Top 5 NFL MVP Candidates Ahead of Week 15

The Panthers are 5-8, recently relieved Ron Rivera of his duties as head coach and face an uncertain future at quarterback.

With that, McCaffrey's NFL MVP train has understandably lost steam. It's hard enough to win the award when you aren't a quarterback, let alone when you're a non-quarterback on a team that isn't in playoff contention.

All that said, McCaffrey has developed into the NFL's most complete running back in 2019. The 23-year-old is averaging five yards per carry, and has racked up 1,220 rushing yards in his third NFL season. On top of that, he has 86 catches for 726 yards. McCaffrey has tallied 16 total touchdowns in 2019.

So while the Panthers season has devolved into a disaster, McCaffrey is having one of the most complete seasons that a running back has had in recent memory, and that shouldn't be lost

There was certainly some head scratching done when the 0-2 Steelers - who had already lost future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger for the season - traded a first-round pick, among other things, to acquire Fitzpatrick on Sept. 16.

No one is scratching their heads anymore.

Since that time, the Steelers are 8-3, and enter Week 15 in control of the AFC's second Wild Card spot. That success hasn't come because of elite quarterback play, it's largely been based on what's been a top-five defensive unit.

Fitzpatrick, a 2018 first-round pick, has five interceptions, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 46 combined tackles in 11 games since being traded to the Steelers. There was a lot of focus on who may trade for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but Fitzpatrick has proven to be the best in-season addition in 2019.

We don't talk enough about how Thomas, 26, is having a Hall of Fame-caliber career.

The Saints rewarded Thomas with a five-year/$96.25 million contract after he was an All-Pro for the first time in 2018. He's followed that up by rewarding the Saints with an even better 2019 campaign.

Despite future Hall of Famer Drew Brees missing nearly six games, Thomas has 121 catches for 1,424 yards, both of which lead the NFL. He's one of the major reasons that the Saints were able to go 5-0 in the five full games that Brees missed. The Saints are 10-3, have already clinched the NFC South and find themselves in the thick of the race for one of the two first-round byes in the NFC playoffs.

As mentioned, Thomas, a 2016 second-round pick out of Ohio State, is putting himself on the fast track to Canton. In 60 career games, Thomas has 442 catches for 5,211 yards and 30 touchdowns.

It's almost too bad Russell Wilson picked 2019 to have the best season of his illustrious career.

Now 31, Wilson has tossed 26 touchdowns to just five interceptions in 2019, while racking up 3,422 yards.

The problem is, he's almost certainly going to finish second in NFL MVP voting. And even though the Seahawks are 10-3, they trail the 11-2 San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West, and find themselves in danger of having to go on the road on Wild Card Weekend.

Still, 2019 has been the signature season in a career that looks increasingly certain to end with Wilson in the Hall of Fame.

Though there was a time where it appeared Wilson was pushing him for the NFL MVP, Jackson may ultimately end up winning the award unanimously.

Less than two years removed from some NFL scouts and executives suggesting he may be best-geared to play wide receiver at the pro level, Jackson is on path to become the ninth player in history to win both the Heisman Trophy and NFL MVP.

Still only 22, Jackson leads the NFL with 28 touchdown passes, and has been picked off just six times. On top of that, Jackson has rushed for 1,017 yards, meaning he'll almost certainly break Michael Vick's NFL record of 1,039 rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season. For good measure, Jackson has rushed for seven touchdowns in 2019 as well.

Between him silencing critics and leading the Ravens to an 11-2 record, the NFL MVP narrative is on Jackson's side, as well it should be.