Jonathan Taylor gets candid about being in NFL MVP race with Christian McCaffrey, Patrick Mahomes

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor addressed the buzz around his inclusion in the MVP conversation on Wednesday. The other favorites to win the award are San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

"I mean, anytime you get mentioned with that, you're talking about the best player, the best player in the league," Taylor said, via the "Up & Adams" show.

"And at the end of the day, we're all competitors. So no matter what you're willing to do for your team, everyone wants to turn on the film and say, Hey, I was the best player on the field. So when you get to have your name mentioned among those ranks, it's special, especially at this facility."

Taylor also spoke about the mindset that encourages elite performance, which is not just about talent but also about the daily grind and consistency.

"So it's just you got to continue to work," Taylor said. "I realize everyone who has achieved that, you talk to people around them, people who witnessed it. They came into work every day, they put their hard hat on and they just let their weeks compile, week after week."

Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards with 697 on 131 attempts. He also has 10 touchdowns, averaging 5.3 yards per carry through seven games.

McCaffrey has 465 yards on 140 carries and three touchdowns, along with 559 receiving yards, for 981 total yards from scrimmage. He averages 3.5 yards per carry this season.

Meanwhile, Mahomes has thrown for 1,514 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. His passer rating is 99.0 through six games.

Jonathan Taylor wins FedEx Ground Player of the Week for second straight week

Jonathan Taylor won the FedEx Ground Player of the Week for the second consecutive week after another standout performance. Against the Titans in Week 8, the Colts running back rushed for 153 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns. He added two receptions for 21 yards and another score. Taylor recorded 94 yards and three touchdowns against the Chargers in Week 7.

His performance is fueled by Indianapolis' dominant performance this season. The Colts are the best team in the league with a 7-1 record. With a Week 9 matchup against the struggling Steelers defense, Taylor is poised to surpass 1,000 rushing yards and continue his push for MVP contention.