Top MVP Candidates Through Week 11 Of The NFL Season

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, it is time for teams to start giving thanks to the players who make their teams go. In other words, it's time to start thinking about who could possibly be the MVP of the league this year. While it is too early to pick a definitive winner, it is never too early to start putting that preliminary list together.

Quarterback

The quarterback is generally the most important position on the field. It is a good bet that the winner of the MVP award will be from this group. Who is among the MVP favorites at quarterback?

Peyton Manning

Manning has a 106.2 quarterback rating to go along with a 68.5 completion percentage. His 24 touchdowns are among the best in the league and he has only thrown 7 interceptions. He is currently sixth in the league with 297.5 yards per game.

Tom Brady

Brady is currently having another fine season. He is averaging 297.6 yards per game which is good for fifth in the league. Brady has thrown only three interceptions compared to 21 touchdowns while completing over 65 percent of his passes. If he keeps this up without Rob Gronkowski, he may be the winner.

Andrew Luck

Yes, a rookie is in the discussion for MVP. He has led the Colts to a 6-4 record while throwing for 296.5 yards a game. While his interception numbers are high, he has the highest winning percentage of any QB taken number one in the draft through 11 games. Without Luck, the Colts are a two win team at best.

Defensive Players

They say that while offense puts people in the seats, defense wins championships. Therefore, the top defensive player in the league should get some consideration for MVP, right?

Von Miller

Miller has been compared to Derrick Johnson. That alone should tell you what kind of season that he is having. So far, he has 13 sacks and four forced fumbles to go along with his 46 tackles. He is one of the most feared pass rushers in the game today.

J.J Watt

He has made people forget about Mario Williams in a hurry. His 11.5 sacks as well as the constant attention he is given have made Watt a force on the defensive line. Houston would not have the same type of pass rush without him.

Tim Jennings

Jennings, along with Charles Tillman, have given opposing quarterbacks fits. Jennings currently leads the league with eight interceptions and has returned one of them back for a touchdown. Jennings has also added another defensive touchdown along with 48 tackles this season.

Other Players To Watch Out For

C.J. Spiller

Spiller has been getting a lot of attention throughout the league for the way he can run the ball with such ease. When people are comparing you to Barry Sanders and your yards per carry average is hovering around seven, there is no reason why you shouldn't be in the discussion.

Rob Gronkowski

He was easily the Patriots best player and an important element to that offense. His loss will only help bolster his case that he is the most valuable player in the entire league.

Reggie Wayne

His 1,003 receiving yards this year have made him one of the top receivers in the league. Without him, Andrew Luck may be struggling a bit more this year. Wayne has shown that he was a top flight player who made Manning look as good as Manning made Wayne look.

DeMarcus Ware

With 10 sacks and four forced fumbles, Ware has shown why he is such a great player on the defensive side of the ball. If the Cowboys keep winning, expect to hear his name at least a little bit in terms of the MVP race.

The NFL has always been a production based league. Therefore, only players who have put up the gaudiest of numbers can be considered for the MVP. As the season plays out, new names may be added to this list while others are taken off. It will yet be another interesting story to keep our eyes on between now and the playoffs.