NFL Predictions Week 2: Who Will Emerge as Leading MVP Candidate?

It's the biggest award in football, and it's considered a "QB Award." The MVP is supposed to go to the player who was undoubtedly the most important player to their team's success in the entire league.

After recent events in Indianapolis, it's easier to see how Peyton Manning won this award going on four times now. Because his success on the Colts turned that team into a playoff-caliber football organization. Without him, they are likely to go under .500 and may be lucky to get six wins.

So far though, there are a couple of players who are already emerging as strong candidates. Though the names will sound familiar, it's because they've been doing it right for a few years now.

Tom Brady

Just when people start to wonder if he may have hit a peak, he comes out and throws for over 500 yards on the first game against Miami, including a 99-yard touchdown to Wes Welker. He won it last year, and for good reason, and he's already putting himself in a strong position to win it again this year.

Philip Rivers

His name is always thrown into talk about an MVP. However, this year's his chance. He always puts up some of the strongest numbers of any QB in the league, yet doesn't get put into higher tiers. If he wants to finally break that ceiling placed on him, he's got to lead his team to the playoffs again, and get in deep.

Drew Brees

Could 2011 be his year? After having the performance of a lifetime in 2009, Brees struggled in 2010 as he put up great passing yards and touchdowns, but at a cost of 22 INT on the year. In the opening game versus the Packers, the Saints did lose on the goal line. However, Brees had just finished orchestrating a near flawless two-minute drill in almost a minute. If the ball was put in his hands, does anyone doubt he would have gotten the ball in the end zone...twice? With Manning out, Brees finally has a chance to win one of the most prestigious awards, but he's going to have to be flawless to beat out his competition.

Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers is someone else who had a monstrous opening day. The Saints had a top five passing defense last year—would you have known that from watching the game that night? He abused the Saints secondary, made them make horrible mistakes and just made it look easy. Rodgers has two main obstacles preventing him from winning the award. One, staying healthy. He missed a couple of games last year—you can't be valuable to your team if you're on the bench. Secondly, talent. Not his, but the rest of his team's. You talk about the other three players I listed above: Besides that QB, who else would be considered elite on their team? Rodgers has some of the best talent in the NFL at his disposal. Though that isn't his fault and helps him win games, it won't help him win awards. Though I think he'd be fine with another ring over a trophy.