Coming out of Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season, there’s been enough sample size to identify the top producers in the NFL this year. That rings particularly true at the quarterback position, which means the MVP race has started to take shape early in the season.
A quarterback has won the NFL MVP every year since 2013, so history indicates the winner will likely be a QB. There have been plenty of standouts, including some that might not have initially been on the radar as MVP candidates heading into the season. These five players stand out as top candidates for the Most Valuable Player award in football.
Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Through Week 6, Daniel Jones is the league leader in QBi grading. He’s been a complete revelation for the Indianapolis Colts this season, playing a significant role in why they began the year with a 5-1 record.
Jones leads the NFL with a 59.8% success rate as of this writing. For reference, Jared Goff was first at 53.6% last season. He also ranks second behind Goff with 0.28 EPA per dropback this season, and he’s second in the league with 0.15 EPA per dropback under pressure.
Considering the league average for quarterbacks under duress is -0.28, it’s rare to see a quarterback turn a negative into a positive at such a high rate like Jones has this year.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense has struggled significantly to begin the 2025 NFL season. That might prevent the team’s record from keeping Dak Prescott as an MVP favorite. But if anything, his ability to keep his team competitive despite their poor defense shows just how good he has been this season.
Prescott leads the league with 13 passing touchdowns, the most he’s had through the first six games of a season since 2021. Including designed runs, his EPA per play is 0.27, the second-best among all quarterbacks this year. He’s also eighth in QBi with an 85.6 grade, just behind his 86.7 campaign from 2023, when he was MVP runner-up. He’s playing at a level very close to that season so far.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield began his stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a fun little comeback story in 2023. He’s since developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and his performance to start 2025 should have him firmly in the MVP conversation.
Perhaps what’s most impressive about Mayfield is his ability to overcome adversity and step up when it matters most. The Buccaneers have experienced plenty of injuries on offense around him, and he still ranks sixth in the league with 0.26 EPA per dropback.
– No Mike Evans
– No Chris Godwin
– No Emeka Egbuka
– No Bucky IrvingThis may just be the Baker Mayfield MVP game
— OTL (@OTLFFootball) October 12, 2025
He’s cold as ice under duress, leading the league with 0.18 EPA per pressured dropback this year. He also comes through in the clutch; he’s first in the NFL in the final two minutes of regulation with 169 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
The reigning NFL MVP, Josh Allen, has kept up his elite level of play in 2025 to remain a strong candidate again this year. Going into Week 6, he ranked second in the league with a 90.2 QBi, trailing only Daniel Jones in the metric.
Allen currently ranks third with a 52.0% success rate, slightly higher than his 51.4% rate when he won MVP last season. He ranks fifth in EPA per dropback on third downs, and he’s also a tremendous scrambler: he leads the NFL with 17.4 Expected Points Added on scrambles. As the Bills remain near the top of the pecking order in the league, Allen’s high level of play pairs well with his team’s success to make a serious MVP contender.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs may not have as many wins as they would like through six games, but it’s hardly been Patrick Mahomes’ fault. If anything, the two-time MVP has played a significant role in keeping his team competitive through their demanding early-season schedule.
Heading into Week 6, Mahomes accounted for 80.2% of the Chiefs’ offensive yards and 78.6% of their touchdowns. He’s seventh in the NFL with a 50.9% offensive success rate and fourth in Expected Points Added on scrambles.
He ranks in the top ten in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Should Kansas City start stacking up wins down the stretch, Mahomes’ MVP buzz will only continue to grow.
