MVP rankings: Gurley keeps gunning for Brady with another huge game

An MVP race that was considered essentially over just weeks ago is suddenly red-hot as Todd Gurley continues his tear to end the regular season.

After the injury to Carson Wentz, many declared Tom Brady the MVP as the 40-year-old quarterback continues to amaze. The award is likely still Brady's, but Gurley is certainly making things interesting after another monster game this past weekend.

Here's how the MVP race stands with one week to play in the regular season.

1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

4,387 passing yards, 67.5 completion percentage, 30 TDs, 8 INTs

By the lofty standards we've come to expect out of the 18-year veteran, Sunday's performance could be classified as steady, but nothing more. Brady completed a whopping 75 percent of his passes, but only threw for 224 yards in a win over the Bills.

While he did throw two touchdown passes to bring his season total to 30, Brady threw an interception for the fifth straight contest, something that may worry Patriots fans as the playoffs approach. While the past few weeks haven't been his best, the award is still likely his with a decent finish to the season against the Jets.

2. Todd Gurley, RB, Rams

1,305 rushing yards, 64 catches, 788 receiving yards, 19 total touchdowns

If this was an award for the hottest player to end the season, Gurley would easily take home the trophy. The Los Angeles Rams star had his third straight multi-touchdown game in a win over the Titans, totaling an incredible 276 yards of offense.

Gurley did much of his damage in the passing game, catching 10 balls for 158 yards and two scores, including a massive 80-yard touchdown on a brilliantly run screen play. There's been only one running back win the MVP since 2007 so don't expect the 23-year-old to take home the hardware, but he's certainly made things more interesting with his torrid finish to the season.

The only non-quarterback to win the honor over the past decade remains Adrian Peterson is his 2012 season that saw him rush for 2,097 yards. While Gurley's 1,305 rushing yards are significantly lower, his receiving totals make it an interesting comparison.

3. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

1,291 rushing yards, 85 catches, 655 yards, 11 total touchdowns

Another ho-hum day for Le'Veon Bell, piling up 69 yards rushing and a score, as well as five catches for 28 yards in an easy win over the Texans. Bell is no longer the leading rusher in the league, but still rates as one of the best all-around running backs.

It seems unlikely that the Patriots will lose to the Jets at home next week, so with Pittsburgh seemingly locked in to the No. 2 seed, it wouldn't be shocking to see Bell get a rest in next week's contest.

It's certainly well-deserved after another very strong season.

4. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans

96 catches, 1,378 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns

While he wasn't in last week's MVP rankings, DeAndre Hopkins makes his way to No. 4 strictly because of this insane touchdown catch in Monday's game against the Steelers.

The Texans star leads the league in receiving touchdowns, is No. 2 in receiving yards, and fifth in catches. He's also spent a large portion of the season catching passes from Tom Savage and T.J. Yates. That alone should get the man MVP votes.

5. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers

4,251 passing yards, 64.2 completion percentage, 28 TDs, 14 INTs

With Bell already on the list, and Antonio Brown only missing because of injury, it's only fitting the man orchestrating the Steelers' offense gets a shoutout in the rankings as well. Since Ben Roethlisberger's horrific five-interception showing against the Jaguars early in the season, he's thrown 22 touchdowns against only seven picks.

The 35-year-old now sits second in passing yards and fourth in touchdowns, having thrown for multiple scores in seven straight weeks. With Brown missing against the Texans, Roethlisberger simply spread the ball around to six different receivers.

Despite the fact that he's killed the Browns throughout his career, don't expect a huge game out of Roethlisberger this week with the Steelers already locked into a bye.