NFL Power Rankings - Week 5: Every team's MVP after 1st month
NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
This week, we identify every team's MVP through the season's first four weeks.
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ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS
1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)
Previous rank: 1
With six touchdown passes against five interceptions, Patrick Mahomes isn't playing his finest football. That said, the Super Bowl MVP always seems to find a way to win games in the fourth quarter. Mahomes has yet to be intercepted in the final frame this season, and his two game-winning drives lead the NFL.
2. Detroit Lions (3-1)
Previous rank: 3
Nobody in the league can consistently block Aidan Hutchinson. The Pro Bowl pass-rusher had at least one sack in each of the team's first three games - including 4.5 in Week 2 - and leads the NFL with 6.5.
3. Minnesota Vikings (4-0)
Previous rank: 4
No one could've predicted that Sam Darnold would make the Vikings look like one of the best teams in the NFC through four games. The 27-year-old is an early NFL MVP candidate with 932 passing yards and a league-high 11 touchdown passes.
4. Baltimore Ravens (2-2)
Previous rank: 9
It's hard for anyone to eclipse Lamar Jackson's contributions, but we're not in the business of doubting Derrick Henry. Baltimore's top free-agent signing recorded 199 yards on the ground in Week 4 to take the league lead in rushing yardage and propel the Ravens to a big win.
5. Buffalo Bills (3-1)
Previous rank: 2
Despite losing his top two receivers from 2023, Josh Allen is off to an awesome start with a career-high 69.3 completion percentage and 116.5 passer rating. He's also thrown seven touchdowns without tossing an interception.
6. Houston Texans (3-1)
Previous rank: 6
Nico Collins has taken his game to another level this season. He's leading the NFL with 489 receiving yards - and no one else has even reached the 400-yard mark. It's no coincidence that Houston is 3-0 when the star wideout has posted at least 100 yards, but lost the only game in which he was limited to only 86 yards.
7. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)
Previous rank: 7
Fred Warner is putting together a Defensive Player of the Year resume through four contests. He has one sack, one tackle for loss, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one touchdown so far.
8. Green Bay Packers (2-2)
Previous rank: 8
Xavier McKinney is well on his way to earning the first Pro Bowl nod of his career. The 26-year-old has four interceptions and four pass deflections this year, tallying one of each in every outing.
9. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
Previous rank: 15
Jessie Bates III has three pass breakups and one interception through four contests. But his impact goes beyond stats: Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith told reporters after Week 1 that they planned not to throw over the middle of the field to avoid Bates wrecking the game.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
Previous rank: 16
Baker Mayfield looks terrific after signing a long-term extension this past offseason. He's led the Buccaneers to a 3-1 record while throwing for 984 yards with eight TDs.
11. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
Previous rank: 12
Geno Smith is leading the NFL in passing yards (1,182) and has elevated his play significantly this season. He's completed over 67% of his throws in every contest, and the Seahawks' offense looks dangerous through four outings.
12. Washington Commanders (3-1)
Previous rank: 19
Jayden Daniels leads all signal-callers in EPA/play and success rate through four weeks. He's completed over 80% of his throws, and Washington has more scoring drives (23) than Daniels has incompletions (19). The rookie has made the Commanders must-watch TV and is one of the league's most exciting players.
13. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
Previous rank: 14
CeeDee Lamb leads the team in targets (32), receptions (20), and receiving yards (316) through four games. Dallas has relied heavily on the 25-year-old, as he's the team's only player with more than 165 total yards.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
Previous rank: 5
Saquon Barkley has eclipsed 100 total yards in each of Philadelphia's first four games. The Eagles' big free-agent addition has 520 yards and five touchdowns on 85 touches this year.
15. New Orleans Saints (2-2)
Previous rank: 10
Alvin Kamara leads the league in scrimmage yards (536) through four weeks. The 29-year-old is playing arguably the best football of his career.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
Previous rank: 11
The Steelers have been a case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The defense stood out in its first three games but fell apart Sunday. Instead, the Justin Fields-led offense put together its strongest effort. The one consistent piece on this team? Kicker Chris Boswell, who's made 11 of 12 field-goal attempts with his only miss coming from 62 yards.
17. New York Jets (2-2)
Previous rank: 13
The Jets still average under 20 points per game, so the team's MVP has to be someone on the defensive side of the ball. Through four weeks, no one has stepped up more than Will McDonald IV. The Jets desperately needed pass-rush help, and McDonald has answered the call with five sacks and eight quarterback hits so far.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3)
Previous rank: 21
Don't let Cincy's record fool you: Joe Burrow remains one of the NFL's best QBs. He's completed 70.9% of his passes while tossing seven TDs to one interception. He keeps the Bengals' AFC hopes alive despite the team's subpar defensive unit.
19. Indianapolis Colts (2-2)
Previous rank: 22
With 349 yards and four TDs rushing, Jonathan Taylor was a top-five running back in the season's first month. Taylor's 426 scrimmage yards lead Indy by a significant margin (Alec Pierce ranks second with 234), and the tailback's 4.8 yards per carry represent his best average since his 2021 All-Pro campaign. The Colts better hope Taylor's ankle injury won't keep him out long term.
20. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
Previous rank: 18
Khalil Mack turned 33 this year, but he remains the Chargers' best defensive player. The veteran pass-rusher tops L.A. in tackles for loss (two), QB hits (four), and sacks (2.5) so far this year.
21. Chicago Bears (2-2)
Previous rank: 23
Jaylon Johnson is tied for the team lead with three tackles for loss, leads Chicago with two interceptions and four pass breakups, and has allowed a 13.3 passer rating when targeted in coverage, per PFR.
22. Los Angeles Rams (1-3)
Previous rank: 17
In addition to scoring at least one TD in every game, Kyren Williams has 73 of the team's 95 carries this season, racking up 326 total yards and five touchdowns. With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua injured, the 24-year-old has stepped up to be the offense's focal point.
23. Denver Broncos (2-2)
Previous rank: 25
Denver's defense is its biggest strength, and Patrick Surtain II remains one of the NFL's premier corners. Often in charge of covering the opposing team's top receiver, Surtain most recently limited Garrett Wilson to two catches and 24 yards to help the Broncos beat the Jets.
24. Arizona Cardinals (1-3)
Previous rank: 20
Kyler Murray has nine touchdowns to only two turnovers so far. He's playing at a high level and proving why Arizona paid him to be the franchise quarterback.
25. Miami Dolphins (1-3)
Previous rank: 24
With Miami's top edge rushers yet to find their best form in 2024, Calais Campbell - who didn't join the team until June - has shown that age is just a number. The 38-year-old leads the Dolphins in tackles for loss (four), sacks (two), and even pass breakups (tied with two).
26. New York Giants (1-3)
Previous rank: 26
Malik Nabers has been sensational to start his career. The sixth overall pick - who's racked up 386 receiving yards - leads the NFL in targets (52) and receptions (35).
27. Carolina Panthers (1-3)
Previous rank: 27
Andy Dalton has injected life into this Panthers team after taking over for 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young. He has 539 yards with five touchdowns and one interception in two starts.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (2-2)
Previous rank: 29
Though Maxx Crosby missed Week 4 with an injury, he remains the Raiders' best player in 2024. The second-team All-Pro racked up 14 tackles (five for loss), five QB hits, and three sacks in his first three games of the 2024 campaign.
29. Cleveland Browns (1-3)
Previous rank: 28
Despite battling injuries to both feet, Myles Garrett has already recorded eight QB hits, four sacks, and two forced fumbles in four outings. But it's been a disappointing season for the Browns, and not even Garrett's contributions have been able to save them.
30. Tennessee Titans (1-3)
Previous rank: 32
Harold Landry III is on pace to set a career high in sacks after posting four in as many games this campaign. He's looking a lot more like 2021 Landry, who piled up 12 sacks before missing 2022 with a torn ACL.
31. New England Patriots (1-3)
Previous rank: 30
Keion White is well on his way to a second-year breakout with the Patriots. The 2023 second-round pick has already accumulated four sacks, four tackles for a loss, nine quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4)
Previous rank: 31
Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is the only player who's been able to make an impact in every game in what's been an underwhelming campaign in Jacksonville. The first-round wideout leads the Jaguars with 275 receiving yards and 16.2 yards per catch, placing him in the top 20 in the league in both categories.