Rolling right along with the 2021-22 NFL season, Week 5 is officially upon us. There have been plenty of spectacular individual and team performances with no shortage of storylines through the opening four games. One of the hottest teams in the league, the Arizona Cardinals remain unbeaten on the year on the backs of one of a much-improved defense. Along with this, they continue to have one of the most high-powered passing attacks in the league, led by the perennial MVP front runner in quarterback Kyler Murray.
Along with this, the Dallas Cowboys have returned to their early 2020 form of being one of the most explosive offenses in the game, with Dak Prescott back and healthy. However, no performance remains more impressive than the play of Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Dubbed by many as one of the worst teams in football heading into the 2021 season, the former second-round pick has led his team to a 3-1 start while leading the NFL in passing yards. Looking ahead to who remains on an inside track to capture the league’s highest honor, here are my MVP power rankings: Week 5 edition.
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MVP Power Rankings: Week 5 Edition
5. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Returning to form after suffering a gruesome leg injury a year ago, Prescott has led the Cowboys to a 3-1 record. With his team sitting alone in the top spot in the NFC East, the 28-year-old signal-caller has completed over 75 percent of his passes. Averaging a career-high in adjusted air yards per attempt, he has amassed 1,066 passing yards while tossing ten touchdown scores.
The Cowboys have won three straight games since their opening night loss to the defending Super Bowl LV champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They are ranked inside the top five in the league in points per game, third-down conversion percentage, and total yards per contest. A different offense with their pro bowl signal-caller at the helm, he is the first name on our MVP power rankings.
4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert has strung together two strong back-to-back performances after tossing two interceptions in the Charger’s Week 2 loss to the Cowboys. The second-year quarterback has begun to see his name enter the conversation for the league-wide award. Leading his team to victories over two of the top teams in the AFC in the Kansas City Chiefs and the Raiders, the University of Oregon alumn has thrown seven touchdown scores with no interceptions.
Completing nearly 69 percent of his passes on the young season, the 23-year-old is already up over 1,100 passing yards. Fresh off of one of the best rookie years by a quarterback in NFL history, he has continued to be praised for his poise and leadership by head coach Brandon Staley and his teammates.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
The odds-on favorite to capture the award heading into his 2021 campaign, Mahomes has seen a fall in his odds due to the slow start of the Chiefs out of the gate. However, the one-time super bowl champion has still remained one of the most dynamic players in football as the leader of Andy Reid’s offense. Already up over 1,200 passing yards through four weeks of the season, the former 10th overall pick leads the league with 14 touchdown passes.
Highlighted by a five-touchdown pass performance in their victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday, he is averaging a career-high 72.3 percent completion percentage. Currently, on pace to set a new career-high in both passing yards and touchdowns, his brilliant play has helped mask the struggles of Kansas City’s defense.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Starting slowly out of the gate after being stunned by the Pittsburgh Steelers at home in week 1, Allen has caught fire over the last few weeks. Leading the Bills to the highest point differential in the league, he has tossed eight touchdowns to just two interceptions over that period while completing over 65 percent of his throws.
Along with this, he has averaged nearly 264 passing yards per game, with over ten yards per completion. The 25-year-old also continues to be a threat with his legs, carrying the ball 24 times for 129 yards and a score. With a rematch of the AFC Championship game on deck in week 5, Allen will have the chance to cement his place in the MVP race after his team fell 38-24 to the Chiefs last January.
1. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Electrifying in his third year in Kliff Kingsbury‘s air raid offensive system, Murray has helped lead the Cardinals to an undefeated record. Leading the NFL with a 76.1 percent completion rate, the former number one overall pick is averaging over 300 passing yards per game while racking up a passer rating of 115. Gashing the Los Angeles Rams a week ago, in Kingsbury’s first victory over Sean McVay, Murray torched the number one overall defensive unit from a season ago.
Completing 24 of 32 passes, the University of Oklahoma product recorded 268 yards passing while throwing for two touchdown scores. As high flying an offensive unit as they come with DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore, and A.J. Green, the sky remains the limit for him this season at the top spot on our MVP power rankings: Week 5 edition list.
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