The NFL MVP race is heating up, and there is a new arrival near the top of our stepladder power rankings, which we have been doing weekly throughout the season. With three weeks remaining, the top candidates only have a few more games to put their stamp on the race.
And as we know, the MVP race is really just the award for the best quarterback at this point, and whether you agree with that or not, it's the truth. There have been some mainstays atop our stepladder power rankings as the season has rolled on.
And now that Week 15 action is behind us for the top MVP candidates, we can unveil our updated power rankings. Let's get into it here.
Power ranking the top MVP candidates following Week 15 action
The field: Sam Darnold, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Myles Garrett
There are a few players who are deserving of some recognition for the MVP award, but none of these three listed are going to win the award. Sam Darnold, Trevor Lawrence, and Caleb Williams are quarterbacking double-digit win teams that could win their respective divisions this year.
Myles Garrett is having one of the best defensive seasons we have seen in the history of the league, and he is likely going to break the single-season sack record, which is insane to think about. However, while all four of these players have had nice seasons and could compete for an MVP in a different year, it is probably too little, too late for them, but their performances are worthy of being mentioned.
4. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills mounted a 21-point comeback over the New England Patriots to steal that win and keep their hopes alive in the AFC East race. Allen, the reigning MVP, played out of his mind, and he'll have to continue doing that if Buffalo hopes to win the division yet again.
3. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Drake Maye did not have the best game ever against the Buffalo Bills, but he did have two rushing touchdowns. Maye is still completing nearly 71% of his passes and has still played out of his mind this year. Even with the loss, the Patriots maintain that first place standing in the AFC Eastever. The Buffalo Bills just made things a bit more interesting.
The Patriots could simply win out and win the AFC East. If that does happen, and Maye stacks a few strong performances as the 2025 NFL Season ends, he could win the MVP. This second-year breakout from Maye is real, and the Patriots are going to be around for a very long time... again.
2. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix is the new arrival in our updated MVP power rankings. He tossed four touchdown passes against the Green Bay Packers in a massive win that many people thought was going to be won by the Packers. The Broncos have now won 11 games in a row, and Nix has been heating up in recent weeks.
He was surgical, frankly, against a very good Packers' defense, and the Broncos are standing alone with the best record in the NFL. That has to mean something for a potential late-season MVP surge from Nix, who is now up to 23 touchdown passes on the year.
Nix and the Broncos would likely have to win out and get some help if the second-year QB did win the award, but it's very possible at this point in time.
1. Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are rolling, beating the Detroit Lions in Week 15. Stafford is still the favorite for the MVP award, as he has not only been the best QB in the league this year, but he has also been the most valuable player.
The Rams have not yet clinched the NFC West title, but that is how things are trending, and Stafford's been consistently awesome all year. This would be a runaway MVP award for the veteran QB.