NFL MVP watch 2021 – Ranking the top candidates, eight quarterbacks in contention and who is rising

The NFL’s Most Valuable Player race is starting to come together five weeks into the 2021 season, with a host of quarterbacks emerging on the short list of MVP candidates. The leader of the league’s only remaining undefeated team is tied for the best Vegas odds and, unsurprisingly, has the most first-place votes from our panel. Those jockeying for the front-runner spot have 13 more weeks to make their case.

We asked a group of analysts — Stephania Bell, Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Courtney Cronin, Jeremy Fowler, Domonique…