Week 12 gave us a wild Sunday in the NFL, with the playoff picture shifting in both conferences. The Ravens moved into the AFC North lead, Matthew Stafford and the Rams took over pole position for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and Drake Maye and the Patriots also took the top spot in the AFC with a win over the Bengals.
On the individual side, Sunday was also a very consequential one for the MVP race. Stafford, Josh Allen and Jonathan Taylor, who came in at No. 2 and No. 4 in last week's rankings, both played in high-profile games with chances to make a statement. Did they do enough to move up in the MVP power rankings after Week 12?
Honorable mention: Chargers QB Justin Herbert, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, Browns DE Myles Garrett, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
5. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
With Justin Herbert on a bye in Week 12, the opportunity was there for someone to have a big day and grab the No. 5 spot in these rankings. Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba did just that, posting eight catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-24 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Smith-Njigba broke the Seahawks' single-season receiving yards record in the win, going over 1,300 for the year in just 11 games. At his current pace, he would break the all-time single-season receiving yards record currently held by Calvin Johnson and become the first player to surpass 2,000 yards in a season.
If he is able to do that, all while being the primary focus of one of the elite passing games in football (and one that doesn't throw the ball all that much), he will only continue to rise up this list.
4. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor had a chance to make a big statement on Sunday and help further damage the Chiefs' playoff hopes, but none of that came to fruition in a 23-20 overtime loss. Taylor had his worst game of the season in terms of EPA and his second-worst in terms of total yardage, notching just 58 yards on 16 carries.
The Colts offense as a while sputtered without Taylor producing like he usually does, failing to get a single first down in the fourth quarter and overtime as they saw an 11-point lead disappear.
Taylor's amazing statistical output and his value to the Indianapolis offense keeps him solidly at No. 4 on this list, but he can't afford any more games like Sunday if he wants to make a push for the top spot.
3. Bills QB Josh Allen
Allen was already chasing the top two on this list, but he lost ground in Week 12 when he took a career-high eight sacks in prime time against the Houston Texans in a 23-19 loss on Thursday night. The Texans' defense, like it does to most opponents, suffocated a Buffalo offense that is banged up on the offensive line and doesn't have the talent on the perimeter to consistently create separation against Houston's elite secondary.
The reigning MVP finished Thursday's game 24-for-34 with 253 yards and two interceptions, and now has his work cut out for him if he wants to go back-to-back.
2. Patriots QB Drake Maye
Most quarterbacks have celebrated when they have seen the Cincinnati Bengals defense across from them, but Drake Maye's Sunday got off to a rocky start. The second-year star started his day with a brutal pick-six that put the Pats in a 10-0 hole.
Despite that, Maye was able to dig his team out of it thanks to some help from a defensive touchdown, but he turned things around himself and put together a solid day. Maye finished 22-for-35 with 294 yards and two touchdowns to go with that interception and get the Patriots to 10-2, the best record in the NFL currently (with the caveat that they haven't had a bye yet). It was a solid day, but it wasn't enough to hold onto the top spot.
1. Rams QB Matthew Stafford
There isn't much better in football than a Matthew Stafford heater. The veteran QB's first half performance against the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football was simply stunning to witness. Stafford carved up the Bucs defense with no-look passes, sidearm passes and everything in between as Los Angeles raced out to a 31-7 lead after 30 minutes.
Naturally, Stafford didn't have to do much in the second half as Los Angeles raced to a 34-7 win and the top seed in the NFC after the Eagles' loss to the Cowboys. He still finished 25-for-35 with 273 yards and three touchdowns in a vintage performance, one that vaults him into the top spot in the MVP rankings coming into Week 13.
