NFL Power Rankings - Week 5: Every team's MVP after the 1st month
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
At the quarter pole of the season, we assess who's been the most valuable player for every team in the league.
1. New England Patriots (4-0)
Previous Rank: 1
Tom Brady looks good as ever at age 42, but the Patriots' defense has been the star of the show so far, allowing a ridiculous 6.8 points per game. Linebacker Jamie Collins has been a major factor, racking up 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, and 27 total tackles.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)
Previous Rank: 2
Looking to better his own MVP season, Patrick Mahomes is on pace for more than 6,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns in 2019. Even when opposing defenses present tough matchups (see: Lions), the league's premier passer simply can't be stopped.
3. New Orleans Saints (3-1)
Previous Rank: 7
Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater have both enjoyed clean pockets, thanks in large part to Ryan Ramczyk. The third-year right tackle held J.J. Watt without a sack or tackle in the season opener and dominated matchups against the likes of Jadeveon Clowney and DeMarcus Lawrence in subsequent weeks.
4. Los Angeles Rams (3-1)
Previous Rank: 3
Showing no lasting impact from his 2018 ACL tear, Cooper Kupp is in the midst of an outstanding campaign. The third-year wideout ranks second in yards and fourth in receptions. Only Sammy Watkins has more yards after the catch than Kupp's 195.
5. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
Previous Rank: 11
Write the Seahawks off all you want - Russell Wilson will make you regret it. The former Super Bowl champion leads the NFL in completion percentage, has yet to throw an interception, and is once again making the most of a subpar supporting cast.
6. Green Bay Packers (3-1)
Previous Rank: 4
It's been the Packers' defense leading the way, particularly their third-ranked pass defense. Second-year pro Jaire Alexander is blossoming into a star: He's allowed just 11 receptions on 27 targets and had one touchdown scored on him through four games.
7. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)
Previous Rank: 5
The Cowboys' offense didn't look anywhere near as dominant on Sunday Night Football as it did through Dallas' first three games, but Dak Prescott seems like a man reborn under new coordinator Kellen Moore. The quarterback leads the NFL in QBR and has emerged as a genuine MVP threat.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
Previous Rank: 15
Philadelphia's been ravaged by early injuries to start the year, but Carson Wentz has been in top form even without his top two receivers. Pro Football Focus ranks him first among all quarterbacks who've started four games, and his traditional stats should soon reflect his performance when the Eagles finally get healthy.
9. Chicago Bears (3-1)
Previous Rank: 14
The team's MVP and a legitimate candidate for the league award, Khalil Mack continues to do Khalil Mack things. While the Bears' offense struggles to get going, the game-wrecker is leading the way on defense with 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in as many games.
10. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)
Previous Rank: 12
Kyle Shanahan is making the most of what appears - at least on paper - to be an underwhelming group of skill position players. The undefeated 49ers rank fourth in total offense behind their head coach's dynamic run schemes and creative play designs.
11. Detroit Lions (2-1-1)
Previous Rank: 13
The Matt Patricia-led defense has been solid, limiting the likes of the Chargers, Eagles, and Chiefs, but Matthew Stafford is the leading reason the Lions have lost but one game thus far.
12. Baltimore Ravens (2-2)
Previous Rank: 6
Super sophomore Lamar Jackson has thrust himself into the early MVP conversation, doing so with his arm, not his legs. Challenged to be a better passer, Jackson has responded by spreading the ball around for 10 touchdowns against just two interceptions.
13. Cleveland Browns (2-2)
Previous Rank: 19
The Browns' offense has disappointed, but one playmaker who has met expectations is running back Nick Chubb; he's averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 100 yards per game.
14. Buffalo Bills (3-1)
Previous Rank: 16
Buffalo's defense looks capable of dragging its uninspiring offense to a wild-card spot, and the dynamic safety duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer is a major reason why. With the Bills ranking 24th in sacks, Hyde's elite coverage skills have been particularly key to the team's 3-1 start.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
Previous Rank: 17
Austin Ekeler filled in admirably during Melvin Gordon's holdout. Though he's a solid runner, the 2017 undrafted free agent makes his living as a receiver out of the backfield. He leads all backs in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards and ranks second in catches.
16. Indianapolis Colts (2-2)
Previous Rank: 10
Any questions about T.Y. Hilton's true value to the Colts were answered in Week 4, as Jacoby Brissett and Co. struggled to move the ball against the Raiders without him. The gifted wideout has four touchdowns in three games and has made numerous clutch catches to help Indy stay afloat while the franchise adapts to life without Andrew Luck.
17. Houston Texans (2-2)
Previous Rank: 8
The offense has been up and down early, but Whitney Mercilus has been exclusively up on defense. With five sacks and four forced fumbles, Mercilus has eased concerns about the Texans' plan to replace Jadeveon Clowney while also giving fellow pass-rusher J.J. Watt time to round into form.
18. Minnesota Vikings (2-2)
Previous Rank: 9
The Vikings have the league's second-worst passing game and third-best running game. Dalvin Cook is a yard off the lead for rushing yards (410) and averaging a sterling 5.8 yards per carry. The junior back is also responsible for five of the team's 11 touchdowns.
19. Carolina Panthers (2-2)
Previous Rank: 20
With Cam Newton sidelined, it's been the Christian McCaffrey show in Carolina. The versatile playmaker has put the Panthers' offense on his back, accounting for 44.7% of the team's yards (157.2 a game) and 44.4% of its offensive touchdowns (four). He's on pace for 1,644 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground with over 800 yards receiving.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2)
Previous Rank: 23
The Buccaneers' long-awaited defensive resurrection can be attributed almost entirely to Shaquil Barrett, who's enjoying a breakout season for the ages. The edge rusher already has more sacks (nine) through four games than he managed in his previous three seasons combined (8.5).
21. Tennessee Titans (2-2)
Previous Rank: 21
It all starts inside for the Titans' fourth-ranked scoring defense, namely with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. The 29-year-old has consistently generated pressure and was finally rewarded with his first sack of the season in Week 4. As usual, he's also been a beast against the run.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)
Previous Rank: 22
His numbers don't jump off the screen, but Gardner Minshew is doing exactly what the Jaguars gave Nick Foles $88 million to do. The rookie has seven touchdowns against one interception, and he's sparked the Jaguars to back-to-back wins to put them in the AFC South mix.
23. New York Giants (2-2)
Previous Rank: 24
Two starts, two wins for Daniel Jones. The rookie hasn't done it all by himself, but the Giants have scored nearly twice as many points in the last two games (56) than they did in the first two with Eli Manning under center (31). It's especially impressive considering Jones and Co. are doing it without Saquon Barkley.
24. Atlanta Falcons (1-3)
Previous Rank: 18
Atlanta would be 0-4 if not for Julio Jones' 54-yard catch-and-run touchdown late in Week 3 against the Eagles. While plenty of his teammates have struggled to poor starts, Jones has arguably been the best receiver in the league.
25. Oakland Raiders (2-2)
Previous Rank: 26
One of the year's early surprises, Darren Waller has emerged as the heartbeat of Jon Gruden's offense. The young tight end ranks third in the NFL with 33 catches and has demonstrated a unique ability to beat both zone and man coverages.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3)
Previous Rank: 25
It's been a struggle in the Steel City to this point, but the Steelers' pass rush is still a strong suit. Leading the way is T.J. Watt, who's accumulated 18 total pressures, six quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble from his spot on the edge.
27. Denver Broncos (0-4)
Previous Rank: 29
Courtland Sutton is an impressive talent on an otherwise stagnant offense. Eighteen of the sophomore wideout's 22 receptions have earned a first down and he's yet to drop a pass. Joe Flacco has a 136.5 passer rating when targeting him.
28. Arizona Cardinals (0-3-1)
Previous Rank: 25
A bright spot during a rough first month in Arizona, Jordan Hicks leads the NFL in tackles while displaying versatility in coverage and the blitz. The veteran linebacker was one of the offseason's top bargain signings.
29. Washington Redskins (0-4)
Previous Rank: 28
While positives for Washington have been few and far between this season, the instant impact of first-year wideout Terry McLaurin is a major silver lining. He missed the loss to the Giants but enters Week 4 leading all rookies in catches (16) and receiving touchdowns (3).
30. New York Jets (0-3)
Previous Rank: 31
New York is winless through three games, but it's not due to the effort of star safety and defensive energy-setter Jamal Adams. He's allowed a passer rating of just 30.2 while in coverage, according to PFF, and is tied for second on the team in solo tackles.
31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4)
Previous Rank: 30
Although he's set to miss multiple weeks with an injury, John Ross has been an offensive catalyst for the Bengals through the first quarter of the season. After recording 210 yards over his first two seasons, the No. 9 pick of the 2017 NFL Draft has broken out for 328 yards and three touchdowns so far.
32. Miami Dolphins (0-4)
Previous Rank: 32
The Dolphins are off to a perfectly bad start, and it's almost impossible to find someone worthy of this recognition on either side of the ball. At least Preston Williams has highs to go with his lows. The rookie receiver has struggled with drops, but his team-leading 201 yards are impressive considering Miami's talent level on offense.