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Power Ranking Top 10 NFL MVP Candidates Heading Into Week 8

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By @calling_allfans

Top 10 NFL MVP Candidates Heading Into Week 8

NFL MVP
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Many times the NFL MVP award goes to a QB because that is arguably the most important position in sports. QBs get a disproportionate amount of the praise when their team wins and blame when their team loses. That being said, there are some non-QBs on this list of the top 10 NFL MVP candidates heading into Week 8.

10. Russell Wilson – QB Seattle Seahawks

NFL MVP
Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

10. Russell Wilson – QB Seattle Seahawks

NFL MVP
Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

True, the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are 3-3 and they are currently in third place in the tough NFC West, but Wilson is still one of the better QBs in the league. He’s a leader both on and off the field, and he’s thrown for 1,291 yards with 10 TDs and only two INTs this season. Wilson rarely forces something that isn’t there, so the amount of mistakes he makes are minimal. Seattle is ranked eighth in points per game (26.5).

9. Joe Flacco – QB Baltimore Ravens

NFL MVP
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

9. Joe Flacco – QB Baltimore Ravens

NFL MVP
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens are 5-2 and are currently in first place in the AFC North. Baltimore’s defense is playing well (particularly against the run), but Flacco’s impact on the Ravens’ success thus far this season can’t be ignored. The Ravens QB has thrown for 1,854 yards in 2014, along with 14 TDs and five INTs. Baltimore is ranked sixth in points per game (27.6) and their QB is a big reason why.

8. Randall Cobb/Jordy Nelson – WRs Green Bay Packers

NFL MVP
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

8. Randall Cobb/Jordy Nelson – WRs Green Bay Packers

NFL MVP
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers WRs are the first non-QBs to make the list. Technically this should go to one player, but Cobb has 35 receptions for 452 yards with 8 TDs, and Nelson has 47 catches for 712 yards and 6 TDs. It’s hard to separate them. RB Eddie Lacy has played well, but outside of QB Aaron Rodgers they are the two most valuable players on the Packers team. Opposing defenses know the majority of balls are coming their way and they still can’t stop them.

7. Peyton Manning – QB Denver Broncos

NFL MVP
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

7. Peyton Manning – QB Denver Broncos

NFL MVP
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday, Peyton Manning broke Brett Favre’s record of 508 career passing TDs. This season he has thrown for 1,848 yards with 19 TDs and three INTs with a rating of 118.2. His surrounding cast (including WRs Sanders, D. Thomas and Welker along with TE J. Thomas) is better than most, but you can’t deny what he brings to the field. Manning is one of the main reasons the AFC West leading Broncos (5-1) are one of the favorites to win the AFC again.

6. Philip Rivers – QB San Diego Chargers

NFL MVP
Robert Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

6. Philip Rivers – QB San Diego Chargers

NFL MVP
Robert Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

At 5-2 the Chargers are in second place in the AFC West behind the 5-1 Broncos. Rivers has thrown for 1,961 yards this season, along with 17 TDs and three INTs. The Chargers are averaging 26.3 points per game, which is good for ninth in the NFL. Rivers’ rating is 113.0 with 230 attempts this season, which is the ninth most, but he has the seventh most completions; his 67.4 completion percentage is good for fifth.

5. Tom Brady – QB New England Patriots

NFL MVP
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

5. Tom Brady – QB New England Patriots

NFL MVP
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Brady has thrown for 1,705 yards with 13 TDs and two INTs. Behind Brady, the Patriots (5-2) are atop the AFC East, despite not having a true No. 1 receiver, suffering season-ending injuries to RB Stevan Ridley and LB Jerod Mayo and the defense ranking 24th against the rush. Is he the 2007 Brady? No, but he is doing more with less than most QBs and he is in the running for his third MVP.

4. J.J. Watt – DE Houston Texans

NFL MVP
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

4. J.J. Watt – DE Houston Texans

NFL MVP
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The MVP is usually given to the best offensive player on one of the best teams. Only two defensive players have ever been named MVP, but sometimes a really special player comes along like Watt. He’s the heart and soul of the Texans defense and team, and he’s incredibly talented. He’s scored three TDs this season (two of them on defense) and he has five sacks and an INT this season. He always seems to be in throwing lanes, swatting down passes.

3. Aaron Rodgers – QB Green Bay Packers

NFL MVP
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

3. Aaron Rodgers – QB Green Bay Packers

NFL MVP
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

After the Packers started 1-2, Rodgers told fans to R-E-L-A-X and he was right. The Packers then rattled off four straight wins and averaged over 36 points per game in those games. In 211 attempts, Rodgers has thrown for 1,674 yards with 18 TDs and one INT this season. Read that TD to INT ratio again. That’s insane. Rodgers was named MVP in 2011, and even his coach Mike McCarthy believes the QB is better now than he was then.

2. Andrew Luck – QB Indianapolis Colts

NFL MVP
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

2. Andrew Luck – QB Indianapolis Colts

NFL MVP
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Luck is first in passing yards per game (329.6) and he’s thrown 19 TDs with seven INTs which is good for a rating of 100.5 rating. After starting the season 0-2 the Colts won five straight and improved to 5-2. The Colts are averaging almost 31 points per game this season, and with Luck having the most passing attempts (302), he is a huge reason why they are winning games and leading the AFC South.

1. DeMarco Murray – RB Dallas Cowboys

NFL MVP
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

1. DeMarco Murray – RB Dallas Cowboys

NFL MVP
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

People want to talk about how improved the Cowboys’ (6-1 and leading NFC East) defense is this season. The truth is they are allowing almost the same yards per play as last season. The key? The offense is sustaining longer drives and opposing offenses are averaging approximately one fewer drive per game. The biggest reason is DeMarco Murray, who has 913 yards on 187 carries and 7 TDs. It’s like someone is maneuvering him with an X-Box controller.

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