August 5, 2025
By Daniel Cohen
Down to the final eight teams on the road to Championship Weekend, now feels like as good a time as any to reflect on the current MVP race and take a closer look at the candidates that can still add to their 2025 resumes. Against the best competition in the most important games, postseason performances rightfully play a role in awarding the league’s highest individual honor, and teams are going to look to these eight playmakers to rise to the occasion this weekend.
Justin Burnett, Minnesota Wind Chill
I’ll admit it’s extremely difficult for a defender to win MVP (even though Lukas Ambrose had an incredibly strong case last year), but Justin Burnett has a knack for big moments and if he can string enough of them together over the next couple games, he could make a more formal entrance into the conversation. As he showed last week in Minnesota’s round one playoff game against Madison, Burnett’s big-play ability seems to come at exactly the right times and the momentum-shifting energy he’s brought to the Wind Chill D-line this season has been invaluable. They’re going to need it this weekend, as he’ll likely draw the De Marrée matchup once again; if he can manage to slow down the MVP frontrunner and lead Minnesota to their third consecutive Championship Weekend, that alone should give him consideration for at least Defensive Player of the Year.
Tobe Decraene, Boston Glory
With reigning MVP Jeff Babbitt banged up, 2024 Rookie of the Year Tobe Decraene has been Boston’s best player this season. The Belgian star shined as the top receiver in the league in 2025, leading the UFA in receiving yards while finishing top 10 in goals and total scores (goals plus assists). Despite switching Babbitt over to defense halfway through the season, this Boston offense is operating at a higher efficiency level than last year, and it’s Decraene’s ability to stretch the field and consistently come down with high-difficulty grabs that stands out as a big reason why. He seems to make multiple top 10 caliber plays every game, and his strength and conditioning are on display for the full 48 minutes as he wears down defenses, something the entire Glory offense does a great job with their patient, slow-paced approach. Last time he faced DC at home, Decraene racked up over 330 receiving yards and five goals; if the Breeze can’t contain him, Boston will be in a great spot to advance to their first Championship Weekend.
Daan De Marrée, Chicago Union
If the season ended today, rookie Daan De Marrée feels like the pick for MVP. In nine games played this season, the 24-year-old Belgian has averaged an astounding 3.1 assists, 4.8 goals, and 2.0 blocks per game. These just aren’t numbers you see in today’s league over the course of a full season. Watch him play and you’ll see a true non-stop motor, impeccable cut timing, strong decision-making with the disc, and top tier athleticism. He’s as consistent as they come on both offense and defense, his playmaking shows up countless times every game, and he’s the engine that propelled Chicago to an undefeated season. While he feels like a lock for Rookie of the Year at this point, it still may take at least a semifinals appearance by Chicago to show the degree to which he really elevates this team. But if the Union make it through Minnesota and take down an interdivisional foe at Championship Weekend, De Marrée is going to be the reason why.
Khalif El-Salaam, San Diego Growlers
Travis Dunn also deserves mention here, but Khalif El-Salaam is the name I’m circling as a dark horse MVP candidate if San Diego is able to pull off the upset over Atlanta and make noise at Championship Weekend. If there was any doubt before, San Diego’s first round playoff game in Austin made it clear that Khalif has the takeover ability necessary to take the Growlers to new heights. He’s added a notable explosiveness to a Growlers squad that frankly has been lacking excitement and energy since they last made the playoffs in 2022, and while all their newcomers have played well this year, El-Salaam’s risen to the top as a dependable playmaker in virtually every game. He’ll be up against his former team once again this weekend and will look to build on two strong performances against Atlanta in the regular season; he recorded six scores and over 200 total yards in each of the prior meetings playing a near even split of O- and D-points.
Walker Frankenberg, Oakland Spiders
The Spiders are scoring on 65.6 percent of their possessions when Walker Frankenberg is on the field, the highest individual offensive efficiency of anyone on this list. He’s the only player that has reached 40 assists and 40 goals this season, and he’s averaging over 580 total yards per game, third most in the league. His numbers clearly jump off the page, and the eye test backs it up when you watch him tear through opposing defenses; his quickness, athleticism, and disc skills make him a danger with or without the frisbee in his hands, and his offensive ceiling is as high as anyone’s in the league. Last time he played in Salt Lake, Frankenberg had one of the most impressive offensive performances we’ve seen this season when he totaled six assists, six goals, and over 1,000 total yards of offense on a 42-of-43 throwing day. A Spiders win was the only thing missing from the statline, which will again take precedence over any individual stat come Saturday.
Rowan McDonnell, DC Breeze
He’d likely need a dominant last three games and a title to have a shot at the league MVP award in his age 36 season—even then there’d be plenty of competition—but who says no? This could be Rowan’s farewell tour and it’s already been an incredible ride; as the team’s top red zone option, he leads the Breeze in assists, scores, and plus/minus, and has found the end zone at least four times in eight of his last nine games. He embodies the Breeze system with quick disc movement, creative throws, and a team-centric playstyle that allows every player on the field to thrive, and this offense has really hit its stride over the back half of the season. The O-line is converting 59 percent of their possessions over their last seven games (would rank top five in the league) compared to just 50 percent through their first six, and the team as a whole seems to be peaking at the right time. The Breeze have as good a shot as any team at winning it all this year, and with Rowan leading the charge in what could be his final season, we could be in for a storybook ending.
Austin Taylor, Atlanta Hustle (pictured)
QB1 of the best offense in the league, Austin Taylor has the throwing talent and offensive command necessary to take Atlanta all the way to their first UFA title. Taylor set new regular season career highs this year in completions, completion rate, and throwing yards—Bobby Ley’s retirement left Taylor as the primary anchor to Atlanta’s backfield—and he’s looked as dominant as ever in his ninth pro season. The vast majority of his hucks feel like a sure thing from the moment they leave his hand, and he picks his spots to shoot better than most of the top throwers in the league, while still maintaining the poise to patiently facilitate offensive drives. This Atlanta offense always seems to have a thousand ways they can beat a defense, and many of those start with Taylor’s versatility as a mobile quarterback. A strong divisional championship game by the 33-year-old center handler would likely punch Atlanta’s ticket to their first ever Championship Weekend and if they end up hoisting the trophy at the end of August, Taylor’s MVP resume is going to be tough to beat.
Chad Yorgason, Salt Lake Shred
Riding an 11-game win streak into the playoffs, the Shred are arguably the hottest team in the league and Chad Yorgason has been playing lights out all season. The most dynamic player on the Salt Lake offense, he averages over 500 total yards per game (top 10 in the league) and is thriving as the team’s featured playmaker, as he’s 22-for-27 (81 percent) on hucks this year while leading the team in receiving yards with over 3,000 (11th in the league). After three years leading the Shred D-line, which included two All-Defense Team nods, Chad’s switch to offense has been exactly what the Shred have needed after a disappointing end to last season. He’s reinvigorated their attack, optimized their system—their offensive efficiency is up 10 percentage points from 2024—and he remains the team’s most versatile piece that can cross over to defense at key moments. He’s mostly had his way with the Spiders this season, with total 18 scores in two meetings, so get ready for another Chad Yorgason show in Saturday’s West Division Championship Game.
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