NFL MVP tracker: Matt Ryan becomes our third front-runner in three weeks
From Week 1 through Week 17, USA TODAY Sports' NFL staff will be handicapping the race for league MVP.
For the third week in a row, we have a new player at the top. And for the third week in a row, it's a guy who's never won MVP honors over the course of a lengthy but distinguished career. A first-place vote is worth five points, a second-place vote is worth three, and a third-place vote is worth one.
Our MVP tracker through Week 3's games:
1. QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (19 points): You're forgiven if, like most of America, you tuned in for the presidential debate Monday and missed Ryan's surgical direction of Atlanta's offense, which has piled up the most points and yards in the league so far. Ryan, who struggled through a mistake-riddled 2015, has recovered nicely this year and is playing virtually error-free football, completing nearly 71% of his passes and leading the league in passer rating (119.0). But his first real defensive test will come Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Last week: T4
USA TODAY Sports' Week 4 NFL picks: Big games in Pittsburgh, Minnesota
2. OLB Von Miller, Denver Broncos (17 points): It's been 30 years since a defensive player, Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, won MVP honors. Only quarterbacks and running backs have brought home the hardware since. But Miller is uniquely positioned to garner significant attention. He's the reigning Super Bowl MVP and leads the league with five sacks, usually of the game-changing variety. As the face of the league champions, he could follow Peyton Manning as the Broncos' second MVP in four seasons. Last week: 2
3. WR Julian Edelman, New England Patriots (5 points): His numbers are modest (18 catches for 180 yards plus 30 yards rushing). But consider that he's also probably been devoting plenty of practice time to the possibility he might have to jump in at quarterback for the undefeated Patriots. You may not be thoroughly impressed (yet), but we bet Terrelle Pryor is. Last week: unranked
T4. QB Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings (3 points): In two starts, he's played efficient, turnover-free ball for the unbeaten Vikes while continuing to assimilate their playbook and without their top offensive weapon, RB Adrian Peterson, at his back. Bradford should only get better as his comfort level grows. Last week: unranked
T4. QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (3 points): His clutch 63-yard TD pass to T.Y. Hilton in the fourth quarter Sunday finally got the Colts into the win column. And don't blame Luck for the team's early struggles. With 913 passing yards and six TDs, he's mostly looked like his pre-injury self while getting limited contributions from too many teammates. Last week: unranked
T4. QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (3 points): He was playing on a bum ankle Sunday and didn't want to come out after he suffered an MCL injury to his other leg. With Wilson, it's so often about such intangibles. And that may truly be the case in 2016, when the injuries have limited him to 33 rushing yards while a struggling O-line has contributed to depressed passing numbers (755 yards, 2 TDs).
Others receiving votes: Carson Wentz (2 points), Stefon Diggs (1), Cam Newton (1)
Dropped out: Ben Roethlisberger
— Week 2 MVP rankings (Ben Roethlisberger)
— Week 1 MVP rankings (Antonio Brown)
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PHOTOS: Week 4 NFL games ranked by watchability
