2012 NFL Predictions: Top 10 Candidates to Win the NFL MVP Award

With organized team activities fully under way, we are only a couple months away from the NFL season kicking off. Just think, the preseason will be here before you know it with the regular season to follow, and then NFL fans everywhere can once again be happy and have something to occupy their minds.

One of the most interesting questions throughout the season is who is going to win the NFL MVP. You can make a case for several players, especially with the way the season played out last year. Three quarterbacks threw for over 5,000 yards, and that doesn't even include the great performances from the running backs and a couple of wide receivers.

Who will win the MVP this season? The quarterback position has won the award the last five seasons—can that streak be snapped?

There are a ton of candidates that could contend for this year’s 2012 NFL MVP. Here are the top 10.

10. Arian Foster, RB, Houston

The Houston Texans have a couple of MVP candidates, such as wide receiver Andre Johnson, but a receiver has never won the award, so we will go with running back Arian Foster in this spot.

If he stays healthy, he is one of the top running backs in this game. While only playing in 13 games last year, Foster finished fifth in the league with 1,224 rushing yards and scored 12 total touchdowns.

Entering the season at 26 years old, Foster is in the prime of his career and is running behind a very solid offensive line and playing in a division where three of the other teams were horrible against the run. If he can stay healthy for an entire year, you should expect a similar season to what he had in 2010.

9. Peyton Manning, QB, Denver

Peyton Manning would be higher on this, list but his health, of course, is a serious question. Still, you can never count out a quarterback that has thrown for over 4,000 yards 11 times in his career and over 30 touchdowns six times.

Before Manning got hurt, he was one of the more consistent players this game has ever seen. After all, he has won this award four times, more than any other player in the history of the game.

Manning may not have the same type of weapons at the receiver position that he had in Indianapolis, but he does have a great running game that he can rely on—something he did not have when he played for the Colts.

It is going to take a while to see if the 36-year-old can regain form, but it would be foolish to leave him off any early MVP list knowing his track record.

8. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia

LeSean McCoy will enter this season at the young age of 24, and he has already emerged as one of the most explosive players in the league. He finished fourth in the league in rushing yards last season with 1,309 and had the most rushing touchdowns with 17. He has also finished each of his first three seasons with at least 40 receptions and 300 receiving yards.

This Philadelphia offense is, of course, loaded with talented playmakers, so McCoy may get some of his shine taken away by players such as Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson. That said, you have to include one of the most productive backs the last two seasons on a list like this.

McCoy had a fantastic season last year and appears to only be getting better as he begins to enter his prime.

7. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina

Many had their doubts about Cam Newton when he was drafted out of Auburn with the first overall pick. He quickly put those doubts to rest as he led a horrible Carolina team to a decent 6-10 record.

He also finished 10th last season with 4,051 passing yards along with 21 touchdowns. Sure, he threw 17 interceptions, but his decision-making will improve over time.

Newton also rushed for 706 yards last season, the most for a quarterback and more than running backs such as BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Darren Sproles.

Typically quarterbacks struggle their second season in the league, but Newton can hurt you two different ways, something a lot of quarterbacks simply cannot do. The hype is there; it just all depends on if the Panthers can improve on those six victories and become a respectable playoff contender. If so, watch out for Newton.

6. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Eli Manning still makes too many boneheaded decisions for my taste, but it is about time he starts getting the credit he deserves.

After all, this is a guy who is coming off his second Super Bowl victory and had a terrific regular season. He threw for 4,933 yards, which was fourth-most and more than last year's MVP, Aaron Rodgers. His 29 passing touchdowns were also the second-most in his eight-year career.

Manning may never get the love he deserves, and it may be because of his brother Peyton still being in the league or the fact he has thrown over 15 interceptions five times in his career. However, with playmakers such as Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks at wide receiver, the numbers should continue to be up there with some of the elite quarterbacks.

If the Giants once again make a run for the NFC East, the ninth-year quarterback has to receive some type of MVP consideration.

5. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit

There has not been one wide receiver that has ever won the NFL MVP award, but if we are going to see it happen, it will likely be Detroit Lions wideout Calvin Johnson.

The fifth-year wide receiver has quickly become the top player at his position after hauling in 96 passes for 1,681 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011. He is as sure-handed as you are going to find, and at 6'5", 240 pounds, he is a matchup nightmare for opposing secondaries.

It is really hard to imagine him topping last year's numbers, but after seeing how he countered everything defenses threw at him last season, I won't doubt this guy.

Johnson can become one of the best receivers of all time if he continues this type of production. The only thing I see with the potential to stop him is the Madden curse that has seemed to affect everyone that ends up on the cover.

4. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota

Adrian Peterson has been the best back in the league since the moment he stepped on the field back in 2007. He has scored double-digit touchdowns every year he has been in the league and rushed for over 1,000 yards every year except for last season. That is because he missed four games to injury, including an MCL and ACL injury in Week 16; he still managed 970 rushing yards.

The good news is that Peterson is already on track to return by the time the season begins. He is working out with his teammates and beating some of the fastest players on the roster in races.

Minnesota may not have as much talent on the offensive side of the ball as some of the other teams on this list, but a healthy Peterson is enough to get by. If the 27-year-old back is ready to go September 9, he has to be the favorite at the running back position for the MVP award.

3. Tom Brady, QB, New England

Tom Brady may be getting up there in age—he will be 35 by the time the season starts—but this is still Brady we are talking about, the same quarterback that threw for over 5,000 yards last season and 39 touchdowns, one of the greatest seasons in his career.

He will also have an improved wide receiver corps that is probably his deepest ever. It includes players such as Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch and Julian Edelman. That, of course, doesn't include the weapons at tight end with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez leading the way.

Then you add the motivation factor with Brady losing yet another Super Bowl to the New York Giants. You know the future Hall of Famer is itching for his fourth championship and will take some of that frustration out on the opposition this season.

Expect yet another tremendous season from the Patriots quarterback.

2. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans

Drew Brees will always have his name in the conversation because of how many times the guy throws the football. In the last two seasons alone, he has slung the football a total of 1,315 times with 916 completions. That includes the most completions by a quarterback last season with 468.

Brees has been an absolute machine since he joined New Orleans in 2006, throwing for no less than 4,300 yards and over 30 touchdowns in four of those six seasons.

He truly has a chance to become one of the best quarterbacks of all time if he continues on this pace.  

It doesn't matter what the Saints are going through or who is on this offense. At the end of the day, Brees gets the job done and puts up godly numbers. Look out for Brees because he will be in this conversation when it's all said and done.

1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay

Then, of course, there is the 2011 MVP winner Aaron Rodgers.

Many thought he was going to be good when Brett Favre finally decided to move on, but I don't know if anyone thought he would be this good. Completing 68 percent of your passes when you throw the ball 502 times in a season is simply unfair. Throwing for 73 touchdowns in the last two seasons combined is pretty good too.

Rodgers also has underrated receivers in James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb—and that doesn't even include one of the best tight ends in the league in Jermichael Finley and a top receiver in Greg Jennings.

There is a new sheriff in town. His name is Mr. Rodgers, and he will win the award again if he comes anywhere close to last season's performance.