Ranking the Top 5 2011 NFL MVP Candidates After Week 16

After 16 weeks of the NFL season, the following five players are the top MVP candidates. 

1. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

After a week of discussion surrounding the MVP chances of Drew Brees and Tom Brady, Rodgers threw for 283 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes against the Chicago Bears in a nationally-televised Christmas game. He now has 45 touchdown passes and 48 total, and the Packers are 14-1. What more does the guy need to do to win MVP? 

2. QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees has a couple of things going for him tonight. One, he's about to break Dan Marino's yardage record, and if he does it tonight, the national television audience will get to witness it. That helps. He'll also get the chance to have another monster game stats-wise, which is magnified against a division rival. A win clinches the NFC South for the Saints.  

3. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

A forgettable first half against the Dolphins was erased by a second half in which Brady threw for a touchdown and ran in two others. Does that keep his MVP bid alive? Probably not. Rodgers and Brees are a step ahead, even if Brady has had another fantastic season. 

4. QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

The gap between No. 3 and 4 is substantial, but Stafford has put together a big season (4,500 yards, 36, touchdowns) for a Lions team that is going to the postseason for the first time since 1999.

5. RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers/TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots/WR Calvin Johnson, Lions

Gore, the NFL's fourth-leading rusher, is the most important catalyst for a 49ers offense that has been very efficient this season. Gronkowski (16 total touchdowns) has put together a season that no tight end ever has in NFL history. Johnson was on pace for 32 receiving touchdowns four games into the 2011 season.