Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers has the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. But, with a stronger run game and defense than in years past, the load on the quarterback has been lighter.

Patrick Mahomes: It was always going to be tough to top the video-game numbers from last year's MVP season.

The Houston Texans quarterback has had MVP moments and signature victories (see: his air guitar versus the New England Patriots), but Watson's head-to-head loss to Lamar Jackson in Week 11 all but eliminated him from the race.

The New Orleans Saints star has already eclipsed 1,500 yards receiving for the year and is gaining steam as a periphery MVP candidate. Thomas is the only wideout in football with more than 100 catches on the season (133).

The Carolina Panthers' do-everything back surpassed 2,000 scrimmage yards on the season to go with his 18 total touchdowns. McCaffrey has been unstoppable on the field and his MVP candidacy is hurt only by his team's 5-9 record.

Wilson is enjoying a career year while leading the Seattle Seahawks to the top of the NFC standings. He was the favorite for the league award halfway through the season, but his individual numbers have slowed of late. He'd be the MVP if not for ...

The presumptive 2019 MVP has shut down the questions about his arm by leading the league with a 112.8 passer rating. And, in Week 15, he broke Michael Vick's record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season. The only question is whether he'll eclipse the 41 first-place votes that Mahomes received in MVP voting last year.