NFL MVP Award Race 5 Players To Know: Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Matt Ryan Top Candidates

Oct 29, 2015 06:20 PM EDT

The NFL season is coming into Week 8 and the MVP award race is starting to heat up and players like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and Matt Ryan are in the mix as the top candidates so far. The Packers, Panthers, Bengals and Patriots are all undefeated and that has helped their quarterbacks make strong cases for the award so far.

Brady and Rodgers are considered to be the front runners with the stats they have put up and their teams being undefeated helps as well. Newton doesn't have the stats compared to those two, but he also doesn't have the supporting cast and if the Panthers continue playing well he will get consideration. Dalton is putting up great numbers and he is in the mix, while Matt Ryan is on the outside looking in, but is also considered an option.

Here is a look at 5 players for MVP:

Aaron Rodgers

The Packers quarterback has been fantastic this season despite dealing with some major injuries on offense with Jordy Nelson, Eddie Lacy and Davante Adams as well as Ty Montgomery being banged up at times. Rodgers has 15 touchdowns and just two picks and he is completing 68 percent of his passes this season for the undefeated Packers.

Tom Brady

Brady is on pace for one of the best seasons in NFL history and the longer the Patriots stay undefeated, the more likely he will win the award. Brady comes in with 2054 yards and 16 touchdowns with just one interception and he is completing nearly 69 percent of his passes. Brady looks to be the frontrunner right now.

Andy Dalton

Dalton has been playing great and his numbers are impressive as well for the undefeated Bengals. The regular season has never been an issue for Dalton and he is putting up career numbers with 14 touchdowns and two picks with 1761 passing yards in six games.

Cam Newton

Newton doesn't have the supporting roster that the other players have and he is playing well, but his stats are nothing close to those names above. Newton has the team undefeated and is completing just 55 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and seven picks. Newton also has 245 rushing yards and four scores on the ground.

Matt Ryan

Ryan is putting up solid numbers for the 6-1 Falcons, but it might be Devonta Freeman who is the MVP for this team. Ryan has the chance to get his numbers up and if the Falcons stay in the mix, Ryan also could stay in the mix.

Check here for the NFL schedule heading into Week 8.

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