This kind of list needs no introduction. Besides, you won't read it anyways. You never read an introduction to a list, let's be real.
10. Drew Brees, Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints defense allowed Eli Manning to throw for six touchdowns and zero interceptions. OK, that is enough about how bad the Saints defense is.
Moving on, Drew Brees sure looks like he's heard enough about his career being on the decline. Brees has the Saints riding a three game win streak and at 4-4 they are right in the thick of the NFC. With another half of the season to go, they are no where near out of the wildcard race. Brees is on pace to finish close to another 5,000 yard season to go with 30 touchdowns. If he hits those numbers and the Saints get in, why not?
9. Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings
Guys, the Minnesota Vikings are 5-2 and one game behind the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. Let's not pretend that Teddy Bridgewater has been a godsend. Give credit to the Vikings defense for keeping them in every game this year, but let's be honest -- without a refreshed Adrian Peterson, they wouldn't have a shot. On pace for his 7th 1,000 yard season, Peterson has to be in the MVP discussion. Will he win it? Probably not unless he takes it into another gear in the second half of the season, but he deserves to be here.
8. Josh Norman, Cornerback, Carolina Panthers
A cornerback? In the MVP discussion? What am I, crazy? Not quite.
Josh Norman has been the best cornerback in football in 2015, period. End of discussion. Norman has allowed 21 completions in 2015 for a total of 159 yards and one touchdown. Let that sink in for a second. In eight games, that equates to receivers catching less than three passes against him per contest. Oh, and forget about scoring touchdowns -- he simply won't let you do that.
His opposing quarterback rating is 25.5, which is by far the best in football for any cornerback playing at least 25 percent of its team's defensive snaps.
Still think I'm crazy?
7. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
The fact that Julio Jones has done what he's done this season while competing for offensive touches with the NFL's leading rusher -- later to be named on this very list -- is nothing short of unbelievable. Jones is on pace for almost 1,800 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, playing in the same offense as a guy who has scored ten touchdowns of his own already this year -- once again, later to be named. If Matt Ryan didn't have Jones, this offense would be one dimensional. Roddy White is a shell of his former self. Outside of Jones, the Falcons don't have a guy they can go to at any point in time when they need a surefire catch. Odell Beckham Jr., DeAndre Hopkins and Antonio Brown are talked about more, but Jones is quietly rising above them all in 2015.
6. Chris Johnson, Running Back, Arizona Cardinals
Talk about a feel-good story. The 2015 Arizona Cardinals are chock full of redemption. From Tyrann Mathieu, to Carson Palmer, to Chris Johnson, there are a few guys who have come from tough situations to produce at an All-Pro level this year. Johnson is second in the league in rushing with 676 yards and is averaging the most yards per carry (4.8) since his 2009 outpouring of 2,006 yards. At age 30, Johnson hasn't looked this good in quite some time.
5. Devonta Freeman, Running Back, Atlanta Falcons
Let's say Matt Ryan had Julio Jones, Roddy White and a serviceable tight end, but no running game. Does he lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 6-2 record without it? Oh, wait, Ryan had that in 2014 and still couldn't produce the kind of offense the Falcons are producing this year. Freeman leads the NFL in rushing at 709 yards with nine touchdowns. He's also caught 40 passes for 353 yards and a score, giving him 1,062 total yards and ten touchdowns in eight games.
4. Carson Palmer, Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals
Look, we've seen what happens to an Arizona Cardinals team with a legitimate defense and Larry Fitzgerald -- they don't win football games. Granted, this year, Chris Johnson would have a say in wins and losses without Palmer. But, without a revived Palmer, Arizona would be a wildcard longshot at best. Palmer has a chance to win, not only MVP, but NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2015 as he's led Arizona to a 6-2 record while throwing for nearly 2,400 yards, 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions thus far. Oh yeah, and he's 35 years old having come back from his second major knee injury.
3. Cam Newton, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers
Name the leading receiver for the Carolina Panthers. Go ahead, I'll wait. Nope, not Greg Olsen. He's a tight end. I said receiver. Like I said, I'll wait.
Ted Ginn Jr. is the answer I was looking for. 'Wait, you mean that Ted Ginn Jr.?' Yes, that one.
11 touchdowns and eight interceptions seems pretty pedestrian, right? Sure, those numbers don't sound like much. What about his 286 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns? Still not impressed?
Here, let me try again with another statistic: 7-0.
I rest my case.
2. Andy Dalton, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
If this guy doesn't win a playoff game in January, all of this goes to naught once again. But, I have reason to believe Andy Dalton is a completely different player in 2015. Before I try and 'wow' you with the numbers, just know this: His teammates and coaches have raved about the leap he's taken in terms of becoming the true leader of this club.
18 touchdowns, only four picks, career highs in completion percentage (66.2) and yards per completion (8.62), and an undefeated record should explain the rest.
1. Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots
Can we just leave it at the fact that he has his team at a perfect record, is a defending Super Bowl champion and is playing lights out football at age 38? 20 touchdowns, one interception and a rating of 115.8 in 2015 should lead you to believe he'd take the number one spot. This is an obvious choice.
Source: Athlon Sports
10. Drew Brees, Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints defense allowed Eli Manning to throw for six touchdowns and zero interceptions. OK, that is enough about how bad the Saints defense is.
Moving on, Drew Brees sure looks like he's heard enough about his career being on the decline. Brees has the Saints riding a three game win streak and at 4-4 they are right in the thick of the NFC. With another half of the season to go, they are no where near out of the wildcard race. Brees is on pace to finish close to another 5,000 yard season to go with 30 touchdowns. If he hits those numbers and the Saints get in, why not?
Source: NFL Spin Zone
9. Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings
Guys, the Minnesota Vikings are 5-2 and one game behind the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. Let's not pretend that Teddy Bridgewater has been a godsend. Give credit to the Vikings defense for keeping them in every game this year, but let's be honest -- without a refreshed Adrian Peterson, they wouldn't have a shot. On pace for his 7th 1,000 yard season, Peterson has to be in the MVP discussion. Will he win it? Probably not unless he takes it into another gear in the second half of the season, but he deserves to be here.
Source: American Sports Net
8. Josh Norman, Cornerback, Carolina Panthers
A cornerback? In the MVP discussion? What am I, crazy? Not quite.
Josh Norman has been the best cornerback in football in 2015, period. End of discussion. Norman has allowed 21 completions in 2015 for a total of 159 yards and one touchdown. Let that sink in for a second. In eight games, that equates to receivers catching less than three passes against him per contest. Oh, and forget about scoring touchdowns -- he simply won't let you do that.
His opposing quarterback rating is 25.5, which is by far the best in football for any cornerback playing at least 25 percent of its team's defensive snaps.
Still think I'm crazy?
Source: Atlanta Falcons
7. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
The fact that Julio Jones has done what he's done this season while competing for offensive touches with the NFL's leading rusher -- later to be named on this very list -- is nothing short of unbelievable. Jones is on pace for almost 1,800 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, playing in the same offense as a guy who has scored ten touchdowns of his own already this year -- once again, later to be named. If Matt Ryan didn't have Jones, this offense would be one dimensional. Roddy White is a shell of his former self. Outside of Jones, the Falcons don't have a guy they can go to at any point in time when they need a surefire catch. Odell Beckham Jr., DeAndre Hopkins and Antonio Brown are talked about more, but Jones is quietly rising above them all in 2015.
Source: AZ Central
6. Chris Johnson, Running Back, Arizona Cardinals
Talk about a feel-good story. The 2015 Arizona Cardinals are chock full of redemption. From Tyrann Mathieu, to Carson Palmer, to Chris Johnson, there are a few guys who have come from tough situations to produce at an All-Pro level this year. Johnson is second in the league in rushing with 676 yards and is averaging the most yards per carry (4.8) since his 2009 outpouring of 2,006 yards. At age 30, Johnson hasn't looked this good in quite some time.
Source: Sporting News
5. Devonta Freeman, Running Back, Atlanta Falcons
Let's say Matt Ryan had Julio Jones, Roddy White and a serviceable tight end, but no running game. Does he lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 6-2 record without it? Oh, wait, Ryan had that in 2014 and still couldn't produce the kind of offense the Falcons are producing this year. Freeman leads the NFL in rushing at 709 yards with nine touchdowns. He's also caught 40 passes for 353 yards and a score, giving him 1,062 total yards and ten touchdowns in eight games.
Source: Bleacher Report
4. Carson Palmer, Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals
Look, we've seen what happens to an Arizona Cardinals team with a legitimate defense and Larry Fitzgerald -- they don't win football games. Granted, this year, Chris Johnson would have a say in wins and losses without Palmer. But, without a revived Palmer, Arizona would be a wildcard longshot at best. Palmer has a chance to win, not only MVP, but NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2015 as he's led Arizona to a 6-2 record while throwing for nearly 2,400 yards, 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions thus far. Oh yeah, and he's 35 years old having come back from his second major knee injury.
Source: News Day
3. Cam Newton, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers
Name the leading receiver for the Carolina Panthers. Go ahead, I'll wait. Nope, not Greg Olsen. He's a tight end. I said receiver. Like I said, I'll wait.
Ted Ginn Jr. is the answer I was looking for. 'Wait, you mean that Ted Ginn Jr.?' Yes, that one.
11 touchdowns and eight interceptions seems pretty pedestrian, right? Sure, those numbers don't sound like much. What about his 286 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns? Still not impressed?
Here, let me try again with another statistic: 7-0.
I rest my case.
Source: FanSided
2. Andy Dalton, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
If this guy doesn't win a playoff game in January, all of this goes to naught once again. But, I have reason to believe Andy Dalton is a completely different player in 2015. Before I try and 'wow' you with the numbers, just know this: His teammates and coaches have raved about the leap he's taken in terms of becoming the true leader of this club.
18 touchdowns, only four picks, career highs in completion percentage (66.2) and yards per completion (8.62), and an undefeated record should explain the rest.
Source: USA Today
1. Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots
Can we just leave it at the fact that he has his team at a perfect record, is a defending Super Bowl champion and is playing lights out football at age 38? 20 touchdowns, one interception and a rating of 115.8 in 2015 should lead you to believe he'd take the number one spot. This is an obvious choice.
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