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Ranking the top five NFL MVP contenders at the halfway point
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Ranking the top five NFL MVP contenders at the halfway point

By Daniel Fox  |  Last updated Nov 4, 2025 11:39 AM ET

The 2025 NFL MVP race is shaping up to be one of the most fascinating in recent memory.

The usual contenders like Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen and Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes are still there, but they are joined by a collection of signal-callers having career-best seasons, ranging from a second-year standout taking the leap to superstardom to a wily veteran putting together the best numbers of his Hall of Fame career. 

Meanwhile, both Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor and Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba are on pace for potentially historic campaigns and are each seeking to become the first non-quarterback to win the award since Adrian Peterson in 2012. 

Here are the top five MVP contenders as we reach the halfway point of the 2025 NFL season: 

5. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

There have been a number of strong signal-caller performances that could have gone in this slot, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield, Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Seahawks QB Sam Darnold, but none of them have been nearly as dominant as Taylor. The 26-year-old running back leads the league with 895 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns and 5.7 yards per attempt while adding another 218 yards and two touchdowns through the air. As good as Eagles RB Saquon Barkley was last year when he finished third in the MVP voting, Taylor has scored only one fewer touchdown in seven fewer games. It would take a truly special season for a running back to win MVP in this day and age, but if Taylor is able to sustain this level of production and lead the Colts to the AFC’s top seed, he will have as good an argument as any. 

4. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Mahomes might have had a legitimate case for the top spot in these rankings before he turned in the lowest completion percentage of his career and a measly 57.2 passer rating in a loss to the Bills last Sunday. Even with some true masterpieces this season, Mahomes ranks just 13th in the NFL in passer rating, a stark contrast from his MVP campaigns of 2018 (second) and 2022 (third). Though Mahomes is currently on pace for a career-high in rushing yards, both he and the 5–4 Chiefs will need to pick it up to have a real shot at his third MVP award. 

3. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

The ascension of Maye from intriguing rookie to one of the best quarterbacks in football has been one of the biggest storylines in the NFL this season. He leads the NFL with an incredible 74.1% completion percentage while ranking second to Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson with a 116.9 passer rating, and his Patriots are tied for the best record in the NFL at 7-2. The only thing hurting him is the fact that he only ranks 10th in passing yards per game, but considering Maye seems to be getting better every week, don’t be surprised if he starts piling up the volume to match his incredible efficiency. 

2. Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams 

It’s hard to believe it was just two months ago that there was genuine concern about whether Matthew Stafford’s back injury would hamper his 17th NFL season. Yet not only has the 37-year-old suited up for every contest this season, he is currently leading the NFL with 21 touchdowns and 268.4 passing yards per game (not counting San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy, who has 293.0 yards per game but has only played in two games this season). To be fair, Stafford has quite a bit of help around him, with future Hall of Famer Davante Adams forming a lethal WR combination with All-Pro Puka Nacua, but from a pure passing perspective, there is nobody playing at a higher level than Stafford. 

1. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

Through all the chaos of the first two months, the bottom line remains the same: Josh Allen is the most valuable player in the National Football League. He is completing passes at a career-high 70.4% clip, and while his total rushing volume is down a bit from 2024, he is on pace for more total rushing touchdowns. Beyond the box score, Allen deserves immense props for having his Bills at 6-2 despite the lack of a No. 1 or even No. 2 receiver. If Allen and the Bills are able to overcome the upstart Patriots for their sixth straight AFC East title, he should be on track for his second straight MVP award. 

Daniel Fox

Daniel Fox is a 2024 graduate of Ithaca College. He has gained experience over the past five years in all areas of sports broadcasting, including play-by-play, color commentary, podcasting, production, and journalism. Daniel is an avid Boston Sports fan with a particular loyalty to the Red Sox. You can find him on X at @DanBFox1287

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