Lead
At the NFL midseason checkpoint, a wide open MVP race has produced a mix of familiar stars and surprising breakout names. Drake Maye and Jonathan Taylor headline a top 10 list of players who have moved their teams through individual excellence during the first half of the year. This roundup assesses on-field production and team impact through Week 10 and highlights who is driving fast starts. The ranking aims to identify players whose performances are most valuable to team success at this stage of the campaign.
Key Takeaways
- Drake Maye leads the league with a 74.1 completion percentage and a 116.9 passer rating while averaging 9.0 yards per attempt as New England controls the AFC East.
- Jonathan Taylor paces the NFL with 895 rushing yards, a career-best 5.7 yards per carry and 12 rushing touchdowns as the Colts top scoring offense at 32.9 points per game.
- Jalen Hurts has totaled 1,884 yards and 20 combined touchdowns (15 passing, five rushing) against only two turnovers, anchoring the Eagles offense.
- Matthew Stafford leads qualified passers with 268.4 passing yards per game, 21 touchdowns and 106 first downs, producing a 113.2 passer rating for the Rams.
- Aidan Hutchinson returned from a 2024 Week 6 leg injury to record seven sacks, four forced fumbles and a league-high 46 QB pressures entering Week 10 (Next Gen Stats).
- Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL with 229 touches and 1,222 scrimmage yards, keeping the 49ers at 6-3 despite injuries across the roster.
- Marcus Darnold posts a 70.4 completion rate, a 116.0 passer rating and 260.5 passing yards per game in Seattle, benefiting from scheme fit and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Background
The AP Most Valuable Player award has tilted heavily toward quarterbacks for more than a decade; the award has gone to a passer in each of the last 12 seasons. Voters generally reward statistical dominance, team success and narrative, which is why signal-callers with high production and winning records often rise to the top of ballots. That standard complicates candidacies for non-quarterbacks, especially running backs and defenders, despite the clear influence those players can exert on outcomes.
Only two defenders have ever won the AP MVP: Alan Page in 1971 and Lawrence Taylor in 1986, underscoring how rare it is for a non-QB to capture the honor. Conversely, running backs once claimed MVPs more often, but recent voting patterns and evaluative frameworks make RB wins unlikely unless the player produces historic, season-long numbers. This midseason assessment therefore balances traditional QB bias with a broader look at game-changing impact across positions.
Main Event
Ranks 1 through 3 combine efficiency and total impact. At No. 1, Drake Maye has transformed the New England offense with elite accuracy, efficiency and downfield explosiveness, becoming a clear fulcrum for the Pats offense under Josh McDaniels. Jonathan Taylor sits at No. 2 as the league rushing leader and the centerpiece of the NFL’s top-scoring unit, producing consistent big plays and 12 rushing touchdowns. No. 3 is Jalen Hurts, whose dual-threat production and extreme ball security have driven Philadelphia’s title defense and yielded 1,884 total yards with only two turnovers.
Ranks 4 through 6 highlight veteran resurgence and workhorse excellence. Matthew Stafford (No. 4) has rediscovered peak pocket play, leading in yards per game, touchdowns and first downs while posting a 113.2 passer rating. Aidan Hutchinson (No. 5) anchors Detroit’s pass rush with seven sacks, four forced fumbles and heavy pressure frequency after returning from a 2024 Week 6 leg injury. Christian McCaffrey (No. 6) combines volume and versatility with league-high touches and 1,222 scrimmage yards, making him indispensable in San Francisco’s offense.
Ranks 7 through 10 show impact from system fits, trades and clutch play. Marcus Darnold (No. 7) has produced career-best efficiency in Seattle’s scheme and gives the Seahawks sustained explosiveness. Micah Parsons (No. 8) has 6.5 sacks in eight games and has catalyzed a defensive turnaround in Green Bay since joining the unit. Baker Mayfield (No. 9) is among the league leaders with four game-winning drives, demonstrating poise late in close contests. Finally, the Colts’ new QB (No. 10) has stabilized Indianapolis, throwing to an elite rushing leader in Taylor and integrating weapons like Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren.
Analysis & Implications
The midseason picture shows that quarterback production still dominates MVP narratives, but elite performances at other positions can force voter consideration. Maye’s combination of accuracy and explosive per-attempt efficiency positions him as a strong narrative pick if New England sustains divisional leadership into the second half. Taylor’s candidacy is more situational; a running back winning MVP now would require sustained dominance and continued team success for voters to overlook positional bias.
Defensive and comeback stories complicate the race. Hutchinson’s return and his high-impact plays create a compelling argument across multiple award categories, yet the historical rarity of defensive MVPs makes that uphill. Voters will also weigh strength of schedule and franchise trajectory, meaning standout weeks against top opponents will often sway ballots more than aggregate stats against weaker defenses.
Looking ahead, health and sample size matter. Midseason metrics can shift quickly; injuries to key offensive linemen, changes in play-calling or a late-season scoring surge can elevate or erase candidacies. For front offices and betting markets, these trends influence trade valuations, end-of-season award odds and how teams plan rest or usage heading into the playoff push.
Comparison & Data
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Key Stat A | Key Stat B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drake Maye | New England | QB | 74.1% comp | 116.9 passer rating |
| 2 | Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis | RB | 895 rush yds | 5.7 YPC, 12 rush TDs |
| 3 | Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia | QB | 1,884 total yds | 20 TDs, 2 turnovers |
| 4 | Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams | QB | 268.4 yds/game | 21 TDs, 113.2 rating |
| 5 | Aidan Hutchinson | Detroit | DE | 7 sacks | 4 FF, 46 pressures (NGS) |
| 6 | Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco | RB | 229 touches | 1,222 scrim yds |
The table shows a snapshot of production through Week 10 and is meant to compare the types of value provided. Counting stats favor volume players while efficiency metrics illuminate quarterback and passer-driven value.
Reactions & Quotes
Maye is playing at an MVP level given his blend of accuracy and explosiveness.
Bucky Brooks, NFL analyst
Jonathan Taylor is the clear engine behind Indianapolis scoring at the rate they are producing.
Team analyst, Indianapolis Colts
Next Gen Stats indicates Hutchinson led the league in QB pressures entering Week 10, a key measure of pass-rush influence.
Next Gen Stats (analytics)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson will regain MVP traction if their teams rebound in the second half remains unclear.
- The long-term durability of running back Jonathan Taylor as an MVP contender depends on maintaining pace and avoiding injury.
- The likelihood of a defensive player winning MVP this season is unconfirmed and would require sustained league-leading impact plus narrative support.
Bottom Line
This midseason ranking balances tradition with merit, recognizing that quarterbacks still dominate the MVP conversation while exceptional contributions from running backs and defenders can force consideration. Drake Maye and Jonathan Taylor exemplify two different paths to value: elite efficiency and quarterback-driven offense versus ground-control dominance and scoring production.
As the season progresses, voters will reweigh narrative moments, head-to-head performances and injuries. Readers should watch how these players fare in marquee matchups and the second-half schedule, because late-season surges and durability often tip the scales in final ballots.
Sources
- NFL.com (original ranking and analysis, media)
- Next Gen Stats (analytics provider)
- Pro Football Reference (stats and historical context, database)
- Indianapolis Colts (team site, official)