NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Star Watch for MVPs of League's Best Teams

1. Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers

In leading the Packers to an 8-0 record, Rodgers became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 24 touchdowns and 2,600 yards in his team's first eight games. He's the league's unquestioned MVP front-runner right now. 

2. San Francisco 49ers: RB Frank Gore

There are several names that deserve recognition for the 49ers' revival, including Alex Smith, Jim Harbaugh, NaVarro Bowman, Carlos Rogers and Patrick Willis. But this pick has to be Gore, who has rushed for over 100 yards in five straight games. 

3. Baltimore Ravens: RB Ray Rice

There's a strong case for Ray Lewis or Terrell Suggs here, but the Ravens still lean on Rice more than any player offensively. While the yards don't always follow, Rice is the engine that runs an offense, which is good enough for the Ravens to get to the Super Bowl this season.  

4. New York Giants: QB Eli Manning

With his Hall of Fame brother on the shelf, Eli is having his best season as a pro in 2010. The Giants are 6-2, and Manning has 15 touchdown passes to just six interceptions. He's playing as well right now as he did during the Giants Super Bowl run in '07.

5. Detroit Lions: WR Calvin Johnson

We finally found something that can slow Megatron in 2011: The Lions bye week. In weeks where the Lions actually play, no one can stop the game's best receiver. Johnson has been over 100 yards in four straight games and has scored 11 times for Detroit in 2011.  

6. New Orleans Saints: QB Drew Brees

Brees has 11 interceptions this season, but there isn't another player on the Saints roster that means as much to winning football games. And don't forget this little statistical tidbit: With 258 yards on Sunday, Brees became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 3,000 yards in his team's first nine games. 

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger

Despite a loss at home to the Ravens on Sunday night, Roethlisberger is playing as well as any quarterback in the NFL not named Aaron Rodgers. People still overlook what he brings to the Steelers week-in and week-out. 

8. Houston Texans: HC Gary Kubiak

There's no clear MVP on the Texans, but you have to give Kubiak credit for holding together a team that lost two of their top players in Andre Johnson and Mario Williams. I'm not sure many teams could win three straight after losing two players of their caliber, and you now have to consider the Texans one of the front runners in the AFC. 

9. New England Patriots: WR Wes Welker

Tom Brady would have been the obvious choice, but I'm going with Welker. When teams take Welker out of games, the Patriots offense struggles to move the football and score points. Through eight games, Welker is on pace for over 130 catches and almost 2,000 yards receiving. 

10. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Andy Dalton

Most will tell you that Cam Newton is running away with the Rookie of the Year award, but Dalton has just as strong of a case to win it right now. The Bengals currently sit as the AFC's No. 1 seed, and a lot of that credit has to go to Dalton, who has played well beyond his years so far in 2011. 

Week 10 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (9-0)	17. Dallas Cowboys (4-4)
2. San Francisco 49ers (7-1)	18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
3. Baltimore Ravens (6-2)	19. Oakland Raiders (4-4)
4. New York Giants (6-2)	20. Tennessee Titans (4-4)
5. Detroit Lions (6-2)	21. Kansas City Chiefs (4-4)
6. New Orleans Saints (6-3)	22. Cleveland Browns (3-5)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)	23. Denver Broncos (3-5)
8. Houston Texans (6-3)	24. Washington Redskins (3-5)
9. New England Patriots (6-3)	25. Minnesota Vikings (2-6)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)	26. Carolina Panthers (2-6)
11. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)	27. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
12. New York Jets (5-3)	28. Seattle Seahawks (2-6)
13. Buffalo Bills (5-3)	29. Arizona Cardinals (2-6)
14. Chicago Bears (4-3)*	30. Miami Dolphins (1-7)
15. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)*	31. St. Louis Rams (1-7)
16. San Diego Chargers (4-4)	32. Indianapolis Colts (0-9)

*Play Monday night