Major upsets and shattered expectations. That, in essence, has been the start of November. With Week 9 in the books, the NFL MVP race has also seen some major shake-ups. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about momentum, leadership, and who carries their team when the lights burn brightest. Josh Allen is back in the lead with a spectacular win over Patrick Mahomes. Here’s the Week 10 EssentiallySports MVP Ladder: a crisp look at the top players, and those on the fringe. 

5. Matthew Stafford: poised, precise, productive

Last week, Matthew Stafford skirted the fringes of our MVP Ladder. But after a solid Week 9, Stafford re-enters the MVP conversation with authority. We’ve said this before. He leads the Los Angeles Rams with the utmost poise and control, even if he’s not flashy. But after his 34-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints, you simply can’t say that anymore. He’s got the flash right when you need it.

Stafford tossed the ball for 281 yards and four touchdowns with pinpoint accuracy against the Saints. With that performance, he now leads the NFL in touchdowns (21). The Rams now go 6-2 into Week 10 with a three-game win streak. Remember Stafford’s 2021 Super Bowl debut with the Rams? That flair is back, but with greater consistency across games. The Rams’ playoff hopes this year aren’t just alive; they’re thriving.

4. Patrick Mahomes: 9th-year reality check

Patrick Mahomes’ Week 9 reality shook up the MVP race. He was the clear winner before the Kansas City Chiefs went up against the Buffalo Bills. This just became a new episode in an old series: Mahomes lost against Josh Allen for the 5th time in a regular season. If history’s any indication, the script will flip come postseason. But Patrick has a lot of ground to cover before that becomes a reality this season.

Mahomes failed to throw a single touchdown for the first time this season. He completed 15 of 34 passes for 250 yards with one costly interception. But here’s the real heartbreak: Mahomes’ completion rate was a mere 44.1%. That’s an all-time low through the entirety of this 9-year regular season career.

Yet, even after this major stumble, Mahomes remains third in passing yards (2,349) and touchdowns (17). The mental reset post-loss will be critical for him as he refocuses on reclaiming his MVP momentum.

3. Sam Darnold: quietly dominant

Sam Darnold’s steady performance has rippled through the MVP chatter. Week 9 saw him complete 21 of 24 passes for 330 yards and four beautiful touchdowns in a 38-14 dominance over the Washington Commanders. The Seattle Seahawks didn’t even need a run game with Darnold throwing dimes. His QBR (77.9) sits second in the league. But that’s all about the general numbers. He’s also made history himself.

Only three quarterbacks, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees, had a record to themselves. 70% completions, 2000+ yards, 15+ touchdowns and under 10 sacks through the first eight games of the season. Now, we can add Sam Darnold (9) to that list. And you also can’t ignore the chants in the stands.

The league has quietly glossed over Darnold’s flair this season, but it’s just not possible to overlook anymore. The crowds were chanting ‘MVP’ watching Darnold’s performance in Week 9. But Darnold, cool as ever, just gave the flowers to his team. With all this momentum, Darnold’s no longer a surprise, but a serious contender.

2. Drake Maye: uneven, but undeniable

Drake Maye’s last outing was an imperfect symphony. One pick, one fumble, and still the New England Patriots found a way to win. With the two turnovers, Maye was visibly upset on the sidelines, and he owned the mistakes post-game. But his stepping up in the pocket and throwing a deep dime to DeMario Douglas was just one of the reasons his MVP stocks keep rising.

Maye is now tied for third in league touchdowns (17). Week 9 showed some cracks, some miscues on the Atlanta Falcons’ part also helped to get Maye his 6th straight win. But he’s got the locker room hyping him up, with wideout Stefon Diggs promising more touchdowns in the weeks ahead. With all this added to his ownership, he’s still one of the most formidable MVP candidates as the season’s grind intensifies.

1. Josh Allen: running away with it again?

With a major win over the Chiefs, Josh Allen is back leading the pack. Week 9 marked the second straight game where he rushed for two touchdowns. He also posted a career-high completion rate of 88.5%. It was a stark contrast to Patrick Mahomes’ own career-worst completion. Allen’s dual-threat explosiveness has kept the defenses guessing all season and made the Bills look like the last boss of the AFC East games. And then there’s the post-game energy.

Josh Allen’s got plenty of highlights already. But the coolest moment was perhaps when he was walking off the field, singing along to Mr. Brightside along with the Bills Mafia. With that swagger and trademark smile, Allen’s also notched a record for himself. After Week 9, he’s got a total of 79 career rushing touchdowns (postseason included), the most by any NFL quarterback in history. Take that, glass ceiling. With all said and done, Allen, once again, has become the MVP to beat as Week 10 looms.

On the cusp: the others making noise

Daniel Jones is still throwing for the Indianapolis Colts like a man on fire, leading the league in passing yards this week, having posted his best passing game against a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense that brought out heavy pressure and five sacks. The latest shuffle has dropped him just outside the Top 5, but don’t rule him out just yet.

Baker Mayfield watches from the sidelines after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ bye week. After he failed to post a single touchdown in Week 8, there’s anticipation of how he’ll restart his charge. Justin Herbert, riding the momentum of a two-game win streak with the Los Angeles Chargers, inches ever closer to breaking into serious MVP conversations. Jared Goff flashed his second-best passing yardage of the year but was hampered by a leaky Detroit Lions’ O-line and five sacks. He needs some support to get back in the conversation.

Can we also talk about the Raven in the room? Lamar Jackson came back from injury and showed the league what they’ve been missing these past few weeks. The Baltimore Ravens look re-energized as Lamar torched the Miami Dolphins for 204 yards and 4 touchdowns. His 78.9 QBR leads the league right now. If this kind of performance continues, he’ll be rising back up in our conversations soon.

So, all the stats, pressure, momentum, and upsets have brought us a crazy Week 9. Matthew Stafford’s steady hand. Patrick Mahomes’ steep drop. Sam Darnold’s quiet surge. Drake Maye’s tenacity. And of course, Josh Allen’s dominance. They form quite an interesting leaderboard. But Week 10 will tell us more: who brings the heat, who stumbles. The MVP race? Still unpredictable as ever.