If Saquon Barkley dreams of being NFL MVP, maybe he should give Cooper Kupp a call.

In 2021, Kupp had one of the greatest individual seasons in league history. He won the Triple Crown with a ridiculous total of 145 catches, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. And for that he got an NFL MVP vote. Aaron Rodgers won in what was ultimately an unforgettable season for him.

Kupp probably wasn’t surprised. The NFL’s MVP moved in 2014, when JJ Watt was clearly the best player in the league, but lost the MVP to an ultimately forgettable season from Rodgers. At that point, it became an award for whichever quarterback was at the helm at the end of the season. In 12 of the last 15 seasons and in each of the last seven seasons, the MVP has been a quarterback for a No. 1 seed.

But Barkley’s 255-yard game against the Rams gave him a much-needed MVP boost late in the season. Barkley could have a shot, which is rare for a non-quarterback. Here’s what he’ll likely need to do to win the prize:

Set the single-season rushing record or surpass at least 2,000 yards: Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards has stood since 1984. Barkley’s record is 2,150.5 yards. Breaking a legendary record would give him a boost. It would help get to 2,000. Four of the eight 2,000-yard rushers in NFL history won MVP honors. Since 1993, no running back has won without having a 2,000-yard season or setting a single-season touchdown record. Would Barkley win if he finished with, say, 1,950 yards? Ask Kupp how to do it.

The Eagles get the number 1 seed: The overemphasis on picking an MVP quarterback from a No. 1 seed is annoying, but it’s part of the formula now. A non-QB has a high chance of winning and probably can’t leave a box unchecked. If the Eagles can overtake the Lions for first place, that would prevent voters from electing someone like Jared Goff. And Barkley could argue that he’s the most valuable player at a top seed. This is important.

QB slips: Barkley is on a record pace after a huge game on a nationally televised stage and is still not the MVP favorite. He’s actually quite a bit behind. At BetMGM, Josh Allen (+150 odds) is the favorite, followed by Lamar Jackson (+220), then Barkley (+650) and Goff (+700). Everyone else is at least 10 to 1. You’ll hear a lot about Barkley’s MVP chances this week, and he’s in the conversation, but these odds are a reminder that if there’s a QB who can win, that’s what will happen. Barkley probably needs a stumble from Allen, Jackson and maybe even Goff. That’s exactly what the award is now.

Barkley is having a remarkable season. But there are still a few things that need to happen to actually win NFL MVP.