After 3 weeks of play in the NFL season, several players are starting to separate from the pack. With some now injured, the chase for the MVP has shrunk. But there is still a group of several players playing above the rest.

So, lets take a look at who is in the running for the Most Valuable Player award through 3 weeks of football.

5. Kevin Kolb

How in the world could Kevin Kolb, one of the highest-paid backups in NFL history who plays for the Arizona Cardinals be an MVP candidate? Well, when the young quarterback who took your job goes down with an injury in Week 1 and you lead your team to a 3-0 start, most notably a route of the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, you’re clearly doing something valuable. Yes, the Cards have had some major help from their defense, but Kolb has been nothing but excellent to start the year. Kolb has completed a little over 64 percent of his passes and is yet to throw an interception after three games. With next to no help from the running game, Kevin Kolb has stepped up and led this Cardinal team to be one of the few unbeaten teams remaining.

4. Reggie Bush

Another player you thought you’d never see on an MVP-related post—Reggie Bush. The Miami running back has played great to date, and it showed on Sunday in their game against the New York Jets. Bush went down with a knee injury and could not return. Due to his exit, rookie signal-caller Ryan Tannehill could not keep the offensive afloat with Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller carrying the ball. That proved Reggie Bush’s value to this Miami squad, and his 6 yards a carry supports that statement. Bush will keep up this high quality of play mostly due to his involvement in the passing game. His dual-threat ability will open up his holes in the running game and keep his big-play ability alive through the long haul of this season. It is very likely that Reggie Bush could remain on this list for the remainder of the season.

3. Alex Smith

Many questioned if Alex Smith could come into this season and continue the way playing the way he did last year. Many called Smith only a game manager in this game that could not carry this team to Super Bowl Sunday. However Smith has debunked these thoughts thus far. With the third highest completion percentage in the league at just under 70, Smith has been able to close out the likes of the Packers and Lions with the passing game and not rely heavily on the running game such as last year. Arguably leading the best team in the NFL, Alex Smith has become widely considered an above average quarterback that could indeed carry the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl.

2. Joe Flacco

Many thought Joe Flacco, like Alex Smith, is just a game manager who is lucky to be on a team with a great defense, and an all-pro running back. Well, Flacco has also turned these rumors off and has played at such a high-level of play these first three games. In the season opener, Flacco annihilated the Bengals secondary and on Sunday led a comeback against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. After losing in the AFC Championship for the second time in his career last year, Flacco has come into this season with a chip on his shoulder and is proving people wrong at this point in the season. The Baltimore Ravens have one of the most all-around units in football, and the person to give credit for this is Joe Flacco.

1.    Matt Ryan

This is not a question right now. Right now, Matt Ryan is the best quarterback in football. Completing a league-high 72% of his passes and a quarterback rating of 114. These statistics show when he is leading the Atlanta Falcons to an undefeated record, and arguably the hottest and best team in football. With Michael Turner’s consideration as a great running back in a free-fall, Matty Ice has picked up the slack. The former number 3 pick in the draft is finally ready to be considered an elite quarterback in this league, and nobody is in his way right now. The way Ryan is playing right now, he could put on a historic season down in Atlanta. There is no question right now that Matt Ryan is the Most Valuable Play in the NFL.

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