From MVP favorites main Tremendous Bowl contenders to lone shiny spots on rebuilding rosters, worth has taken many varieties within the NFL this season. Under, Yardbarker NFL writers establish the MVP for each NFL workforce, weighing on-field affect, consistency and significance to total success.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (6-7-1) | MVP: QB Dak Prescott |
Prescott has completed almost the whole lot attainable to maintain the workforce related. He has the second-most passing yards within the NFL (3,931) and third-most TD passes (26). Due to him, the Cowboys nonetheless have slim playoff hopes.
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-12) | MVP: OLB Brian Burns | Regardless of the youth motion getting probably the most consideration in New York, the six-year veteran has been probably the most constant participant on an in any other case inconsistent workforce. Burns is second within the league in sacks (13) and fourth in tackles for a loss (18), each profession highs. It’s a disgrace the Giants have wasted a possible All-Professional season from Burns, New York’s defensive captain.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (9-5) | MVP: CB Cooper DeJean |
The second-year
cornerback has lived as much as the hype from his rookie season. DeJean has the ninth-most passes defended within the league (12) and his position as a slot defender has given the surface corners extra room to close down an opponent’s finest receivers.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-10) | MVP: QB Marcus Mariota The backup QB hasn’t been the very best participant in Washington, however he’s been probably the most invaluable contemplating the circumstances. Mariota has stepped up on a poor roster in a misplaced season whereas second-year QB Jayden Daniels handled a number of accidents. Mariota’s signature efficiency was in a 27-26 time beyond regulation loss to the Denver Broncos, when the 10-year veteran threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns. — Conor Kilmurray
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-11) | MVP: TE Trey McBride |
The 2025 season has been a significant disappointment for the Cardinals, however McBride is a silver lining. After snagging 12 passes for 134 yards and two TDs within the Week 15 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans, McBride grew to become the first TE in league history with 100 receptions in back-to-back seasons. If he has 12 extra catches within the subsequent three video games, he’ll break the NFL document for probably the most catches by a TE in a season (Zach Ertz, 116 in 2018 for the Eagles).
LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-4) | MVP: QB Matthew Stafford | As the present NFL MVP favourite (-220, per FanDuel as of Dec. 19), Stafford has put collectively arguably the very best season of his profession. He leads the NFL in passing yards (4,179) and TD passes (40). Plus, he has solely 5 interceptions. He could have been doubted coming into the season due to again issues, however Stafford has responded with MVP-level performances on what often is the NFL’s finest workforce — regardless of that loss to Seattle on Thursday evening.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (10-4) | MVP: RB Christian McCaffrey | With McCaffrey’s play serving because the catalyst, the 49ers have received 4 straight to remain within the NFC playoff image. He has 1,742 complete yards, 14 mixed TDs and at the least 50 receiving yards in 10 of the 14 video games. His toughness working the ball has all the time been on show, however the stability he has offered San Francisco dashing and receiving has been key for this injury-plagued workforce.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-3) | MVP: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle’s second-best protection (18.6 PPG) may simply earn this award, however it’s not possible to disregard Smith-Njigba for MVP. He leads the league with 1,637 receiving yards, greater than 1,000 forward of the next-closest receiver on the workforce, Cooper Kupp (558). He could not break Calvin Johnson’s season receiving yards document (1,964), however his significance to this offense can’t be understated. — Colby Colwell
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (10-4) | MVP: Offensive line |
Pretty much as good as QB Caleb Williams, RB D’Andre Swift and the secondary have been, the offensive line is the largest on-field purpose for Chicago’s turnaround. After giving up a league-high 68 sacks and dashing for simply 4 yards per try final season, the Bears rank seventh in sacks allowed (23) and fifth in yards per rush (4.8) due to their revamped offensive line. The brand new trio of left guard Joe Thuney, middle Drew Dalman and proper guard Jonah Jackson has been a godsend for Chicago.
DETROIT LIONS (8-6) | MVP: RB Jahmyr Gibbs |
There are fewer than a handful of working backs within the NFL who can have an effect on the outcomes of video games like Gibbs can. The explosive working again ranks second within the league in touchdowns (16) and third in yards per rush (5.5), and he has three video games this season with at the least 120 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. The Lions wouldn’t nonetheless have a shot on the playoffs with out Gibbs.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-4-1) | MVP: EDGE Micah Parsons | There’s a purpose why so many NFL specialists and pundits crossed Inexperienced Bay off their Tremendous Bowl contender record after Parsons suffered a season-ending ACL harm in Week 15. In his first season with the Packers, the star pass-rusher ranks third amongst all EDGEs in sacks (12.5), complete pressures (79) and hurries (51). Green Bay’s ceiling is significantly lower without Parsons’ game-wrecking speed and power off the edge.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-8) | MVP: LB Eric Wilson | There haven’t been many positives to focus on in Minnesota, however Wilson deserves credit score for having his finest season as a professional in Yr 9. The veteran linebacker has thrived in DC Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy protection, as he’s tied for the workforce lead in sacks (5.5). — Jack Dougherty
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (5-9) | MVP: RB Bijan Robinson | He has fallen off the tempo of turning into the fourth participant in league historical past with 1,000 dashing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a season, however Robinson is probably the most electrifying participant on one of many league’s extra disappointing groups. Robinson ranks fourth within the league in dashing (1,174 yards) and second amongst working backs in receiving yards (684).
CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-7) | MVP: RB Rico Dowdle |
It’s no coincidence that the Panthers’ season rotated as soon as Dowdle took the lead position within the backfield over Chuba Hubbard. Throughout Carolina’s 1-3 begin, Dowdle, a 2025 free-agent addition, performed simply 35.1 % of the workforce’s offensive snaps, and the Panthers ranked No. 26 in rushing (100.3 yards per recreation) whereas averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Dowdle has performed 64.1 % of the workforce’s offensive snaps within the 11 weeks since, and Carolina is No. 10 in dashing (135.7 yards per recreation), averaging 4.5 yards per try. (h/t Stathead)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-10) | MVP: LB Demario Davis | Davis, 36, continues to be arguably the league’s most underappreciated participant, nonetheless contributing at a excessive degree in his 14th season. He has been the heartbeat of a better-than-expected protection that ranks eleventh in complete protection (311.2 yards per recreation).
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-7) | MVP: QB Baker Mayfield | In Tampa’s 6-3 begin, the 2017 No. 1 total decide had 16 landing passes and solely two interceptions, preserving a workforce that’s handled quite a few receiver accidents on the high of the NFC South. He’s been a lot worse within the 5 video games since, evaporating Tampa’s division lead, however that merely underscores how invaluable Mayfield is to the workforce. If he isn’t taking part in nicely, the Bucs don’t stand an opportunity. — Eric Smithling
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS (10-4) | MVP: QB Josh Allen | The reigning league MVP has put himself within the working for a repeat with 3,276 yards passing and 25 TD passes in addition to 535 yards and 12 TDs dashing. He grew to become the first player in NFL history with three or extra passing and dashing TDs in a number of video games and broke Cam Newton’s document (75) for the most rushing TDs by a QB in league historical past.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (6-8) | MVP: RB De’Von Achane | Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who leads the league with 155 tackles, may simply win this award, however the nod goes to Achane. Whereas QB Tua Tagovailoa has struggled (and even got benched in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers), Achane has had a profession yr with the third-most rush yards (1,186) within the league and 11 complete TDs. Miami can be even worse off with out him.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (11-3) | MVP: QB Drake Maye | Nobody has excelled extra in Mike Vrabel’s first season as New England’s head coach than the second-year QB, who has the sixth-most passing yards (3,567) and is tied for the sixth-most passing TDs (23). With the second-best odds to win the MVP award (+420, per FanDuel as of Dec. 19) and the fourth-ranked QBR (71.3), Maye has helped flip the Patriots again into contenders and put them in place for his or her first AFC East title since 2019.
NEW YORK JETS (3-11) | MVP: LB Jamien Sherwood |
Amid the fixed struggles the Jets appear to have, Sherwood has been a shiny spot on the league’s Thirtieth-ranked protection (28.4 PPG). He has one sack, six tackles for loss and eight passes defended and a team-leading 129 complete tackles. In one other attempting season for the Jets, Sherwood has offered some encouragement. — Colby Colwell
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS (12-2) | MVP: LB Nik Bonitto | Second-year QB Bo Nix — tied for sixth within the league in landing passes (23) — is one other deserving candidate, however Bonitto is powering the protection. By means of 14 video games, he’s tied for third within the league in sacks (12.5). He has additionally made clutch performs, similar to batting down a pass on a two-point conversion try that secured a 27-26 win over the Commanders in Week 13.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-8) | MVP: QB Patrick Mahomes |
Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee throughout a 16-13 loss to the Chargers in Week 15. It ruined one other distinctive season for the two-time league MVP, who carried the Chiefs in 2025. After 15 weeks, the QB ranks fifth within the league in passing yards (3,587) and fifth in QBR (69.2).
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-12) | MVP: DE Maxx Crosby | One other crummy season for the Raiders — who haven’t made the playoffs because the 2021 season — has once more overshadowed Crosby’s brilliance. The four-time Professional Bowler has a whopping 26 tackles for loss in 14 video games, the second most within the league behind Browns DE Myles Garrett (32).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (10-4) | MVP: QB Justin Herbert | Regardless of taking part in his previous two video games with a fracture in his left hand, Herbert retains rocking. The QB is tied for fifth within the league in TD passes (23) and ranks eleventh in passing yards (3,191). It’s value mentioning he’s producing stable numbers behind a shaky offensive line that has allowed the second-most sacks within the league (51). — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-7) | MVP: RB Derrick Henry | Henry shouldn’t be having the identical kind of season he did in 2024 (1,921 yards dashing), however he’s nonetheless on observe for almost 1,400 yards dashing and has been Baltimore’s most dependable, constant playmaker on offense. QB Lamar Jackson can be a contender for workforce MVP, however lacking three video games and his inconsistent play since returning give Henry the sting.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-10) | MVP: WR Ja’Marr Chase | Whether or not it has been Joe Burrow or Joe Flacco taking part in QB, Chase has merely put up monster numbers. He’s on observe for a 123-catch season and has had some actually dominant video games. That features 5 video games with at the least 10 catches and three video games with at the least 12 catches.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-11) | MVP: EDGE Myles Garrett |
Garrett is the largest shiny spot for the Browns in one other misplaced season. He’s closing in on the NFL’s season sack document (22.5, he has 21.5) and continues to be able to ruining an opponent’s offensive gameplan regardless of getting all the consideration.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-6) | MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers | Rodgers has not been nice (projected 3,150 passing yards), and he’s fairly a bit away from the place he was in his prime, however he has been about pretty much as good because the Steelers may have hoped. He’s additionally taking part in a few of his finest soccer down the stretch, with latest wins over the Ravens and Dolphins being his finest, most impactful performances of the season. — Adam Gretz
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS (9-5) | MVP: DE Will Anderson Jr. |
Anderson’s third NFL season has been his finest, with 43 complete tackles, 10.5 sacks, three pressured fumbles and two fumble recoveries via 14 video games. The No. 3 total decide within the 2023 NFL Draft is the anchor of a protection that leads the NFL with 16.3 factors and 269.2 complete yards allowed per recreation. The Texans have emerged as a darkish horse in a surprisingly weak AFC, and Anderson’s dominant play is without doubt one of the greatest explanation why.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-6) | MVP: RB Jonathan Taylor |
Taylor has been far and away the NFL’s finest working again this season with a league-leading 1,443 yards and 16 dashing TDs. He’s averaging a powerful 5.3 yards per carry, and Indianapolis should lean on him closely down the stretch with 44-year-old Philip Rivers beginning at QB for the injured Daniel Jones. Taylor additionally has 318 receiving yards and is on tempo to surpass his profession excessive of 360.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (10-4) | MVP: QB Trevor Lawrence | Lawrence has hit his stride beneath first-year head coach Liam Coen and is taking part in his finest soccer of the season at an ideal time. The No. 1 total decide within the 2021 NFL Draft has averaged 267.7 passing yards per recreation over Jacksonville’s previous three video games with 9 TD passes throughout that span. Lawrence has not thrown an interception in almost a month, and the Jags have received 5 straight due to their QB’s excellent play.
TENNESSEE TITANS (2-12) | MVP: DT Jeffery Simmons |
Not a lot has gone proper for the Titans, however an argument may be made that Simmons is the very best inside defensive lineman within the NFL. Simmons has 9 sacks and two pressured fumbles in 12 video games this season. He has continued to carry out at an elite degree whereas serving because the chief of a workforce that has been taking part in for nothing however delight not too long ago. — Steve DelVecchio
