The NFL is rapidly approaching the halfway point of the 2016 season, which makes it’s acceptable to start looking at potential MVP candidates.
Here’s a closer look at the MVP favorites as the NFL enters Week 8:
RB David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
Running backs on .500 teams don’t generally receive MVP hype, but Johnson is different. The Cardinals’ do-it-all weapon has started the 2016 season with seven straight games of 100 or more yards from scrimmage, and he’s currently on pace for 2,295 total yards and 18 touchdowns.
Overall, Johnson accounts for over 35 percent of Arizona’s total yards, and over 40 percent of the team’s offensive touchdowns. If the Cardinals get on a roll, and Johnson is behind the resurgence, the MVP talk will heat up.
QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan is leading the NFL’s highest-scoring offense, and although the Falcons have lost two straight games after a 4-1 start, his numbers are still hard to ignore. Ryan leads the league in passing yards (2,348), and he’s second in passing touchdowns (16), yards per attempt (9.6) and passer rating (113.6).
The next five games could decide whether Ryan is really an MVP candidate, as the Falcons play three 2015 playoff teams—including Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Ryan already threw for 1,105 yards and eight touchdowns in consecutive games against the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, proving he can play with the best.
QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Brady has only played three games, and he’ll end the 2016 season with four less games than the rest of the MVP field. But if he continues what he’s already started, it won’t matter.
After just three starts, Brady has completed a league-high 75.2 percent of his passes and averaged 335 passing yards per game, with eight passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. He leads the NFL in yards per attempt (9.9), and his current passer rating (132.6) would break the single season record. The Patriots are almost guaranteed to end the season as one of the NFL’s best teams, so if Brady still has the incredible efficiency numbers, he’ll be right in the MVP discussion.
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Rookies are rarely capable of warranting MVP consideration, but Elliott isn’t your average rookie. The fourth overall pick currently leads the NFL in rushing, and his ability to consistently move the ball on the ground has been a big reason why the Dallas Cowboys are 5-1. Elliott became the first rookie to rush for at least 130 yards in four straight games, including a career-high 157 yards against Green Bay’s top ranked run defense.
At his current pace, Elliott will rush for 1,875 yards in 2016, and he could seriously threaten 2,000 yards if 130 per game is his new standard. Four of the seven players to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season won the NFL MVP.
QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Stafford is getting more MVP attention after leading the Lions to their third straight come-from-behind win this past Sunday. Detroit is still only 4-3, but Stafford has enjoyed a terrific season for the Lions.
He’s currently setting new career highs in completion percentage (68.1) and passer rating (105.7), and his 14 passing touchdowns rank fourth in the NFL. All four of the Lions’ wins have come via comeback, and the team’s three losses are by 11 combined points. If Stafford can keep the Calvin Johnson-less Lions rolling, he deserves to be in the MVP discussion.
Honorable mentions
– QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: Where would the Saints be without Brees? He leads the NFL with 17 passing touchdowns, and he ranks among the top four quarterbacks in completion percentage, passer rating and passing yards.
– OLB Von Miller, Denver Broncos: The defending Super Bowl MVP has been dominant for one of the league’s best defenses. He currently ranks second in the NFL in sacks (7.5), and he’s been a much bigger factor against the run in 2016.
– WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons: Jones leads the NFL in receiving yards (830), catches over 20 yards (16), yards after the catch (243) and 300-yard games (one). He could be on his way to another historic receiving season.
– QB Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders: The Raiders are leading the AFC West at 5-2, largely due to three come-from-behind wins orchestrated by Carr. The third-year quarterback is on pace to throw 30 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
– QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts: No quarterback does more with less. Luck has thrown the go-ahead touchdown in all three of the Colts’ wins this season.
– RB DeMarco Murray, Tennessee Titans: Johnson and Elliott are carrying their offenses, but don’t forget about Murray. The Titans lead back has 825 total yards and seven touchdowns in 2016.
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