NFL MVP tracker: Ezekiel Elliott knocks Matt Ryan from pedestal
From Week 1 through Week 17, USA TODAY Sports' NFL staff will be handicapping the race for league MVP.
A first-place vote is worth five points, a second-place vote is worth three, and a third-place vote is worth one.
Our MVP tracker through Week 10's games:
1. RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (20½ points): He ends Matt Ryan's seven-week run as our frontrunner. But Elliott, who could join legendary Jim Brown as the only rookie to be anointed MVP, deserves the acclaim. He leads the NFL with 1,005 rushing yards and is on pace for 1,787, which would be 21 yards shy of matching Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's rookie record. But Elliott, the offensive engine of the Cowboys and their league-best 8-1 record, showed Sunday that he's much more than a runner, providing stellar pass protection for fellow frosh Dak Prescott while taking a screen pass 83 yards to the house. Stud. Last week: 6
USA TODAY Sports' Week 11 NFL picks
2. QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (15 points): Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was his least impressive performance (267 yards, TD, INT) of the season, though it must be noted Atlanta's defense couldn't get off the field, meaning Ryan wasn't on it for even 22 minutes. Still, even though the bye week means he will cede the league lead in passing yards and TDs to Drew Brees, Ryan is still having a career year for the NFC South-leading Falcons. And with four games remaining in the Georgia Dome, he's got a chance to push back ahead of Elliott down the stretch. Last week: 1
3. QB Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders (10 points): He'll take his candidacy to an international stage Monday night when the Raiders play in Mexico City. Carr hasn't been picked off during Oakland's three-game winning streak, which has carried them to the top of the AFC West, a rare vantage point for the Silver & Black for the last decade-plus. Last week: 3
4. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots (8 points): He takes what is probably a temporary tumble after getting thoroughly outplayed by Russell Wilson in Sunday night's loss while also throwing the Pats' first interception of the 2016 season. Still, Brady's 72.9% completion rate and 125.5 passer rating remain ahead of record pace, and he's likely to throw 30 TD passes and lead his team to another first-round bye despite his four-game suspension. Last week: 2
5. QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (5½ points): His status as Dallas' starter now appears unquestioned with Tony Romo set to officially back him up starting Sunday. And Prescott has surely earned the job, overseeing the team's eight-game winning streak and coming off perhaps his best game (319 yards, 2 TDs) in a tough venue, Pittsburgh's Heinz Field. Prescott's impressive 106.2 QB rating ranks fourth in the league but would be a rookie record. Pretty heady stuff even if, apparently, he's not the top rookie in his own backfield. Last week: 4
Others receiving votes: Russell Wilson (3), Drew Brees (1)
Dropped out: Matthew Stafford
— Week 9 MVP rankings (Matt Ryan)
— Week 8 MVP rankings (Matt Ryan)
— Week 7 MVP rankings (Matt Ryan)
— Week 6 MVP rankings (Matt Ryan)
— Week 5 MVP rankings (Matt Ryan)
— Week 4 MVP rankings (Matt Ryan)
— Week 3 MVP rankings (Matt Ryan)
— Week 2 MVP rankings (Ben Roethlisberger)
— Week 1 MVP rankings (Antonio Brown)
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Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis
PHOTOS: Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists
