The choice for the Vikings' most valuable player doesn't seem as clear-cut as it did earlier in the season.

Through the first handful of games, Adrian Peterson made it obvious that he was still the fuel for Minnesota's offense. He battered defenses as QB Brett Favre was posting nice numbers, but Favre did it by throwing high-percentage check-downs, screens and short-yardage crossing routes. The tide has turned a bit, though, ever since Favre's MVP-caliber pass hit WR Greg Lewis in the back of the endzone with two seconds to play in the Vikings' Week Three comeback win over the 49ers.

In the five games since, Favre has thrown for 271 yards or more three times and has also fired three TD passes or more three times. In the same span, Peterson is averaging 4.1 yards per carry, which is far below his season average of 4.8.

Peterson is ahead of Favre on the Meter this week, as he has been all season, but only by one spot. Peterson hasn't done much to lower his value to the team, but Favre has done a lot to raise his recently.

At this point, as good as Favre has been, it's much harder to envision this team winning without Peterson than it is to imagine it having success without Favre.

1. Colts QB Peyton Manning — A week after being held to fewer than 300 yards for the first time this season, Manning was held TD-less for the first time in 11 games dating back to the 2008 campaign in a win over the 49ers on Sunday. Until some teams figure out how to beat the Colts, it's hard to see Manning losing his place on top of the Meter.

2. Saints QB Drew Brees — Brees has been uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball in the past two weeks, committing six of his nine turnovers in that span, but the Saints are still undefeated and he's tied for the league lead in TD passes with 16.

3. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson — He grinded for 97 yards and a TD against a stout Packers run defense that had allowed only one rushing TD to a player other than Peterson heading into Week Eight.

4. Vikings QB Brett Favre — Favre's dramatic day in Green Bay has been rehashed enough, so we'll just say the old man is just as good at getting it done as ever. And maybe he should aggravate a groin injury before every game if it helps him play that well.

5. Chargers QB Philip Rivers — San Diego finally was productive running the ball in the red zone on Sunday, which helps explain why Rivers threw only one TD vs. the Raiders. He hasn't had many spectacular games this year, but he's been consistently solid, compiling a QB rating of 84.5 or more in every game.

6. Broncos OLB Elvis Dumervil — He had three tackles vs. the Ravens but was held to zero sacks for the second time in three games as the Broncos lost for the first time. It's been an incredible first half for Dumervil, but offenses may be figuring out how to block him.

7. Patriots QB Tom Brady — New England had Sunday off just as Brady was starting to heat up. He has a TD-INT ratio of 13-2 in his last five games and will get to tee off on two rookie cornerbacks vs. the Dolphins in Week Nine.

8. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger — Big Ben was on bye in Week Eight, which gave him extra time to prepare for a stingy Broncos defense. Roethlisberger has been solid coming off the bye in past instances, completing 96-of-144 passes for nine TDs and four picks in those five games.

9. Texans QB Matt Schaub — Just when we thought Schaub was ready to join the elite, he drops a clunker vs. the Bills. He had no TDs and was picked off twice by rookie FS Jairus Byrd, who is on a ridiculous pace with two interceptions in each of his last three games. Schaub will get a chance to redeem himself Sunday vs. the Colts but without Texans TE Owen Daniels.

10. (Tie) Vikings DE Jared Allen / Packers QB Aaron Rodgers — Allen has rocked Rodgers' world in their two meetings this season, registering 7½ of his 10½ against the Packers' porous offensive line. Despite the beating he is taking this year — no one has been sacked more — Rodgers is the league's highest-rated quarterback, throwing for three TDs and no picks in the loss to Minnesota.

Honorable mention: Bengals QB Carson Palmer, Ravens QB Joe Flacco, Saints FS Darren Sharper, Bengals RB Cedric Benson, Steelers OLB James Harrison, Colts WR Reggie Wayne, Jets CB Darrelle Revis, Broncos QB Kyle Orton, Colts DE Dwight Freeney, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, Cowboys QB Tony Romo.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the second issue being released later this month. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.