The 2026 NFL Season is well underway, as we are in the middle of week seven. Sample sizes are starting to get large enough to make predictions as to who may be in the running for awards. Here are our NFL Awards ladders, seven weeks into the 2026 season.
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Let’s be honest, the NFL MVP award has turned into a QB award. Not to say that is right, but it would take an absolutely monumental season from another player, amid a down year for quarterbacks, for anyone else to even sniff the MVP award. These rankings will reflect that.
Purdy has helmed the San Francisco 49ers to one of three undefeated records in the NFL so far this season. He doesn’t quite have the volume stats of some of the other notable QBs in the league, but what he may lack in volume stats, he makes up for in sheer efficiency. Purdy’s passer rating is 12 points higher than any other QB who has played in all their team’s games. His completion percentage hovers right around 70%.
Lawrence came out of the gates scorching hot, having one of the best games of his career against Cleveland in week one. He has continued to play very well in Liam Coen’s offense, as he is tied for the league lead in touchdowns. He is also near the top in passer rating. The Jags are comfortably atop the AFC South, in large part due to the play of Lawrence.
Goff has long been known as a game-managing QB. He is someone who might not win you the game on talent, but he won’t lose you the game, especially with good players around him. He has parlayed that skill into a great start. The most impressive stat of his this year is his twelve touchdowns, tied for fifth, while throwing zero interceptions. Goff is taking care of the ball, which is a great way to keep your offense in the game.
Burrow is quietly having another great season. He is finally healthy, and it seems like some people have forgotten how good he can be when he isn’t hampered by injury. His QBR and completion percentage so far this year are the highest they’ve been in his impressive career. Those efficiency stats combined with almost 1400 yards so far have Burrow in a great spot.
Love is possibly the best example right now of doing more with less. His offensive line is ranked 31st in the NFL by PFF, leading to the Packers not getting anything in the running game. It has also given Love some of the shortest windows to throw the ball. Despite that, he has taken advantage of defensive aggressiveness from other teams, throwing for over 280 yards per game.
JSN is the frontrunner for OPOY, a year after he won the award in 2025. Smith-Njigba has been the only consistent part of the Seahawks offense this season, as they have struggled to find a solid running attack. He currently leads the league with 717 yards and 7 touchdowns.
It was mentioned that Seattle has struggled to be consistent in the run game; letting this guy walk is a big part of that. Walker has been terrific for a Kansas City team that has looked for an answer at RB for years. He leads all RBs in yards, yards per attempt, and yards per game. His explosiveness was questioned when he was beat up a bit last season, but it has been on full display for the Chiefs.
Robinson has been a stabilizing force in an Atlanta offense that has gone through four different QBs so far this season. He trails only Walker in many major RB stats, and also has the advantage of a more robust receiving presence. Only he and Walker are tied with seven 20+ yard plays, the most in the league. Another stat showing the raw playmaking ability he possesses.
Gibbs has the disadvantage of already having had his bye week, but is still top five in rushing. He is tied for the league lead in touchdowns and is near the top of the leaderboards in a lot of rate stats. Gibbs is the type of player where you don’t need stats to appreciate him either; just watch how smooth and elusive he is on the field, and you’ll understand how much talent he has.
Bowers is my biggest dark-horse pick for OPOY. Despite missing the first two games of the season, he is second in TE receiving yards (by only one yard). He is fifth in the league in yards per game among all receivers. As a TE, being the focal point of a passing attack is a mark of a special player, and Bowers has been a bright spot in Las Vegas for the last two seasons.
In a year where the Texans’ defensive unit has faltered a little as a whole, Anderson has definitely not. He has racked up seven and a half sacks so far in six games, good enough to lead the league by a notable margin. He hasn’t been one-dimensional, though, as he also has 28 tackles and 12 TFLs.
McDuffie has graded out exceptionally well among cornerbacks this year. Likely the reason the Rams went and got him from the Chiefs in the offseason, he has been fantastic in coverage, with an opposing passer rating of just 22.5.
Rousseau has averaged 6.4 sacks per season since his debut in 2021. This season, he has already totaled six sacks in just six games, making him well on track to shatter his career high. That total is good for second in the league behind Anderson of the Texans. He also has eight TFL’s, again second in the league.
Warner is third in the NFL in tackles, which is unsurprising given the pedigree that he has built over the course of his career. He is a perennial DPOY candidate when healthy, and his all-world instincts and quickness are big parts of that. Warner is not a guy opposing QBs want to see lined up across from them, speaking to his flashy ability and his schematic knowledge.
A young player with dark-horse DPOY potential is Evan Williams. Williams has been all over the field for a Packers defense that has held its own even with a litany of injuries. He has been their do-it-all man, racking up 52 tackles, most among safeties, two interceptions, two TFLs, and a sack.
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