2010 NFL MVP Watch: The Top 10 Non-QB Candidates

Although the quarterback is often regarded as the most important player on every NFL team, they are not always the most valuable.

Players on both sides of the ball can often have a greater impact and be the primary reason for a team’s success.

Players like Arian Foster and Adrian Peterson are examples of running backs who have carried their teams this season while the quarterback has struggled. Like Foster and Peterson, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew has been the main reason Jacksonville has a great chance to dethrone the Indianapolis Colts from the AFC South pedestal.

Defense is often overlooked when voters cast their ballots for the MVP award. But certain players win games for their teams by themselves with big plays in crucial moments. 

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel are game changers on defense, and have been responsible for the great success their respective teams have enjoyed this season.

Now let’s look at the 10 players who deserve to be considered for the 2010 NFL MVP award who don’t play quarterback.

Arian Foster

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans runs with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Arian Foster was an unknown player before the season, but after Week 1 vs. the Indianapolis Colts, everyone knew his name.

Foster’s monster game in Week 1 was viewed by many as a fluke, but with each passing game Foster proved he was a reliable, all pro level runner.

The Houston Texans’ defense has struggled this season, and without Foster providing much of the offensive firepower, the Texans would be staring at a top five pick in the upcoming draft.

Foster has rushed for 1,130 yards and 13 touchdowns, and has also been a major threat in the passing game. Foster is without question the most valuable player in Houston, and has a serious case to be the MVP of the NFL.

Adrian Peterson

Nick Laham/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings rushes against the Buffalo Bills at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Imag

Adrian Peterson has been the glue holding the Minnesota Vikings offense all season long. In a year when the Vikings have gotten little production from the quarterback position, Peterson has been his usual All-Pro self every Sunday.

Peterson is seeing greater defensive attention due to the lack of a passing threat, but he still is having a spectacular season.

He has rushed for 1,149 yards this season, adding 11 touchdowns. Peterson has been the most consistent player on the Vikings this season, a year when nearly every other Minnesota player has regressed, instead of improved.

Maurice Jones-Drew

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 12: Maurice Jones-Drew #32 of the Jacksonville Jaguars breaks the tackle of Travis Goethel #50 of the Oakland Raiders during the game at EverBank Field on December 12, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Ge

Maurice Jones-Drew is well known in the fantasy football world. He is a guy who gets a lot of touchdowns, and is reliable as a receiver, too.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are closing in on an AFC South title, and Jones-Drew is the biggest reason why. He has rushed for 1,278 yards and five touchdowns, while being a major asset in the passing game as well.

Jones-Drew has come up with big runs in the fourth quarter time and time again this year, including Week 14 vs. Oakland. The Jaguars are a very balanced offense, and Jones-Drew is the engine that makes it all go.

Jones-Drew has been an MVP caliber player for most of his career, and it's time he receives the credit and respect he's earned.

Roddy White

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 12: Roddy White #84 of the Atlanta Falcons against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Falcons are finally showing their full potential, after they went 11-5 in 2008, then had a sub-par season last year.

Quarterback Matt Ryan is having his best season, and the play of Roddy White is the biggest reason for Ryan’s improvement.

White has emerged as a top 3 receiver in the NFL, and has amassed 1,219 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Only Andre Johnson has accumulated more yards in the NFL the last few seasons than Roddy White, yet White does not receive the praise he deserves.

After this season, White will be a household name, and the player responsible for the Falcons rise to the top of the NFC.

Asante Samuel

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 21: Asante Samuel #22 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after an interception in the second quarter against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Lah

Despite having missed multiple games this season due to injury, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel still leads the NFL in interceptions with seven.

Samuel is regarded as one of the finest young corners in the game, and his interceptions change the entire game. Every week, Samuel shuts down the opposing team’s best receiver, a tough job as an NFC East member.

Samuel is likely not to receive much MVP consideration, and that is truly sad. Michael Vick has been immense in the Eagles success this season, but the defense without Asante would be very vulnerable.

Clay Matthews

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 05: Troy Smith #1 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 5, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the 49ers 34-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Ge

The Green Bay Packers have built a solid defense to combine with their explosive offense. The catalyst on defense is linebacker Clay Matthews, who has been an absolute beast this season.

Matthews has 12.5 sacks this season, and has energized the entire Packers defense. Without Matthews, the Packers defense would be far less capable of rushing the quarterback, and disrupting the opposing team’s offense.

The Packers are a Super Bowl contender, even with their recent dip in play the last few weeks, and the defense is what will make or break their season. As long as Matthews is healthy, they are capable of shutting down nearly every team in the league.

Jerod Mayo

Elsa/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 08: Jerod Mayo #51 of the New England Patriots celebrates making a stop as Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins looks on November 8, 2009 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 27-17. (Pho

Jerod Mayo had big shoes to fill as a rookie in the 2008 season. A year after the Patriots suffered a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss, Mayo was drafted to replace aging linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel.

Mayo has not only done that, but he has also raised his game to the NFL’s elite. Mayo leads the NFL this season with 146 tackles, and is the captain of Bill Belichick’s defense.

Mayo is not only physically gifted, he is one of the most intelligent defensive players in the league, and is rarely out of position.

His football smarts allow him to be a coach on the field, and on a defense with many young and inexperienced players, Mayo’s wisdom is very helpful.

Mayo is the most valuable Patriots player, because we know Tom Brady will score, but without Mayo’s presence on defense, New England would rely on the offense way too much.

Peyton Hillis

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 28: Running back Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball by linebacker Jon Beason #52 of the Carolina Panthers for a touchdown at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sulli

Peyton Hillis’ argument for MVP brings up a popular debate across all sports; should players on teams with losing records, or who don’t make the playoffs, be considered for league MVP?

There is no description in the award stating the player must be from a successful team, just the most valuable to his team, and there is no question Hillis has been the entire Browns offense.

Hillis has rushed for 1,070 yards and 11 touchdowns, but has also been a major threat as a receiving running back.

Hillis’ physical frame makes him very tough to tackle, and even though he has taken a lot of punishment this season, he has been quite durable.

Hillis single-handedly beat the New England Patriots this season, and doing that alone should help him receive MVP consideration.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 12: BenJarvus Green-Ellis #42 of the New England Patriots runs against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Patriots defeated the Bears 36-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Who is tied for second in the NFL with 11 rushing touchdowns? BenJarvus Green-Ellis of the New England Patriots.

After a strong first season last year, Green-Ellis (aka “the Law Firm” due to his many names) has taken the starting running back spot and has run with it.

Green-Ellis’ rushing prowess has given the Patriots offense a balance it hasn’t had since their Super Bowl winning days from 2001-04.

Defenses cannot game-plan just for Tom Brady anymore, because Green-Ellis can punish any defense, even the highest ranked units like Pittsburgh.

Green-Elllis is not a popular guy, but after the playoffs, everyone in America will realize how good he is, and how valuable he is to the best team in the NFL.

Rashard Mendenhall

Geoff Burke/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers were without the services of All-Pro quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the first four games of the season. The Steelers have also had a down season from wide receiver Hines Ward, and have been hit with massive injuries to the offensive line.

The one constant, reliable performer for them this year has been running back Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall has been very durable this season, carrying much of the offensive burden for the Steelers.

After having missed most of his early career to injuries, Mendenhall is finally showing he can be a dominant player when fully healthy.

He has rushed for 1,073 yards this season with nine touchdowns, and has been the most valuable player on a Steelers team poised for another deep playoff run.

Review: Did I Miss Anyone? Did I Overrate Someone?

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans comes scores as he get's his foot down in the endzone in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Reliant Stadium on December 13, 2010 in Houston, Texas. Baltimore

These are the 10 players who are not quarterbacks but deserve massive consideration for the 2010 NFL MVP award.

These players have been instrumental to their team’s success this season, and without them, many cities would be welcoming the end of the season, instead of being excited for the playoffs.

Most of these candidates are not popular players, but their contributions this season cannot be overlooked.

Did I miss someone? Let me know!