8. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson led the NFL in scrimmage yards last year, and while his potential MVP candidacy feels very unlikely because of his position, there could be a small chance. With the Atlanta Falcons not having a sure-fire QB solution for 2026, Robinson could be leaned on even more. He was just shy of 2,300 scrimmage yards last year and would honestly likely need to have a borderline all-time season with his raw yardage total to at least be a finalist for the award.
Robinson's 2025 season ranked 12th all-time in single-season scrimmage yards. He finished with 2,298. The record belongs to Chris Johnson, who had 2,509 yards back in the 2009 season. Robinson may honestly have to reach that 2,500-yard milestone, but it's not impossible.
7. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff finished 5th in MVP voting in the 2024 NFL Season and is a prolific enough passer to score more MVP love this year, especially if the Detroit Lions are able to get situated on defense this year. While Goff doesn't have the off-schedule ability like some other players on this list, it'd be hard for Goff not to get a ton of MVP love if he again has another wildly efficient season.
Goff has thrown no fewer than 29 touchdown passes over the last four years and might just have to hit that 40 passing touchdown milestone to start the conversation, but if Detroit's defense can be just a bit better, it could end up yielding a few more opportunities for the offense, which could increase Goff's production.
6. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is in a similar boat, as he's a high-end passer himself but did have to deal with some bad defensive play from his teammates last year, but with the major defensive changes that the Dallas Cowboys made, Prescott could suddenly find himself on the best team of his career.
There also isn't any shortage of attention coming Prescott's wait, so this could simply be a matter of the QB going out there and again lighting it up, which he's done many times throughout his career.
5. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Drake Maye finished 2nd in MVP voting last year, so while can't be finish 1st this year? Maye and the New England Patriots did have a supremely-easy schedule, and while it does get harder, it's also firmly possible that Maye is the truth and is primed to have another hyper-efficient season.
Maye is No. 5 in our power rankings, as he absolutely put himself on the map last year.
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