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Who are the early NFL MVP frontrunners?
The early weeks of the NFL season rarely settle the MVP race, but they can reveal who’s in form, whose team is clicking and who has the momentum.
After two games of the 2025 campaign, a handful of quarterbacks are emerging as serious candidates. Their stats are sharp, their teams are performing and the narrative is building.
Here are five players who stand out as early MVP frontrunners.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
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Josh Allen returns to defend his MVP title after a dominant 2024 campaign, and so far in 2025 he’s looked ready for a repeat. Through two games, Allen has passed for 542 yards, thrown two touchdowns and has not thrown an interception. The Bills are 2-0 and Allen’s dual threat ability – especially his mobility under pressure, his capacity to make big plays when the pocket breaks – continues to set him apart. If he keeps avoiding turnovers and if Buffalo remain atop the AFC East and win in big games, Allen has as good a shot as anyone at repeating as MVP.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Runner-up last year and a two-time past winner, Lamar Jackson is looking like an MVP again. Through two weeks, he has thrown six touchdown passes with no interceptions, while racking up over 430 passing yards. His 136.6 passer rating is the best in the league at this point. Jackson’s ability to stretch defenses with both arm and legs gives him a dual threat edge. Expect the Baltimore superstar to be in the MVP conversation all season.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
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The Packers are 2-0 and Jordan Love has been a big reason why. His stat line reads 480 passing yards, four touchdown passes and zero interceptions, with a 66% completion percentage and impressive downfield passing at 9.1 yards per attempt. If Love can maintain clean games and keep pushing the Packers toward a top seed, he might surprise a lot of doubters.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
NFL
Justin Herbert’s opener was electric. In Week 1 he threw for 318 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over the defending AFC champs, Kansas City. In Week 2, his performance was more modest statistically (242 passing yards, two touchdowns, no picks) in a 20-9 win over the Raiders, yet through two games he still ranks among league leaders in passing yards and efficiency. The talent has always been there. Will this be the season Herbert meets expectations? The signs so far are good.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Baker Mayfield is less touted than some of the established MVP contenders, but he’s playing himself into contention. Through two games, he has thrown five touchdowns, zero interceptions and 382 passing yards. He engineered a dramatic late-game drive in Week 2 to beat Houston 20-19, leading the Bucs to a 2-0 start. Tampa Bay have been resilient and at times electric, traits epitomised by their quarterback. The former No.1 overall pick ranked third in total passing yards and second in touchdowns last season. If his arrival among the elite signal callers holds steady this season, Mayfield should at least be considered a strong outside bet for MVP.
- Read more | NFL Week 3 Power Rankings: Eagles continue their dominance, Chiefs take nose dive, Lions rise up
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