After six weeks of the 2009 NFL season it is just about to start seriously listening to those early MVP murmurs. The field is going to be dominated by quarterbacks with eight starters posting a quarterback rating in the triple digits, lacking running backs with just one back averaging more than 100 yards a game, and unfairly biased against defensive players because an assisted tackle is simply so much less sexy than anything a running back can do.

The Candidates:

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Stats: 110/159, 1400 yards, 13 TD/4 INT, QB Rating 118.4

Pros: Brees best stat is his team’s record, 6-0. He had two bad games, but three amazing games that included shredding the Giants previously lauded pass defense.

Cons: There are seven quarterbacks that average more yards a game than Brees and three quarterbacks on this short list that have a better completion percentage.

Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

Stats: 133/181, 1645 yards, 12 TD/4 INT, QB Rating 114.1

Pros: He is THE offense for the Indianapolis Colts, who are 5-0. No player is successful with more responsibility than Manning.

Cons: The only argument against his case is that Brees has a better QB rating.

Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Stats: 124/178, 1347 yards, 12 TD/ 2 INT, QB Rating 109.5

Pros: His best stat is his team’s record, just like Brees. The Vikings are 6-0 and he has been as big as an addition to the team as expected by even the most optimistic fan.

Cons: Like Brees, his team has a somewhat balanced offense so his numbers are not going to always fall within the top five. For instance, he is 17th in the league in passing yards per game. Also, he has taken 14 sacks so far this season. That is a lot of losses to take in just six games.

Kyle Orton, QB, Denver Broncos

Stats: 124/194, 1465 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT, QB Rating 100.1

Pros: Orton’s team is 6-0 and he has made the big plays when necessary, or had lady luck on his side.

Cons: His stats are not up to par with the rest of the top quarterbacks. He is 16th in completion percentage, 10th in touchdowns, 11th in passing yards per game, and 8th in quarterback rating.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Stats: 624 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, 7 touchdowns, 104 yards a game.

Pros: He is the leading rusher in the NFL in total yards and yards per game. He also has run for the most first downs (31) and has six rushes of more than 20 yards (2nd to Chris Johnson).

Cons: He is the best running back in a passing league. No matter how much of a monster he is running the ball he will not be as vogue as 300-yard a game passers with winning records.

Eric Dumervil, DE, Denver Broncos

Stats: 10 Sacks, 23 Tackles, 2 Forced Fumbles

Pros: He is leading the league in sacks and lingers in the mind of every quarterback he lines up against.

Cons: A defensive player has only been awarded any of the various NFL MVP awards once- in 1986 to Lawrence Taylor. Taylor was a linebacker so he could boost his stats with tackles. As a defensive end Dumervil will not have that luxury.

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