2011 NFL Predictions: Top 10 Candidates To Win the NFL MVP Award

The 2011 MVP award is given to the player at the end of the year that is considered the most valuable.

The majority that win the award are either quarterbacks or running backs. Only two defensive players have ever won the award, so there are no defensive players on this list.

The last four seasons the MVP has gone to quarterbacks either Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. Who will snap that streak, if anybody?

Here are your 2011 candidates for the NFL MVP award.

(This list is not in any particular order)

Running Back Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans

Arguably the fastest player in the game, Chris Johnson has had a phenomenal first three seasons. In 2009, he became just the sixth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards.

Johnson has the ability to put up monster numbers again and pretty much do whatever he wants to do on the field. The thing that may hurt his production and his possible MVP chances is the lack of offensive weapons on his team.

Rookie quarterback Jake Locker is probably going to be the starter which may limit the passing game, which causes defenses to focus a lot more on Johnson and the running game.

He will still get 1,400 yards and double-digit touchdowns, but that won't be enough to win the MVP award. 

Quarterback Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan has to be a MVP candidate because he is the leader of a Super Bowl contender.

Ryan has put up solid numbers the last two seasons of his three-year career. Last season was his best yet, throwing for 3,705 yards, 28 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.

He did that with Roddy White as his main wide receiver. Now, he has Julio Jones on the other side which means his numbers should be even better this season.

The thing that may hold him back is the Falcons like to run the ball a lot. Also, will the addition of Julio Jones improve his numbers that much to where he has a chance?

We shall see.

Running Back Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars

Maurice Jones-Drew has been one of the most productive running backs over the last few years. Even as a rookie, he rushed for 941 yards and 13 touchdowns, while only starting one game.

This season, there are questions about his knee injury entering the regular season, but Jones-Drew says he is fine. Regardless of what the deal is with the knee, you can expect another solid season from the human bowling ball.

He has rushed for over 1,000 yards the last two seasons and has 63 total touchdowns in his five-year career. 

The same thing that is going to hurt Chris Johnson may be Jones-Drew's downfall as well. There are simply not enough weapons on offense for him to take it to the next level and earn the MVP.

Quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees threw for the second-most yards in his career last season with 4,620 but also completed 22 passes to the other team, which was a career high.

Despite those shaky interception numbers, you have to consider him a MVP candidate because he is simply one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Brees has thrown 101 touchdowns in the last three seasons combined and over 14,000 yards.

With the lack of running game the Saints have, Brees could be forced to put up great numbers, and that will only help his MVP case. 

Brees has a Super Bowl MVP, but if he manages to put up numbers similar to 2008, he could add a regular season MVP award to his Hall of Fame resume. 

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers has been on fire since Brett Favre left town, and coming off a Super Bowl victory, a MVP this year is not out of the question.

Rodgers threw for over 4,000 yards in 2008 and 2009 and just missed it last year by 78 yards. He also has 99 total touchdowns over the last three seasons. One thing that is underrated when it comes to Rodgers is his running game, as he averages 4.9 yards a carry over his career.

With one of the deepest teams at the wide receiver position, Rodgers looks to be in good shape for a long time as he continues to build on his own legacy in Green Bay.

Quarterback Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers

Phillip Rivers is that extremely good quarterback that nobody really likes to take about for whatever reason.

Rivers has a passer rating over 100 for three seasons in a row, along with a completion percentage of at least 65 percent the last three years. He has thrown for over 4,000 yards three times, including a league-leading 4,710 passing yards last year.

The Chargers have to finish better than their 9-7 record last season for him to have a chance, but his numbers alone should put him in the conversation.

Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots

Last season Tom Brady won the first unanimous MVP award in NFL history. With his 36 touchdown passes to just four interceptions, along with leading the Patriots to a 14-2 record, it was well deserved.

We all know Tom Brady's Hall of Fame resume, and it would be a joke not to have him as a candidate to repeat. He is probably the favorite heading into the regular season. 

Although the Patriots could probably use another wide receiver, Brady has shown it doesn't matter who is on the field with him. He puts up numbers and most importantly wins games.

Quarterback Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles

What Michael Vick was able to do last season was incredible and made for a great story. Having the best season of his career with 3,018 passing yards, 62 percent completion percentage and 30 total touchdowns. Amazing.

Vick is extremely talented and has more than enough weapons on offense to repeat, if not top those numbers from last year. With LeSean McCoy running and DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin at receiver, it's impossible for defenses to focus on just one guy.

The major question is, can Vick play a complete season? He has only played 16 games once in his eight-year career. His running ability makes him extremely vulnerable to taking hits and getting injured as last year showed.

If in fact he can stay healthy, Vick could have an encore and an even better season than last year.

Running Back Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs

This is the sleeper pick in the entire list. Charles showed that 2009 was no fluke with a very impressive 2010.

Last season, Charles ran for 1,467 yards on just 230 attempts, which made for a staggering 6.4 yards per carry average. He is also a great receiver, totaling 85 passes for over 800 yards and four touchdowns the last two years combined. He return game could also help in his MVP case.

The Chiefs had the best running game last year, and it could very well be the same this season, thanks to Charles. Jamaal is one of the most exciting, young players in the league and definitely has a shot to be your 2011 MVP.

Quarterback Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning threw 17 interceptions last season which is the most in his career since 2002. But he also threw for 33 touchdowns and 4,700 yards.

In Manning's 13-year career, he has thrown for less than 4,000 yards only twice. He has averaged 30 touchdown passes every season. Manning has won the award four times which is the most of anybody in the history of the game.

Some may say the Colts offensive line isn't good enough to protect Manning, but he gets rid of the ball so quick it doesn't matter. The neck surgeries are being overhyped.

This is Peyton Manning, and at the end of the year, his numbers will be good enough to make a case for the 2011 MVP award.