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MVP rankings: Can Wilson close the gap on Wentz, Brady?

Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

A number of contenders have dropped out of the NFL's MVP race recently - some due to injury (Deshaun Watson), others due to a steep decline in individual and team success (Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt).

But the battle at the top is only just heating up with six weeks remaining in the regular season.

1. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles

2,430 passing yards, 59.7 completion percentage, 25 TDs, 5 INTs

The Philadelphia Eagles' offense is a well-oiled machine, and at its center is Wentz, who has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations for his sophomore season.

He has the eye-popping stats, the wins (the Eagles sit at 9-1), and, maybe most importantly, the new-kid-on-the-block factor over his closest rival, Tom Brady. MVP voters are always looking to crown a new king.

Wentz could seal it next week if the Eagles walk into CenturyLink Field in prime time and take it to MVP rival Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.

2. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

3,147 passing yards, 68.7 completion percentage, 22 TDs, 2 INTs

Brady isn't far behind front-runner Wentz - especially after a near-flawless Week 11 outing in which he torched the Oakland Raiders for 340 yards, three touchdowns, and an 81.1 completion percentage.

The veteran is throwing downfield as well as he has in years, and while the New England Patriots' defense is improving, he still can't rely on the unit to back him up consistently. Perhaps only the next man on this list is required to do more to help his team win than Brady.

If Wentz slips up, even a little, Brady is in position to claim his third MVP award (and his first since 2010).

3. Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks

2,801 passing yards, 62.6 completion percentage, 21 TDs, 7 INTs, 376 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Wilson's always been a star, but most people would agree that he enjoyed one of the league's top supporting casts over the first five years of his career.

But oh, how things have changed this season. Long gone are the days of Marshawn Lynch grinding the will of opposing defenses into dust, and injuries have decimated the Legion of Boom.

That's left Wilson to carry the load almost single-handedly, and he's accounting for 82.8 percent of the entire team's offensive production. To catch Wentz and Brady, though, Wilson will likely need to drag the Seahawks to 11 wins.

4. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers

70 catches, 1,026 receiving yards, 6 TDs

The quality of MVP contenders falls off significantly after Wentz, Brady, and Wilson, but Brown is at the top of the next tier following a 144-yard, three-touchdown performance in Week 11.

The star receiver has been in amazing form all season, and he leads the NFL in catches. However, he's not on pace to get close to any all-time receiving record, and he's set to fall short of his own career highs. Brown needs an otherworldly last six games to gain serious consideration.

5. Drew Brees, QB, Saints

2,783 passing yards, 71.6 completion percentage, 15 TDs, 5 INTs

For the first time in years, the Saints are more than just their franchise quarterback. New Orleans is relying on a newly dominant run game and a rejuvenated defense to win, lessening the load on Brees.

Consequently, his numbers are far from the historic ones he's put up since landing in New Orleans. Still, the veteran pivot showed he remains the engine of this team during a spectacular 15-point overtime comeback against the Washington Redskins.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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