NFL, and 10 touchdowns. He has the potential to be a triple-crown winner, the only question for him this season is how many more times can Kirk Cousins throw it to him? The 23-year-old receiver is coming off a 2nd pro bowl season in a row and can make a run for best receiver in the NFL this year.

3. Jalen Hurts

The Eagles will fly as high as Jalen Hurts can carry them. Coming off his first full year as a starter with the Philadelphia Eagles showed that he deserves to be an NFL QB. One word that comes to mind when discussing Hurts is "intangibles." He carries himself like a true professional and is a natural leader in the locker room, not to mention he has incredible talent! The Eagles have improved their roster this off-season and have even given Hurts one of the best yards-after-catch receivers in the league with AJ Brown. The Eagles have the third-easiest schedule in the league; Hurts has to show he can consistently throw the ball accurately. He was ranked near the bottom half of the league with 61.3% pass accuracy; if this number can rise, there is no question he can be an MVP in this league.

4. Najee Harris

The Pittsburgh Steelers have found themselves in football limbo for the past few years. With the retirement of long-time Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger the attention now switches to Harris. In his rookie season, Harris ranked 2nd in the league in carries with 307 and had an impressive 0 fumbles. Expect the same production level to happen again this year, with Pittsburgh still lacking a passing game and now will be with Roethlisberger for the first time in 18 years. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stated on the "Pivot Podcast" "That dude is a bell cow. He's gonna have to be a bell cow for us." The future is bright for what is now the focal point of the Steeler's offense.

5. Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan can be in Indianapolis what Carson Wentz could not do, which is consistent QB play. The 37-year-old is stepping into a new environment with a far superior supporting cast than he had in Atlanta. With players like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr, and arguably the best offensive line in all of football and a great defense. Ryan has all the pieces around him to win, and possibly the 2nd MVP in his career.