We’re a quarter of the way through the 2025 NFL season (already) and the top candidates for end of year awards are starting to take shape.

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr made his picks for NFL awards almost five weeks into the season, and handed one to a Los Angeles Rams star. Orr named quarterback Matthew Stafford the NFL “Offensive Player of the (Quarter) Year.”

Stafford’s starlit fourth quarter against the Colts—10 men on the field notwithstanding—underscores what has been a steadily incredible season from the best-when-doubted 37-year-old. Despite the fear of a debilitating preseason back injury, Stafford has been thriving amid increased pressure rates each week. Stafford is piloting an effective offense that should be undefeated, had it not been for a catastrophic special teams breakdown against the Eagles. The Rams are a middle-of-the-pack team in terms of both rushing attempts and efficiency, which highlights just how much of the load Stafford has taken on.

Through five games, Stafford has thrown 1,503 yards and 11 touchdowns. We’ll see where he ranks after the rest of the teams play their games this week, but his 300.6 passing yards per game is already his most since 2019 (when he was still on the Detroit Lions) and puts him right behind, oddly enough, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones. The closest quarterback with four of more starts, meanwhile, is Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys with Dak Prescott.

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Stafford is an elite player, but he’s playing at a higher level despite being in his 17th season in the league. It helps, too, that he has two top-10 receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The running game is still a work in progress, but it’s been good enough to support a 3-2 team that was a play away from winning both its losses.

If Stafford keeps playing like this, he could be a candidate for the full award at the end of the season. And if that’s the case, the Rams will be a true contender in the league.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams star named Offensive Player of the Year candidate