Six weeks of the NFL are in the books, which means a third of the 2026 campaign is already behind us. That's more than enough time for some early contenders for the league's biggest awards to separate themselves from the pack.
Here's a look at the best candidates for the top awards.
MVP 🏆
5. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
The Ravens quarterback has missed the last two games, but his play through Baltimore's first four contests is impossible to overlook. There are hot starts and then there are unworldly starts, like the one Jackson's had. The two-time MVP has completed a career-high 70.8% of his passes for six touchdowns and one interception with a 119.6 passer rating. He's also averaging an absurd 10.1 yards per attempt and 14.2 yards per completion, both of which are the best in the league. Plus, his EPA per dropback surpasses every other quarterback who's logged at least 110 dropbacks, per TruMedia. Health might be Jackson's biggest hurdle, though. The longer he's out, the lower his chances of being recognized go. However, there hasn't been a more electric player to watch than Jackson, who seems to have found his perfect match in new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
4. Kenneth Walker, Chiefs
It's been 14 years since a running back last took home the MVP award, and that required a Herculean effort from Adrian Peterson. While unlikely, Walker undoubtedly deserves to be the top non-quarterback candidate. He's turned a Chiefs offense that was completely static in 2025 into a dynamic unit with his league-leading 665 rushing yards. Realistically, he may not win MVP, but it's tough to identify a player who's been more valuable to their offense than Walker.
3. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Lawrence is playing like the generational prospect many expected when Jacksonville drafted him first overall in 2021. After ending last season on a major hot streak, Lawrence has picked up right where he left off. His 14 passing touchdowns are tied for the most in the NFL, while his eight yards per attempt and 106.2 passer rating would be the highest of his career. Lawrence's 0.19 EPA per dropback is also well clear of his previous best (0.10 in 2022), per TruMedia. For the first time in a long while, the Jaguars can dream of an extended playoff run, which has largely been made possible by Lawrence's rise.
2. Josh Allen, Bills
Another year in which Allen finds himself in the thick of the MVP race. He's one of the few unicorn quarterbacks in the league, and his numbers - 1,504 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, and a league-high eight rushing scores - are certainly MVP-worthy. What's most remarkable, though, is that Allen is averaging a career-high 8.8 yards per attempt while completing 66.7% of his throws, which is the third-highest completion rate of his career. Plus, the 2024 MVP winner also has the narrative aspect of the award covered with four game-winning drives and three fourth-quarter comebacks, both of which are the most of any quarterback this season.
1. Brock Purdy, 49ers
Gone are the days when critics dismissed Purdy's play by calling him another cog in the wheel. Purdy is the wheel now. Through the barrage of injuries that the 49ers have dealt with at wide receiver, Purdy hasn't just kept San Francisco's offense afloat; he's kept it running smoothly. The fifth-year signal-caller ranks second in EPA per dropback, trailing only Jackson, per TruMedia. But if you remove quarterbacks with fewer than 120 dropbacks, Purdy sits atop that category. There's no denying the greatness of Kyle Shanahan's offense, but Purdy has been treating the field as his canvas. He's set career highs in completion percentage (69.6%) and passer rating (118.1) while also sharing the NFL lead for touchdown passes (14). Most importantly, the 49ers have yet to lose this year. At this rate, it would defy logic to consider anyone else the MVP front-runner.
Offensive Player of the Year 🏆
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, is making a legitimate bid to be the first player to win the award in consecutive years since Marshall Faulk from 1999-2001. After leading the league in receiving yards last season, Smith-Njigba has set his sights on an even bigger target this year: the triple crown. So far, the Seahawks wideout once again leads in receiving yards (717), but he also has the most receiving touchdowns (seven), and his 49 receptions are tied with Trey McBride for first in the NFL. If Smith-Njigba achieves the rare feat, it'll be virtually impossible to stop him from adding another OPOY trophy to his growing collection of hardware.
2. Bijan Robinson, Falcons
There's no stopping Robinson; you can only limit his damage. The Falcons' star running back has rushed for at least 60 yards in every game this season and has produced over 100 yards from scrimmage in four of six contests. Unsurprisingly, he leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 785. Even when Atlanta faced quarterback struggles, Robinson still had his way with opposing defenses despite receiving extra attention - a rare trait for a modern-day running back. Robinson's 2026 campaign is the latest piece of evidence that proves he's the most talented back in today's game.
1. Kenneth Walker, Chiefs
If the NFL Honors show was held today, Walker would almost surely secure the OPOY award. Simply put, nobody has transformed an offense this season like Walker, and that's saying a lot considering he lines up next to Patrick Mahomes. Walker not only sits atop the rushing leaderboards with 665 total yards and 133 yards per game, but he's also averaging a whopping 6.3 yards per carry. Additionally, his seven carries of 20-plus yards are tied for the most this season. The Chiefs' offense works best when it has an explosive threat, whether that be a running back or receiver, and now Kansas City once again has the league's most lethal home-run threat.
Defensive Player of the Year 🏆
3. Dallas Turner, Vikings
The Vikings took the training wheels off Turner, allowing him to unleash the best version of himself yet. After Turner played only 28% of Minnesota's defensive snaps as a rookie in 2024, his usage rose to 66% last year before exploding to 85% this year. That's paid off to the tune of 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 14 quarterback hits through five games. Other aspects of his game, such as stopping the run, still require some polish, but that doesn't matter when you're one of the league's most dangerous edge rushers. The only pass-rushers with more sacks than Turner are the ones listed ahead of him in our DPOY rankings. That's exceptional company to be in.
2. Greg Rousseau, Bills
Through six games, Rousseau is only two sacks away from matching his career high. The Bills edge rusher is enjoying a breakout campaign that's featured six sacks and three multi-sack games. Rousseau has been a game-changer in disrupting the pocket with his league-leading 39 pressures, per PFF. He's swung the game in other ways, too, with three forced fumbles, five defended passes, and eight tackles for loss. The Bills' defense as a whole has been disappointing thus far, but the same can't be said of Rousseau, who's keeping the unit afloat. More than half of Buffalo's 11 sacks have come from the 26-year-old star.
1. Will Anderson Jr., Texans
Anderson finished as the runner-up for DPOY last year, thanks to a historic season from Myles Garrett. It doesn't look like he'll fall short again in 2026. The two-time Pro Bowler leads the NFL in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (10). He's been nearly unblockable, registering at least three pressures in every game this season, including nine in a Week 3 matchup against the Colts, per PFF. Although only a quarter of the season is complete, the fate of the most prestigious defensive honor is firmly in the control of Anderson, who's on pace for a 21-sack season.
Offensive Rookie of the Year 🏆
3. Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals
Love isn't setting the world on fire - far from it, in fact. However, he's been hampered by ankle injuries since the preseason, which has clearly affected his production. Regardless, the No. 3 pick leads all rookies in rushing yards with 245, but he's doing so on a pedestrian 3.7 yards per carry. Time will tell whether Love gets healthy and starts to build a case for OROY or if another skill player (KC Concepcion, anyone?) eventually overtakes him. At the moment, Love has a podium spot based on his volume stats.
2. Carnell Tate, Titans
Tate has done exactly what the Titans hoped when they picked him fourth overall. The Ohio State product immediately improved the team's receiving corps, even though the quarterback position hasn't held its end of the bargain. Tate's 29 catches lead all rookies, while his 344 yards only trail Cleveland's Denzel Boston among first-year players. Plus, over half of Tate's receptions have resulted in first downs (15). Tennessee might have questions at quarterback, but Tate undoubtedly has the makeup of a top wideout.
1. Denzel Boston, Browns
It didn't take long for Boston to cement himself as the Browns' No. 1 receiver; his 345 yards are more than Concepcion's and Jerry Jeudy's totals combined (336). The second-round pick leads all rookies in receiving, albeit by only one yard. What's more impressive, though, is his mark of 20.3 yards per catch, which paces all qualified receivers. No player has recorded more receptions of 40-plus yards than Boston, who's already developing into one of the game's premier deep threats.
Defensive Rookie of the Year 🏆
3. Jacob Rodriguez, Dolphins
The list of players who've had an 18-tackle game this season begins and ends with Rodriguez. Remarkably, the Dolphins rookie accomplished the feat in his fourth career game. Outside of its own fan base, it's unlikely that Miami is on anyone's weekly viewing schedule, but if there's one reason to tune in, it's the play of Rodriguez. The second-round pick also shined in Week 3 against the Chiefs with an interception and three tackles for loss. He has certainly aced the eye test through his first five NFL contests.
2. David Bailey, Jets
Through six weeks, only five pass-rushers have registered more sacks than Bailey, who has five. The No. 2 overall pick has more sacks this season than T.J. Watt (4.5) and Nik Bonitto (3.5). In addition to leading all rookies in sacks, Bailey has recorded three forced fumbles, which is tied for the most in the NFL. Given that he plays a premium position and that edge rushers have won five of the last seven DROY awards, it won't take much for Bailey to reach the top spot.
1. Arvell Reese, Giants
Reese has been electric for the Giants' defense. He leads the entire league in solo tackles (34) and has made plays all over the field. Reese has four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery, and two quarterback hits. New York appears to have gotten not only a rare three-down linebacker but also one of the game's most promising defensive stars.
Comeback Player of the Year 🏆
3. Malik Nabers, Giants
You wouldn't be able to tell Nabers is coming back from a torn ACL that required surgery and a cleanup procedure. The third-year wideout has recorded three straight games of 100-plus yards, including a season-high 165-yard performance Sunday versus the Saints. Nabers is clearly starting to feel like his old self again, having totaled an NFL-high 398 yards over the last three weeks.
2. Michael Penix Jr., Falcons
Penix's comeback from another ACL injury hasn't been the easiest road traveled. He spent the first two weeks of the season watching from the sidelines before being cleared prior to Week 3. But Penix has responded admirably. The Falcons are 2-2 with him in the lineup, with Penix throwing six touchdowns to just one interception. However, those numbers don't do justice to the stability and flow that he's brought to Atlanta's offense, which has averaged 31.5 points per game since Penix returned.
1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Just over 10 months have passed since Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL, yet the star quarterback has made incredible strides even for someone who often faces superhuman expectations. The Chiefs are the AFC's lone undefeated team entering Week 7. Sure, Mahomes has benefitted from playing alongside the NFL's top rusher in Walker, but he's played as well as one could expect for a passer who's not even a year removed from a major knee injury. Here's the part that should worry the rest of the league: Mahomes admitted that he hasn't yet gotten back to the level physically that he was prior to the injury. Imagine what the Chiefs' offense could look like once he is.
Coach of the Year 🏆
3. Liam Coen, Jaguars
Coen's debut season in Jacksonville saw his Jaguars win 13 or more games for the first time since 1999. His second act in 2026 might end up being just as good, even if the number of wins is lower. Coen's tape has been out for the rest of the NFL to study, yet his offense remains a top-10 unit with an average of 25.7 points per game. His defense, led by coordinator Anthony Campanile, is even better than last year; the unit is surrendering just 17.3 points per game, third fewest in the NFL. The offense is terrific, the defense is even better, Lawrence is playing like an MVP, and Travis Hunter has been a star. What's not to love about what Coen is doing down in Jacksonville?
2. Todd Monken, Browns
Remember the feeling of dread and despair surrounding the Browns in the preseason? Two months later, Monken has the city of Cleveland thinking about not only the playoffs but also a potential AFC North title. The Browns sit 4-2, and half of their wins have come against the division rival Steelers and Ravens. Monken has extracted serviceable play from Deshaun Watson, while Cleveland's mighty defense ranks seventh in points allowed. Arguably most impressive is that the Browns are 4-1 in one-possession games. Finding ways to win games decided by slim margins can typically be credited to coaching, and Monken surely deserves some recognition.
1. Kyle Shanahan, 49ers
The 49ers have gone through such a wave of injuries this season that their injury reports might as well come with a table of contents. Still, that hasn't stopped Shanahan from turning San Francisco into the NFL's first 6-0 team. The 49ers are one of three undefeated teams left, but the resilience Shanahan has shown in his pursuit of perfection is unmatched. The offensive guru has overachieved in the past, but 2026 is shaping up to be his finest chapter yet. In a year when all the preseason buzz centered around the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks and the offseason-winning Rams, it's been the 49ers that have looked like the class of the league. Surprisingly, Shanahan has never been named Coach of the Year. Perhaps that's soon to change.
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