A game past the quarter mark is as good a time as any to check in on the MVP race in the NFL.
[divider]TRADES: SIx Players That Could Be Traded
DOUGHTY: John Fox Can’t Win Without Peyton Manning[divider]
5. Tom Brady, QB — New England Patriots
STATS: 68.2 %, 8.73 YPA, 1,702 YDS, 11 TD, INT
Despite two losses, Rob Gronkowski not being fully available and being harassed — 16 sacks — Brady has been his usual self in all aspects. There have been times he hasn’t looked right — points in the Tampa game Thursday night, for example — but overall he’s been very good and if the Pats were 4-1 or 5-0 he’d probably be No. 1 or 2 on this list.[divider]
4. Alex Smith, QB — Kansas City Chiefs
STATS: 76.6%, 8.8 YPA, 1,391 YDS, 11 TD, 0 INT
Smith has thrown the ball down the field more often and with more success than at any other point in his career, as evidence by the TD totals and yards per attempt. He’s rank higher here, but the No. 3 player on this list and five dudes up front have a lot to do with it, as does Travis Kelce, who deserves consideration, too.[divider]
3. Carson Wentz, QB — Philadelphia Eagles
STATS: 62.1%, 1,362 YDS, 7.7 YPA, 10 TD, 3 INT
Wentz has put up fairly similar numbers as Smith but has been a slightly bigger pie-slice of Philly’s success than Smith has been of KC’s. You can thank the No. 2 player on this list for that, but Wentz has been very good and clearly is the leader of that team now, one with a commanding lead in the NFC East. Wentz’s chances to remain at No. 3 will be challenged with road games at Carolina next week, Dallas November 19, Seattle December 3 and the Rams December 10.[divider]
2. Kareem Hunt, RB — Kansas City Chiefs
STATS: 609 RUSH YDS, 6.3 YPC, 4 TD, 16 REC, 166 YDS, 2 TD
Hunt may be the No. 1 choice for Offensive Player of the Year and is the obvious choice for top rookie at this point. He leads the league in rushing by 143 yards and has the highest rating among RBs by Pro Football Focus overall, as a runner and is No. 5 among RBs in receiving.[divider]
1. Aaron Rodgers, QB — Green Bay Packers
STATS: 66.7%, 1,367 YDS, 7.2 YPA, 13 TD, 3 INT
Rodgers still doesn’t get tons of help from the defense in terms of winning games — the Packers rank No. 20 in the NFL in both points allowed per game and yards per play against (5.3) and he’s been without his left tackle David Bakhtiari since Week 1 and has right tackle Bryan Bulaga for all but two games and the starting OL has been different each week of the season.
Furthermore, Rodgers has dealt with partial game losses to WRs Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davanate Adams and the running back position is down to the No. 3 guy on the depth chart thanks to injuries to Ty Montgomery and Jamal Williams.
Still, the Packers are 4-1, lead the NFC North and Green Bay has beaten Seattle, Cincinnati (who may actually decent after a bad start) and Dallas on the road thanks to Rodgers’ late-game heroics.
Yeah, this guy has the right idea:
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