5. Matthew Stafford, Rams
After enduring an offseason of injury and retirement rumors, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is back and better than ever. The former first-overall pick and one-time Super Bowl champion remains one of the game’s elite arms despite getting up there in age and just led a dominant performance against a good Jacksonville Jaguars team. Playing in front of an international audience, Stafford completed 21 of his 33 attempts for 182 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions.
In short, Stafford has been nothing short of fantastic and deserves a spot in the NFL MVP race. At 5-2, his Rams are currently atop one of the most competitive divisions in football, and that wouldn’t be the case if he weren’t playing at a top-five level.
