2013 NFL Picks and Power Rankings: Top 5 MVP Candidates – Peyton Manning Top the List

2013 NFL Picks and Power Rankings: Top 5 MVP Candidates – Peyton Manning Tops the List: Ten weeks of the 20313 NFL season are in the books, and as the battles for division titles and playoff spots are heating up so is the battle for MVP Award. Granted, there are still enough games remaining for someone to finish the season on a hot streak and make a push for the honor, but for the most part, the serious contenders have already separated themselves from the pack. With that in mind, here is a closer look at how the top five candidates for the MVP Award stack up at this point of the NFL season.

1.      Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Denver Broncos

He continues to engineer the NFL’s best offense, and Manning’s 3,249 yards and 33 touchdowns are not only the most in the league, but he is on pace to shatter the single-season record in both categories. Manning also leads the NFL with a 121.0 QB rating and is one of only two QBs completing more than 70 percent of their passes this year. Throw in the Broncos’ 8-1 record, and he is the clear frontrunner for MVP honors at this point. If he continues to pile up yards and touchdowns and a record-setting pace, Manning is going to be tough to catch.

2.      Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions

While his numbers are excellent, Johnson’s biggest MVP statement probably came when he missed a game with an injury. With Johnson sidelined, the Lions managed just nine points in a loss to Green Bay team that is allowing almost 24 points per game to opponents. Meanwhile, Detroit has scored at least 20 points in every other game this season and is averaging more than 26 points per game overall. Despite missing a game, Johnson also ranks second in the NFL in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and his 329-yard performance in a victory against Dallas was the second-best single-game performance in NFL history. Detroit is currently leading the NFC North because of its high-powered offense, and Johnson is clearly the unit’s most important part. He will likely need a couple of more record-breaking performances to fully win over voters, but he has the physical tools to do just that.

3.      Drew Brees, Quarterback, New Orleans Saints

Although Peyton Manning is hogging most of the headlines, Brees is having another brilliant year for the Saints. He currently ranks second in passing yards, passing touchdowns and quarterback rating, and he ranks third in completion percentage. Perhaps more importantly, the Saints are 7-2 and sitting atop the NFC South Division. If Manning slows down his pace for whatever reason, Brees could end up setting new single-season records for yards and touchdowns, and he is on pace for an incredible season either way. Brees also has a couple of golden opportunities to win over voters in the coming weeks if he can deliver big performances against NFC heavyweights San Francisco and Seattle.

4.      Jamaal Charles, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs

While Kansas City’s defense deserves a lot of the credit for the team’s undefeated record, Charles has been the workhorse for the offense. He currently ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing with 725 yards, and his 47 catches are 14 more than any other player on the Chiefs’ roster. Overall, he has 1,114 yards from scrimmage thus far, and Charles is averaging 5.13 yards every time he touches the ball. At his current pace, 2,000 total yards and 100 catches aren’t out of the question. He will also have a couple of chances to make some serious statements as Kansas City meets Denver twice in the next three weeks, but if Charles performs well in both, his MVP stock will receive a serious boost.

5.      Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots

Statistically speaking, Brady is having one of the worst seasons of his career. However, the fact that he has New England sitting atop the AFC East with a 7-2 record despite a rash of injuries on both sides of the ball speaks volumes to his ability to make lemonade out of lemons. The Patriots are finally getting healthy on offense, and in the team’s most recent game, they put 55 points on the board. If Brady can boost his numbers in the final weeks of the season and help New England make a run at the best record in the conference, he will at least be in the conversation for MVP thanks to his ability to keep the Patriots above water when they were missing many of their other key cogs.

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