Following the conclusion of Week 1 in the 2026 NFL season, several players have emerged as early frontrunners in the race for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. With 16 games completed, a mix of quarterbacks and running backs have stood out, reflecting both the league's recent trend of quarterback-dominated MVP selections and the impact of a run-heavy opening week.
Leading the pack is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who defied preseason skepticism in the Bills’ road victory over the Houston Texans. Despite Houston’s reputation as one of the league’s top defenses last season and Buffalo’s limited offseason upgrades at receiver, Allen delivered an impressive all-around performance. He passed for 334 yards and two touchdowns while adding 23 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. This marked his best passing yardage since the opening week of last season and signaled a strong start to the Joe Brady-led Bills offense.
Close behind is Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams, who recorded a near-flawless debut in the second year under head coach Ben Johnson. Williams completed 73.9% of his passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns during the Bears’ league-leading 59-point outing against the Carolina Panthers. The third-year quarterback also contributed 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, effectively commanding an offense that topped Week 1 in total yardage. Williams credited the team’s balanced attack and sound decision-making for his standout performance.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson also demonstrated his dual-threat capabilities, throwing for 324 yards and adding a rushing touchdown while compensating for early injuries to key receivers. Jackson targeted a diverse group of pass catchers, maintaining offensive productivity despite missing top wideout Zay Flowers and rookie Ja’Kobi Lane. His passing yards matched one of the highest totals of his career.
Jackson’s AFC North rival, Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, recorded a strong showing in the season opener. Lawrence completed four touchdown passes on 78.3% completions against a Cleveland Browns defense that was still formidable despite the loss of star edge rusher Myles Garrett. Lawrence’s performance, featuring high yards per attempt and success rate, extended his regular-season winning streak to nine consecutive games.
Among running backs, Kansas City Chiefs’ newcomer Kenneth Walker made an immediate impact, rushing for a league-high 173 yards and scoring twice on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos. Walker’s performance stood out given the Chiefs’ historically modest rushing production in recent years. He accounted for nearly half of Kansas City’s total offensive yardage, underscoring his central role in their revamped offense.
Other notable MVP candidates include New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to the Detroit Lions despite early struggles; Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, who carried a heavy offensive workload with 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns; and Ravens running back Derrick Henry, who rolled up 144 yards and three rushing touchdowns, surpassing several all-time NFL milestones despite being 32 years old.
Rounding out the list are New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who threw for three touchdowns and posted a high completion percentage against a faltering Dallas defense; and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, who accounted for nearly three-quarters of his team’s offensive output in a losing effort against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Two players received honorable mentions outside the top 10. Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt opened his tenth season with a dominant defensive performance that included two sacks and a pick-six. Saints wide receiver Chris Olave also earned recognition after recording a league-leading 182 receiving yards on ten catches in Week 1.
As the 2026 season progresses, these players will seek to maintain or improve on their strong starts in pursuit of the league’s most prestigious individual honor.