Offensive Player of the Year: The Ice is melting

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You can’t have a below-average three-game stretch and expect to lead these rankings, as Matt Ryan proves this week. Instead, you need to play at the kind of level that Philip Rivers displayed in dismantling his divisional rival Chiefs (we’re not on to his Thursday night game yet).

That’s why he has moved to the top, and while the calls for Tom Brady to move up become almost deafening, we’ll stick to our guns that as a passer Brady isn’t making the kind of throws that would earn him a spot on the top 10 (which isn’t to say he isn’t a top-five MVP candidate, as you can see from our rankings there).

No, we’ve rewarded some players who are playing lights-out at positions that are largely ignored when the votes are tallied. We love us some big ol’ nasty offensive linemen. Don’t you?

1. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (+50.1)

After some so-so weeks, Rivers was back playing top-level football and kept the Chargers’ playoff hopes alive by completing 75 percent of his passes. Last week: 3^rd

2. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons (+51.4)

Ryan is currently going through one of those slumps in which he’s overly reliant on his running game as he struggles to get the Falcons going. He’ll need to snap out of it soon. Last week: 1^st

3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers (+46.3)

How differently things could have been if Rodgers didn’t have a perfectly thrown ball dropped and intercepted. Instead, he got knocked out of the game, and with him gone the Packers’ playoff chances took a big knock. Last week: 2^nd

4. Jamaal Charles, HB, Chiefs (+20.7)

Can’t really blame Charles for Brodie Croyle being Brodie Croyle. Last week: 4^th

5. Nick Mangold, C, Jets (+19.7)

Now that he’s healthy, there isn’t a player in the league who is so much better than the rest of his peers at his position like Mangold. It’s not even close. Last week: 10^th

6. Drew Brees, QB, Saints (+45.1)

This is a different Brees, one who is giving up more interceptions but making so much happen. Is there a team you worry about scoring more on any play, from any place, than the Saints? Last week: 7^th

7. Michael Vick, QB, Eagles (+43.0)

Whether people want to admit it or not, he’s not playing as well as he was at the start of the year. The big plays, though, will make people blind to this as long as the mistakes are in moderation. Last week: 5^th

8. Jake Long, LT, Dolphins (+21.3)

The only thing that has hurt Long is … well, playing hurt. When healthy, he’s given up no sacks and has no LT who can rival him as a pass-protector. Last week: Not ranked

9. Kareem McKenzie, RT, Giants (+22.7)

So-so game for McKenzie vs. Minnesota, but it should be noted he is to run blocking what Long is to pass blocking. Dominant. Last week: 8^th

10. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans (+14.8)

Deserves this appearance for a great season that has provided plenty of talking points. The biggest one? He’s the best receiver in the game at the moment. Last week: Not ranked

Dropped Out: Adrian Peterson (Vikings) and Jason Witten (Cowboys)

In The Mix: Carl Nicks (Saints), Brandon Lloyd (Broncos), Josh Sitton (Packers), Matt Birk (Ravens), Marcedes Lewis (Jaguars), Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars), Arian Foster (Texans), Peyton Manning (Colts), Tom Brady (Patriots) and Peyton Hillis (Browns)