Brady leaps behind Smith

From Week 1 through Week 17, USA TODAY Sports’ NFL staff will be handicapping the race for league MVP. A first-place vote is worth five points, a second-place worth three and a third-place worth one. Our MVP tracker after Week 6’s games. 1. QB Alex Smith, Chiefs (24

points): He’s been our collective choice all season, though his lead was diminished after Kansas City’s first loss and Smith’s most pedestrian performance of the campaign. But Kansas City owns the AFC’s best record at 5-1, and Smith continues to be among league leaders in most major passing categories while owning the best completion rate (72.9%), passer rating (119.2) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (12-0). If he can keep his career year on track, as Matt Ryan did in 2016, it’s hard to believe Smith won’t bring home the hardware. Last week: 1

2. QB Tom Brady, Patriots (11 points): He’s baaack in the conversation. Brady, a two-time league MVP, is having his case bolstered by New England’s middling run game and league-worst defense, which are forcing him to put the ball in the air frequently. He is on track for a career-high 408 completions and paces the NFL with 1,959 passing yards. The newly crowned all-time winningest quarterback with 187 regular-season victories, Brady also is lurking behind league leaders with 13 TD passes and a 106.9 passer rating.

LW: Unranked

3. RB Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

(10 points): Kansas City’s rookie sensation is coming back to earth ever so slowly, rushing for a season-low 21 yards in Sunday’s loss (Hunt did add 89 yards on five receptions). He still leads the NFL with 630 yards on the ground and 885 from scrimmage, however he hasn’t found the end zone in the last three weeks. LW: 3

4. QB Carson Wentz, Eagles

(6 points): Can he join Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson as second-year starting quarterbacks who recently won the Super Bowl? Title-starved Eagles fans certainly hope so. Wentz has made admirable strides in Year 2, particularly with his play on third down, and has Philadelphia atop the NFC standings at 5-1. Wentz already has 13 TD passes and will match his rookie total if throws three more. LW: Unranked T5. WR Antonio Brown,

Steelers (3 points): He tops the charts with 48 catches for 700 yards and, barring injury, will exceed 100 grabs and 1,200 yards for the fifth consecutive year. LW: Unranked

T5. QB Cam Newton, Panthers (3 points): Before Week 6, he appeared to be nearing his 2015 MVP form with his throwing wing apparently healed. But Newton has been intercepted three times in two of his last four starts, a mini-trend that certainly hindered his momentum. LW: 4

T5. QB Aaron Rodgers,

Packers (3 points): His broken collarbone will prevent him from winning a third MVP. But if it wasn’t already apparent, Rodgers’ absence Sunday underscores what he means to the Pack and the league. LW: 2

Also receiving votes: Todd Gurley (2 points), Leonard Fournette (1)