AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick still makes untimely mistakes, but since he assumed control of the offense, the Bills seem to harbor more hope.

Miami Dolphins: Cameron Wake
In his second NFL season, Wake has chased down quarterbacks and ranks second in the NFL with 8.5 sacks.

New England Patriots: Tom Brady
Brady not only is the Patriots MVP so far, he's also among the top candidates for the league honor.

New York Jets: LaDainian Tomlinson
Tomlinson is on pace to rush for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns and to catch 60 passes for 382 yards. Not bad for a retread.

-- Tim Graham

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens: Haloti Ngata
Ngata has been so difficult to contain that he's also getting to the quarterback more than any other Ravens defender.

Cincinnati Bengals: Terrell Owens
Owens is the easy choice. He doesn't look anything like a 36-year-old receiver and will enter free agency next year with very good numbers.

Cleveland Browns: Peyton Hillis
Hillis is the clear choice. He makes Cleveland's offense go and has three 100-yard games this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashard Mendenhall
Despite opponents knowing Pittsburgh would run the football without Ben Roethlisberger, Mendenhall kept the offense afloat.

-- James Walker

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans: Arian Foster
Foster has been a revelation and looks like the clear-cut team MVP to me. He can also make a case for midseason league MVP.

Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning
Despite all the injuries, he is still operating at an exceptionally high level with 2,478 passing yards and a 4:1 touchdown to interception ratio.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Marcedes Lewis
He's been their biggest threat on offense, with a 13-yard per-catch average that's less than 2 yards off the pace of Tiquan Underwood.

Tennessee Titans: Jason Babin
The call is Babin, who's got a career-high seven sacks already and has provided relentless pressure.

-- Paul Kuharsky

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos: Kyle Orton
Orton is having a terrific season. He has made great strides in his two seasons in Denver under Josh McDaniels.

Kansas City Chiefs: Tamba Hali
Hali is the leader of a very good defense. He is tied for third in the NFL with eight sacks and is constantly bringing the heat.

Oakland Raiders: Darren McFadden
McFadden has had a monster breakout season. He is fourth in the NFL in rushing with 757 yards, despite missing two games with a hamstring injury.

San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers
If the Chargers had a slightly better record, he'd be the runaway leader in the MVP chase.

-- Bill Williamson

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant
I think he's lived up to the ridiculous expectations everyone had for him coming out of the draft.

Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick
His return to stardom has been the story of the 2010 season. He's better than he was in Atlanta because he takes care of the ball.

New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks
I think his presence on the field has opened things up for Ahmad Bradshaw and the running game. Both of those players have been excellent.

Washington Redskins: DeAngelo Hall
He's been volatile at times, but I think some of that may have been necessary. He's spearheaded a takeaway movement.

-- Matt Mosley

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears: Julius Peppers
Peppers has disappointed fantasy owners but few others. His impact on this defense, and its resulting ascendance in NFL rankings, is undeniable.

Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh
Suh leads all NFL interior linemen with 6.5 sacks while contributing a nasty demeanor to a previously moribund defense.

Green Bay Packers: Clay Matthews
It's hard to look past 10.5 sacks in eight games. Matthews has become one of the more feared players in the game.

Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson
Peterson has been a rock amid the chaos surrounding this team. His 857 rushing yards is second in the NFL. He is on pace for a career high in catches.

-- Kevin Seifert

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons: Roddy White
You can make an argument that White has been the league's best wide receiver this year.

Carolina Panthers: James Anderson
You have to look long and hard for bright spots, but Anderson is one. In his first year as a full-time starter, he has shown a knack for making plays.

New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees
No, the quarterback isn't having the same kind of super-human season he did a year ago. But Brees still is pretty darn good.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman
Freeman makes big plays, has a natural savvy and has willingly embraced his role as the team leader.

-- Pat Yasinskas

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals: Steve Breaston
Breaston stands out as a solid choice even though he missed three games to injury. Breaston helped win the season opener at St. Louis.

St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford
The Rams have been starved for a leader at quarterback. Bradford gives the team hope and a chance on offense.

San Francisco 49ers: Frank Gore
Gore is on pace for 1,382 yards rushing, which would stand as the second-highest total of his career.

Seattle Seahawks: Leon Washington
He's the most dynamic player on the team and a consistent source of favorable field position.

-- Mike Sando