With six weeks remaining in the 2016 NFL regular season, here’s how we view the MVP race…
1. Tom Brady, Patriots: He’s still 5-1 as a starter while leading the league in basically every key category, so a four-touchdown, turnover-free performance in an easy road victory moves him back into the top spot.
2. Dak Prescott, Cowboys: Another near-perfect performance in an impressive road victory over a very a team with one of the league’s highest-rated defenses moves Prescott into the runner-up spot. The rookie is 9-1 as a starter and is the NFL’s third-highest-rated passer.
3. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys: The league’s leading rusher (by a triple-digit margin) had 127 yards from scrimmage in that victory over the tough Ravens. The only problem for Prescott and Elliott is they may take votes away from each other.
4. Matt Ryan, Falcons: Hate dropping him a spot off a bye week, but Prescott has just been too good. The league’s second-highest-rated passer is still in contention, but two fourth-quarter picks in October losses definitely hurt him.
5. Matthew Stafford, Lions: Also hate dropping this guy a spot, considering that he again led a fourth-quarter comeback Sunday against Jacksonville (with six, he’s just one back of the all-time single-season record in that category). He needs to start winning at a better rate, though, and boost his 7.6 yards-per-attempt average.
6. Derek Carr, Raiders: It’s a crime that he ranks sixth here, but that’s how good the other five guys have been. Carr lit up a good Houston defense in the fourth quarter Sunday, completing four 25-yard passes and generating two touchdowns in another thrilling Oakland victory. Despite ranking sixth here, he absolutely can still win this thing.
