With almost half of the regular season in the books, clear candidates to win this season’s MVP have emerged, featuring a mix of experienced stars and a surprise sophomore. Here are your top five NFL MVP contenders after Week 8 of the 2025 season.
NFL MVP Race After Week 8
5. Baker Mayfield
He was near the top of this list just a couple of weeks ago, and despite an incredibly clutch start to the season, Baker Mayfield’s stock has dipped over the past two weeks, throwing just one touchdown and one interception in each game.
Even with this short slump, he still has a chance to make another push toward the top of the standings. The Buccaneers schedule softens considerably, and if Mayfield capitalizes on that, gets his injured weapons back, and secures what would be a shocking No. 1 seed in the NFC, there’s no reason he won’t be among the leading MVP candidates come February.
4. Josh Allen
A mainstay on MVP lists for several years now, Josh Allen hasn’t been as explosive or as dominant as last season, but his production remains elite. Allen has totaled 17 touchdowns and over 1,800 yards of offense through seven games, earning him a well-deserved spot at number four.
Some might argue he should rank higher, but his play has been more inconsistent compared to his heroics last year. His QBR of 62.0 would be his lowest since 2019, showing some regression. Still, with an easier schedule ahead, Allen will always have the numbers to compete for what would be his second straight MVP award.
3. Jonathan Taylor
People often say this is a quarterback’s award, but when you’re having the kind of season Jonathan Taylor is, that narrative changes. Eight weeks into the season, it feels like 2023 had Christian McCaffrey, 2024 had Saquon Barkley, and 2025 belongs to Jonathan Taylor.
The numbers have been truly historic: 850 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, and nearly six yards per carry. At this stage, he’s on pace to surpass Adrian Peterson’s legendary 2012 MVP season. The only thing that might hold him back is that the award still tends to favor quarterbacks.
2. Drake Maye
A rookie quarterback thriving in New England under a defensive-minded head coach? Sounds familiar. What Drake Maye has done to start this season has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s added his name to multiple legendary seven-game streaks and is performing far beyond expectations.
He might eventually suffer from sophomore neglect, but his raw numbers stand with the best in the league. He has taken too many hits and sacks, something that could pile up as the season progresses. Still, if he maintains this level of play and the Patriots win their division, the NFL MVP could be heading back to New England.
1. Patrick Mahomes
At halftime of Monday night’s game, many had once again sold their Mahomes MVP stock. But what happened in the second half is why he remains the favorite to win his third MVP award.
So far this season, Mahomes has totaled over 2,300 yards of offense and 21 total touchdowns, with half of his interceptions coming off dropped passes. The numbers are elite, and the eye test matches. Sunday’s showdown against the Bills could serve as the perfect springboard for him to solidify his place atop the MVP race with a dominant performance against one of his main rivals.
The post Who’s Leading the NFL MVP Race After Week 8? Ranking the Top 5 Contenders appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.