ESPN Rank 'Em: NFL MVP Candidates (1 Viewer)

[Titus Pullo]

Rank 'Em: NFL MVP Candidates link updated

previous espn rankings

* 1 Peyton Manning (7,180) 225,988

* 2 Drew Brees (3,332) 214,264

* 3 Brett Favre (2,227) 176,566

* 4 Adrian Peterson (1,009) 176,291

* 5 Eli Manning (502) 139,625

* 6 Joe Flacco (295) 120,540

* 7 Jared Allen (302) 120,381

* 8 Tom Brady (314) 103,281

* 9 Darren Sharper (75) 85,002

* 10 Reggie Wayne (13) 83,965

* 11 Jay Cutler (309) 83,951

* 12 Steve Smith (107) 83,440

* 13 Matt Ryan (82) 78,585

* 14 Elvis Dumervil (320) 76,210

* 15 Kyle Orton (75) 66,316

* 16 Willis McGahee (14)

new poll beginning nov 11

* 1 Drew Brees (2,188) 76,556

* 2 Peyton Manning (1,855) 73,322

* 3 Brett Favre (822) 60,252

* 4 Adrian Peterson (167) 52,412

* 5 Cedric Benson (223) 47,294

* 6 Tom Brady (235) 47,223

* 7 Ben Roethlisberger (451) 46,315

* 8 Jared Allen (71) 38,616

* 9 Chris Johnson (105) 36,952

* 10 Darren Sharper (45) 32,936

* 11 Michael Turner (19) 27,201

* 12 Reggie Wayne (8) 27,177

* 13 Dwight Freeney (2) 24,299

* 14 Tony Romo (72) 19,875

 

[Jewell]

Patrick Willis is having a better season than 90% of that list.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Peyton Manning AINEC.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Peyton Manning AINEC.

This

 

[boubucarow]

* 15 Kyle Orton (75) 66,316

 

[The Moz]

Flacco -- he is single hanify giving Baltimore a title shot!

 

[Chase Stuart]

Manning's far ahead of the other QBs: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tiny/XMH5A

But,

Steve Smith and Dallas Clark deserve some love: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tiny/Cfhli

 

[sinatravolta]

It is weird that Orton and McGahee are on the list. If McGahee won - it'd be the first time a back-up RB won the MVP trophy.

 

[Buffaloes]

Patrick Willis is having a better season than 90% of that list.

And I was coming in to make a joke about Orton but he's already on the list

 

[money.never.sleeps]

Peyton Manning AINEC.

This

Agreed.. I'm guessing Brady works the rust off soon and starts showing up. Brees up there also.

 

[morris4903]

Patrick Willis is having a better season than 90% of that list.

This.

 

[LBH]

if there was ever a CB that deserved MVP consideration over 4 games it would be Darelle Revis. Shutting down AJ, Moss, and Colston in 3 out of the first 4 weeks is outstanding. Homer pick

 

[jurb26]

if there was ever a CB that deserved MVP consideration over 4 games it would be Darelle Revis. Shutting down AJ, Moss, and Colston in 3 out of the first 4 weeks is outstanding. Homer pick

Revis isn't shutting down anyone on his own.

 

[jurb26]

Manning is the clear leader right now and rightfully so. Still, by seasons end I think Brees will be the one winning the award.

 

[Chunky Soup]

if there was ever a CB that deserved MVP consideration over 4 games it would be Darelle Revis. Shutting down AJ, Moss, and Colston in 3 out of the first 4 weeks is outstanding. Homer pick

Revis isn't shutting down anyone on his own.

And Manning isn't scoring touchdowns on his own.

 

[Bills_Fan11]

Peyton Manning AINEC.

This

+5

 

[Jewell]

if there was ever a CB that deserved MVP consideration over 4 games it would be Darelle Revis. Shutting down AJ, Moss, and Colston in 3 out of the first 4 weeks is outstanding. Homer pick

Homer picks (IMHO) are picks based solely on homerism and not on sound reasoning. Your pick is not a true homer pick because it's absolutely correct -- Revis has been awesome so far this season. Look at that gauntlet he's already run through, and he's more than held his own.

 

[thatguy]

Agree that Willis should be on the list, but I wouldn't necessarily put him ahead of Allen, Sharper or Dumervil... Those 4 are probably leading the race for DPOY right now (Odom is also probably deserving of consideration at the quarter mark).

That said, my vote would go to Manning.

 

[jurb26]

if there was ever a CB that deserved MVP consideration over 4 games it would be Darelle Revis. Shutting down AJ, Moss, and Colston in 3 out of the first 4 weeks is outstanding. Homer pick

Revis isn't shutting down anyone on his own.

And Manning isn't scoring touchdowns on his own.

Yeah, but Manning is a QB. That's just the way it is in the NFL.

 

[thatguy]

if there was ever a CB that deserved MVP consideration over 4 games it would be Darelle Revis. Shutting down AJ, Moss, and Colston in 3 out of the first 4 weeks is outstanding. Homer pick

IMO it would be Champ Bailey in '06 but alas he didn't even win DPOY that year.

 

[Titus Pullo]

* 1 Peyton Manning (8,758) 277,691

* 2 Drew Brees (4,122) 263,389

* 3 Adrian Peterson (1,303) 218,372

* 4 Brett Favre (2,785) 218,026

* 5 Eli Manning (580) 170,876

* 6 Jared Allen (387) 148,972

* 7 Joe Flacco (370) 147,169

* 8 Tom Brady (371) 126,494

* 9 Reggie Wayne (17) 105,611

* 10 Darren Sharper (94) 104,690

* 11 Steve Smith (129) 103,026

* 12 Jay Cutler (369) 102,588

* 13 Matt Ryan (103) 96,937

* 14 Elvis Dumervil (400) 94,332

* 15 Kyle Orton (96) 82,415

* 16 Willis McGahee (19) 80,910

Favre gives the Vikings another win yet he dropped a spot since last week? This is a 2 horse race between Manning and Favre with Brees in reach to join them.

 

[Saints-Man]

Another vote for Peyton Manning as the clear leader at this point in the season.

 

[jurb26]

* 1 Peyton Manning (8,758) 277,691 * 2 Drew Brees (4,122) 263,389 * 3 Adrian Peterson (1,303) 218,372 * 4 Brett Favre (2,785) 218,026 * 5 Eli Manning (580) 170,876 * 6 Jared Allen (387) 148,972 * 7 Joe Flacco (370) 147,169 * 8 Tom Brady (371) 126,494 * 9 Reggie Wayne (17) 105,611 * 10 Darren Sharper (94) 104,690 * 11 Steve Smith (129) 103,026 * 12 Jay Cutler (369) 102,588 * 13 Matt Ryan (103) 96,937 * 14 Elvis Dumervil (400) 94,332 * 15 Kyle Orton (96) 82,415 * 16 Willis McGahee (19) 80,910 Favre gives the Vikings another win yet he dropped a spot since last week? This is a 2 horse race between Manning and Favre with Brees in reach to join them.

I'm guessing Brady finds himself in the think of this thing before seasons end.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Yeah, Peyton Manning is the leader right now, with Brees in second, and no one else even close.

Some will say Favre, but the Vikings were a playoff team last year with essentially the same team and without him. Take Peyton off of the Colts and they probably go 5-11 this year.

 

[Young 8]

McGahee ??

 

[Titus Pullo]

Yeah, Peyton Manning is the leader right now, with Brees in second, and no one else even close. Some will say Favre, but the Vikings were a playoff team last year with essentially the same team and without him. Take Peyton off of the Colts and they probably go 5-11 this year.

The Vikings would have lost their last 3 games without Favre.

 

[Zoomanji]

McGahee ??

and Cutler??

 

[Sweetness_34]

What? No Mark-Jesus-Sanchez? ESPN must have stopped slobbing all over him after his near 0 QB rating performance....

 

[jurb26]

Yeah, Peyton Manning is the leader right now, with Brees in second, and no one else even close. Some will say Favre, but the Vikings were a playoff team last year with essentially the same team and without him. Take Peyton off of the Colts and they probably go 5-11 this year.

The Vikings would have lost their last 3 games without Favre.

The Vikes would have lost their last 3 games without Peterson or Allen too.

 

[Titus Pullo]

McGahee ??

and Cutler??

ESPN created the poll on 10/6.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Yeah, Peyton Manning is the leader right now, with Brees in second, and no one else even close. Some will say Favre, but the Vikings were a playoff team last year with essentially the same team and without him. Take Peyton off of the Colts and they probably go 5-11 this year.

The Vikings would have lost their last 3 games without Favre.

The Vikings wouldn't have beaten the Rams w/o Favre? Are we overrating them? Also, take Manning away from the Colts and they wouldn't have had a prayer of winning that Miami game.

 

[Titus Pullo]

Yeah, Peyton Manning is the leader right now, with Brees in second, and no one else even close. Some will say Favre, but the Vikings were a playoff team last year with essentially the same team and without him. Take Peyton off of the Colts and they probably go 5-11 this year.

The Vikings would have lost their last 3 games without Favre.

The Vikes would have lost their last 3 games without Peterson or Allen too.

In crunch time it was plays by #4 that meant the difference between winning and losing.

 

[Titus Pullo]

Yeah, Peyton Manning is the leader right now, with Brees in second, and no one else even close. Some will say Favre, but the Vikings were a playoff team last year with essentially the same team and without him. Take Peyton off of the Colts and they probably go 5-11 this year.

The Vikings would have lost their last 3 games without Favre.

The Vikings wouldn't have beaten the Rams w/o Favre? Are we overrating them? Also, take Manning away from the Colts and they wouldn't have had a prayer of winning that Miami game?

meant 3 of last 4 games. San Fran, Green Bay and Balt. Agree with Manning. I'm not arguing that he shouldn't be at the top right now.

 

[Ghost Rider]

In crunch time it was plays by #4 that meant the difference between winning and losing.

I completely agree. That is why Favre would be 3rd or 4th on my list; just not 1st or 2nd.Without Favre, the Vikings have already proven that they are a playoff team. Do you really think the Colts would be a playoff team w/o Manning?With Favre, the Vikings have potentially gone from very good to great. With Manning, the Colts go from average/mediocre to great. Therefore, Peyton is more valuable.

 

[Doug B]

Peyton Manning AINEC.

Perhaps stats-wise, because Brees has had two low-stats wins. However, I think Brees and Peyton Manning have about equal claims to the award based on this argument: I think their respective teams fall further without them than the other MVP candidates.

 

[Doug B]

Manning is the clear leader right now and rightfully so. Still, by seasons end I think Brees will be the one winning the award.

Brees could be helped a ton if the Saints, overall, have a season unprecedented in the franchise's history (say, a 15-1 season). Turning around a moribund franchise (Saints in 2005) is a lot different than keeping a kick-butt franchise going.

 

[SSOG]

For my money, it's gotta be Dumervil. The dude has 10 sacks in 6 games. Denver's defense has gone from one of the worst defenses of the last 20 years to arguably the best defense in the entire NFL, and Dumervil is the primarily responsible party. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are awesome, but without them those units wouldn't be historically awful. Without Dumervil, the Broncos might be.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

For my money, it's gotta be Dumervil. The dude has 10 sacks in 6 games. Denver's defense has gone from one of the worst defenses of the last 20 years to arguably the best defense in the entire NFL, and Dumervil is the primarily responsible party. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are awesome, but without them those units wouldn't be historically awful. Without Dumervil, the Broncos might be..

Well without Manning and Brees there really isn't any telling how good those units would be. In the Colts case I'd guess it wouldn't be very good at all. Dumervil also doesn't have to preread a defense, call an audible to adjust, or face the constant mental pressure a QB faces. There is a defensive player of the year award, Dumervil can go ahead and win that. Lawrence Taylor and Alan Page are the only two defensive players to ever win the NFL MVP award, I'm pretty sure there have been better defensive players tahn Dumervil along the way.

Not taking away anything from Dumervil or his contribution to that defense, but he's not an MVP candidate IMO. The Broncos have how many new starters? Guys like Dawkins are making a difference as well, I don't think its been all Dumervil as you are suggesting.

 

[certificate]

Well, right now you can make a very strong case for Dumervil, considering he's on pace to shatter the single season sack record on a 6-0 team led by a stingy defense. If he keeps it up and gets 25 sacks, I completely agree that he should be the MVP. I'll be surprised if he actually does though.

 

[jurb26]

For my money, it's gotta be Dumervil. The dude has 10 sacks in 6 games. Denver's defense has gone from one of the worst defenses of the last 20 years to arguably the best defense in the entire NFL, and Dumervil is the primarily responsible party. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are awesome, but without them those units wouldn't be historically awful. Without Dumervil, the Broncos might be.

I was going to suggest him to be honest. Like certificate said though, I think Dumervil will have to break the sack record if he is to win it. That is unlikely enough for me to think he really doesn't have a shot.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

For my money, it's gotta be Dumervil. The dude has 10 sacks in 6 games. Denver's defense has gone from one of the worst defenses of the last 20 years to arguably the best defense in the entire NFL, and Dumervil is the primarily responsible party. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are awesome, but without them those units wouldn't be historically awful. Without Dumervil, the Broncos might be.

I was going to suggest him to be honest. Like certificate said though, I think Dumervil will have to break the sack record if he is to win it. That is unlikely enough for me to think he really doesn't have a shot.

Gastineau, White, Doleman, and Strahan didn't win the NFL MVP award with 20+ sacks, neither will Dumervil.

 

[jurb26]

For my money, it's gotta be Dumervil. The dude has 10 sacks in 6 games. Denver's defense has gone from one of the worst defenses of the last 20 years to arguably the best defense in the entire NFL, and Dumervil is the primarily responsible party. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are awesome, but without them those units wouldn't be historically awful. Without Dumervil, the Broncos might be.

I was going to suggest him to be honest. Like certificate said though, I think Dumervil will have to break the sack record if he is to win it. That is unlikely enough for me to think he really doesn't have a shot.

Gastineau, White, Doleman, and Strahan didn't win the NFL MVP award with 20+ sacks, neither will Dumervil.

All but one of those guys broke the record playing for a bellow .500 team. Again I think it's unlikely, but if Den continues to win and he breaks the record then he is certainly in the conversation.

 

[Sheriff66]

How is Big Ben not on this list? If it wasn't for his outstanding play, the Steelers would be in a world of hurt...

 

[SSOG]

Well without Manning and Brees there really isn't any telling how good those units would be. In the Colts case I'd guess it wouldn't be very good at all. Dumervil also doesn't have to preread a defense, call an audible to adjust, or face the constant mental pressure a QB faces. There is a defensive player of the year award, Dumervil can go ahead and win that. Lawrence Taylor and Alan Page are the only two defensive players to ever win the NFL MVP award, I'm pretty sure there have been better defensive players tahn Dumervil along the way. Not taking away anything from Dumervil or his contribution to that defense, but he's not an MVP candidate IMO. The Broncos have how many new starters? Guys like Dawkins are making a difference as well, I don't think its been all Dumervil as you are suggesting.

I know that no defenders ever win MVP... doesn't mean they SHOULDN'T. The MVP should go to the most valuable player in the league, not the best offensive player (with OPoY going to the second best offensive player as a consolation prize). Yeah, guys like Dawkins and Goodman have been good acquisitions, but at the end of the day, the difference between the Broncos last year and the Broncos this year is almost entirely just pass rush... and Elvis Dumervil *IS* the Broncos pass rush.Dumervil is on pace for 27 sacks this season. If he finishes the season with 27 sacks, would you say he's a legit MVP candidate?

Gastineau, White, Doleman, and Strahan didn't win the NFL MVP award with 20+ sacks, neither will Dumervil.

There's a difference between "did" and "should have". The award is named MVP... not MVOP, or MVQB, or OPoYpt2. Strahan definitely should have won it in 2001, imo. That year, Kurt Warner was AP MVP and Faulk won the PFW and Sporting News MVPs... which doesn't make sense. How can two players on the same team be the most valuable player? Take away one and you've always got the other.

 

[jurb26]

Gastineau, White, Doleman, and Strahan didn't win the NFL MVP award with 20+ sacks, neither will Dumervil.

There's a difference between "did" and "should have". The award is named MVP... not MVOP, or MVQB, or OPoYpt2. Strahan definitely should have won it in 2001, imo. That year, Kurt Warner was AP MVP and Faulk won the PFW and Sporting News MVPs... which doesn't make sense. How can two players on the same team be the most valuable player? Take away one and you've always got the other.

I'm certainly all for some defensive players getting recognition in the MVP race, but why should Straha have won it when his team was 7-9 and 3rd in their own division?

 

[SSOG]

I'm certainly all for some defensive players getting recognition in the MVP race, but why should Straha have won it when his team was 7-9 and 3rd in their own division?

I was never a big fan of using team record to pick MVP candidates. It's not a "Best player on the best team" award. That year, Michael Strahan wasn't just the best pass rusher in the league, he was also the best run-stuffing DE. Any struggles the Giants had were not a result of Michael Strahan.

 

[lynx4ben]

This is why I hate the MVP award. There is no way to tell how the colts would be without Manning. Heck the same argument could have been made for Brady through the years. Yet when Cassel steps in they are still a 11-5 team. I bet there were plenty fo people that would have said the Pats were nothing without Brady.

It's the same with Manning. Seriously a decent QB could step in and throw to Wayne, Clark, Addai, and Brown. He's no different than Brady with Moss. The Pats won without Brady.

Manning makes things look easy. Favre makes special plays and special wins. Brady just looks dominate. Brees has an amazingly high powered offense. Seriously flip a coin they are all great players, instrumental in there teams winning. '

The only think I can now say is I hate Mannings. May they all lose.

 

[jurb26]

I'm certainly all for some defensive players getting recognition in the MVP race, but why should Straha have won it when his team was 7-9 and 3rd in their own division?

I was never a big fan of using team record to pick MVP candidates. It's not a "Best player on the best team" award. That year, Michael Strahan wasn't just the best pass rusher in the league, he was also the best run-stuffing DE. Any struggles the Giants had were not a result of Michael Strahan.

Maybe, but at some point we have to speculate on how that players contributions led to team success. That is harder to do when the team isn't having success. I mean how much worse would the Giants have really been w/o Strahan, 6-10, 5-11?Meh, I guess we're getting off topic here. I think we can simply agree that defensive players don't get the attention they really warrant when it comes to the MVP award and really awards in general. While it may be fun for us to speculate on why they should, I think we both know that it inevitably doesn't matter a great deal as things aren't going to change any time soon.

 

[Bills_Fan11]

This is why I hate the MVP award. There is no way to tell how the colts would be without Manning. Heck the same argument could have been made for Brady through the years. Yet when Cassel steps in they are still a 11-5 team. I bet there were plenty fo people that would have said the Pats were nothing without Brady.

It's the same with Manning. Seriously a decent QB could step in and throw to Wayne, Clark, Addai, and Brown. He's no different than Brady with Moss. The Pats won without Brady.

Manning makes things look easy. Favre makes special plays and special wins. Brady just looks dominate. Brees has an amazingly high powered offense. Seriously flip a coin they are all great players, instrumental in there teams winning. '

The only think I can now say is I hate Mannings. May they all lose.

It was wrong to think NE would stink without Brady after Moss/Welker arrived - that's true. But people were also wrong about believing David Givens(sp?), Deion Branch, and all the chopped liver he was throwing to pre-moss was ever any good. Addai isn't even an average back.

 

[Native]

Of course it too early to discuss MVP candidates. That said, other offensive players who are playing well include:

Ray Rice

Big Ben

Ronnie Brown

These guys are playing better than McGahee, Cutler and Ryan.