Early in the season, it is hard to peg a specific player as an MVP favorite. However, as the weeks pass, a consensus begins to emerge. We are nine weeks into the 2025 NFL season, and it seems about the right time to begin the discussion for what has been an unexpected season with a ton of parity so far.
Even as no team has taken a clear edge in the standings over the rest of the field, a few players have sublimely started the season. Today, we are highlighting the cream of the crop, with the players who should be in the thick of discussions when it comes to the most prestigious award in the sport.
MVP Candidates After Week 9
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The case for Matthew Stafford might feel surprising, but it has two main arguments working in his favor. Firstly, the individual numbers. Thanks to an electric showing in back-to-back weeks, he is up to 2,147 yards and a league-leading 21 touchdowns, while giving up just two interceptions.
That has led the Rams to have a top-eight offense on PFSN’s Offense Impact, and Puka Nacua has had a sensational start, ranking first on PFSN’s WR Impact. However, the second portion of the argument concerns the impact he has had on the team.
A 6-2 record, which is tied for the best in the entire NFC, undersells just how dominant Los Angeles has been to begin the season. After Week 9, they are tied with the Buffalo Bills for the highest odds to win the Super Bowl at 10.60%, according to PFSN’s Playoff Predictor.
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
After just their second loss of the season, it might raise some eyebrows to keep Jonathan Taylor in the conversation. But one subpar week should not undercut what has been a frankly ridiculous start to the season for the superstar running back.
Even though the MVP has been dominated by quarterbacks in recent years, Taylor is making the same case that Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley made in the previous two seasons. But unlike those two, his arguments may be even stronger.
Both Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts are considered better threats and quarterbacks than Daniel Jones, whom the Indianapolis Colts took a swing on in the offseason to provide some competition for Anthony Richardson.
Moreover, both those squads had elite defenses, a luxury that Taylor hasn’t benefited from. Even still, he remains a one-man wrecking crew, with numbers that might be hard to put up in Madden NFL 26.
Through nine games, he has 895 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, at an absurd 5.7 yards per carry. But what has made his success singularly unique is the success through the air, where he has 218 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Typically, for a superstar quarterback, their sophomore season is an undeniable test for how good they can be. Drake Maye of the New England Patriots is rewriting the book on just how good that standard can be.
While showing flashes in his rookie season, he had gotten fans in New England excited about his potential. But no one could have predicted the almighty leap he would take in 2025, as the offensive weapons around him saw a noticeable upgrade.
Through nine weeks, he has 2,285 yards and 17 touchdowns with a mind-boggling passer rating of 116.9, as the Patriots have one of the best records in the AFC, and have a tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills for the first seed in the AFC East.
His production throughout the season is difficult to quantify in simple numbers, as New England finds itself in the midst of a six-game win streak.
After a 24-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, he surpassed Patrick Mahomes for the longest streak in NFL history for a quarterback with 200+ passing yards and a passer rating above 100, while being under the age of 24 with eight such contests.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
The numbers for Josh Allen don’t immediately jump off the page. Through eight games, he has 1,833 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. Additionally, thanks to his rushing ability, he has also added 280 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
But for a Bills team that lacks truly elite weapons on the roster, Allen has turned into the quintessential do-whatever-you-need-to-win quarterback. The reigning MVPÂ is once again putting his team in position to win, with consistent performances week in and week out.
When the situation calls for it, though, like in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he can turn it up a notch and deliver a 273-yard passing and two rushing touchdowns performance where he completes 88.5% of his passes.
