New York Giants — Evan Engram, TE
Engram gets this honor almost by default, as pretty much every member of the Giants has been horrible. The rookie has at least had an impact on his team, catching three touchdowns so far in his young career and leading the team with 342 receiving yards. These aren’t the greatest numbers, to be sure, but on a team where pretty much every wide receiver has dealt with injuries — and Odell Beckham’s has been season-ending — Engram has been one of the few consistent options Eli Manning has been able to look to.
New York Jets — Jermaine Kearse, WR
Kearse has stepped things up for the surprising Jets and looks to be on his way to a career-best season in most statistical categories, so long as nothing trips him up the rest of the way. His four touchdowns are already one shy of matching a career best, while his 328 receiving yards put him on pace to best his previous career high of 685 over the course of a full season. Kearse isn’t having an elite season, but he’s been the best receiver in a decent enough New York offense.
Oakland Raiders — Derek Carr, QB
Carr hasn’t been as good in 2017 as he was in 2016, but he’s still been solid. And when he missed a game due to a back injury, the Raiders missed him badly, losing in a flat performance to a Baltimore Ravens team that has done little of note in 2017. Though he’s not up there with the top statistical performers of 2017, Carr’s 11 touchdowns and 1,341 yards in six games are nothing to sneeze at. Oakland hasn’t really gotten it going this season, but Carr has done his best to keep them moving forward.
Philadelphia Eagles — Carson Wentz, QB
Wentz is a star, and he continues to prove himself as one with every single performance. He leads the league with 17 touchdown passes, has cut the interceptions down big time to just four, and has even shown some ability with his legs when he’s needed to. Wentz has won six of seven this year for the Eagles, who could not have envisioned him being this good this soon. He is spearheading the remarkable turnaround in Philadelphia and is arguably the frontrunner for league MVP.
Pittsburgh Steelers — Le’Veon Bell, RB
The Steelers should probably pay the man. Pittsburgh leans heavily on Bell — nobody in the NFL has carried the ball more than he has in 2017 — and few have done it more effectively. Bell has 684 yards rushing and four touchdowns, and has continued to be a weapon in the passing game as well, picking up 214 yards there. 1,000 yards from scrimmage is only a matter of time. If he plays well enough down the stretch, 2,000 could be within reach.
San Francisco 49ers — Robbie Gould, K
Once again, it’s never a terribly good thing when your kicker is your MVP, but Gould is responsible for 57 of San Francisco’s 123 points so far in 2017. He’s made 16 of his 17 field goals and nine of his 10 extra points, making him a reliable performer on a team that doesn’t have very many of them. The 49ers will not be good this year, but they have a reliable kicker, and there are worse things to have on your team — even if you’re this bad.
Seattle Seahawks — Russell Wilson, QB
Wilson is almost underappreciated at this point on account of the Seahawks having taken a small step down from their Super Bowl best. He has been extremely solid for Seattle, throwing 11 touchdown passes and just three interceptions, leading the Seahawks to a 4-2 record. He’s been customarily dangerous with his legs, too, and his 164 yards have him second on the team in rushing yards. Wilson is as steady as ever, if not quite as good as he was a couple years back.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Mike Evans, WR
Jameis Winston’s favorite target has come through for him time and time again. Evans is on his way to 1,000 yards once again, having racked up 459 so far. He’s pulled in four touchdowns in six games, accounting for a full 40 percent of touchdown passes Winston has thrown in 2017. He’s a big play threat, the team’s leading receiver, and an option Winston can trust whenever he’s looking to make a key connection with his receivers.
Tennessee Titans — Kevin Byard, S
Byard looks like a star in the making. He announced himself with three interceptions in one game against the Cleveland Browns, bringing his tally up to four in seven games. He’s defended seven passes. He’s made a lot of tackles — 26 with 15 assists. He’s proven to be a versatile option in the secondary as well, and has been excellent as a run-stopping defensive back as well as in pass coverage. He’s quickly made himself an indispensable member of the defense.
Washington Redskins — Kirk Cousins, QB
To think there used to be some controversy over whether Cousins was the best quarterback for Washington. He has become the driving force of their offense, with 12 touchdowns and 1,637 yards to his name. He’s not throwing for quite as many yards per game as he has in years past, but he continues to limit the turnovers and make productive plays. If Washington loses him in free agency in years to come, they will miss him, whether they can admit it or not.
