Right now, Baker Mayfield is my clear #1, and Saquon Barkley is a clear #2. There is plenty of opportunity to challenge that status quo here in Week 5.
This week, watch out for the Luke Falk-Sam Darnold and Josh Jackson-Kelly Bryant battles.
Others considered: QB Lamar Jackson (Louisville) QB Josh Rosen (UCLA), QB J.T. Barrett (Ohio State), QB Jalen Hurts (Alabama), RB Bryce Love (Stanford), RB J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State), QB Kenny Hill (TCU), RB Rashaad Penny (SDSU), RB Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin), and RB Mark Walton (Miami).
10. QB Jake Browning [Last Week: #5] (Washington)—Browning did not have a good outing. He remains relevant because he’s been a solid leader for his team, but he’s not a serious factor right now.
9. RB Royce Freeman [Last Week: #7] (Oregon)—If the Ducks aren’t relevant in the PAC 12, Freeman’s candidacy won’t be taken seriously. That loss hurt.
8. QB Josh Jackson [Last Week NR] (Virginia Tech)— Jackson has been stellar, and he could become a serious, serious factor if he can lead his team to a shocker against Clemson this week.
7. QB Trace McSorley [Last Week NR] (Penn State)— The dueling candidacies of McSorley and Barkley will hurt both. While Barkley leads, McSorley is putting together a season worthy of consideration.
6. QB Sam Darnold [Last Week #8] (USC)—Darnold has yet to have a game where he does not throw a pick. If he’s going to make a push, he needs to have a big game this week against the Cougars.
5. QB Mason Rudolph [Last Week: #4] (Oklahoma State)—He still threw for 398 yards, but he also twice threw the ball to TCU in the loss.
4. QB Kelly Bryant [Last Week #2] (Clemson)—Bryant did not throw the ball well against BC and threw two picks. Still, he put the team on his back and added 106 rushing yards and 2 TDs to the 140 passing yards.
3. QB Luke Falk [Last Week NR] (Washington State)—I feel like this is too high for Falk, but he can earn this spot and higher if he can pull off a big performance against the Trojans.
2. RB Saquon Barkley [Last Week: #6] (Penn State)—The Nittany Lions really struggled against Iowa, but Barkley carried a load, accumulating over 300 yards rushing and receiving.
1. QB Baker Mayfield [Last Week #1] (Oklahoma)— It wasn’t Mayfield’s best performance, and it was an ugly outing for his team. Still, he looked solid, and he extended his Heisman lead as others struggled.