The 2021 NFL regular season is just 17.6 percent complete, but we’re already monitoring the league’s top MVP candidates. Here’s a look at the 10 players best aligned for MVP runs based on the first three weeks of the campaign.
1. Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford: Holy hell has the 13-year veteran woken up in his new home. Nine touchdowns to one interception and a 129.8 passer rating for a 3-0 Rams team that’s coming off a victory over the defending champs and their legendary quarterback. He’s the MVP of September.
2. Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr: Nobody has made more big-time throws this season than Carr, whose Raiders are also off to a 3-0 start. It’s finally come together fully for the 30-year-old.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady: The 44-year-old has yet to commit a turnover-worthy play, according to Pro Football Focus. He leads the league with 10 touchdown passes.
4. Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray: He’s just one big-time throw back to Carr and doing even more with his legs for the 3-0 Cards.
5. Denver Broncos QB Teddy Bridgewater: Like Stafford and Carr, Bridgewater appears to be taking the next step in his career for the Broncos. And he’s moving it deep consistently for a 3-0 team! Wait until he gets Jerry Jeudy back…
6. Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: Coming off a major injury, Prescott has the Cowboys competing hard in the NFC. They could easily be 3-0 right now, and Dak’s been unreal on third downs.
7. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: That Week 2 victory over the Chiefs alone gets him on this list, but Jackson did struggle in a Week 3 dud against the Lions. He’ll need to be more consistently awesome to stick around.
8. Cleveland Browns edge Myles Garrett: He’s on pace to lead the league with an NFL-record 31 sacks, so he’s a must on this list for now.
9. Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry: The reigning Offensive Player of the Year leads the league in scrimmage yards by a large margin with 458.
10. Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: I’m not leaving Mahomes off this list, despite a rough start. He’s earned the benefit of the doubt, and he remains the league’s seventh-highest-rated passer for a Super Bowl-caliber team.
