KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 23: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) raises his arms as he celebrates after throwing for a touchdown in game action during a NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on September 23, 2018, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In his first year as a starter in the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is lighting the world on fire and is now an MVP frontrunner.

You might have heard, but this dude named Patrick from Kansas City, he’s alright.

The Chiefs are rolling with a 5-1 start, the best record in the AFC, mostly because they finally have a franchise quarterback to ride with. Patrick Mahomes has been otherworldly to this point in the year, throwing for more than 1,800 yards with 18 touchdowns and only four interceptions. In other words, he’s on pace for damn near 5,000 yards as a first-year starter with 48 touchdowns.

Vegas has taken note and in its most-recent MVP odds, has the 23-year-old slotted as one of the main competitors for the award. Mahomes is currently at +700, which puts him tied for third alongside Aaron Rodgers. Drew Brees is the favorite at +400, while Todd Gurley, Tom Brady and Jared Goff are all at +600.

While al of the players listed above are fantastic and deserve consideration, it’s tough to overlook just how important Mahomes has been to Kansas City. The Chiefs are literally on pace to give up more yards than any NFL team in league history. If the offense isn’t generational, Kansas City is basically a better-coached version of the Oakland Raiders.

Additionally, how does Rodgers beat Mahomes out to this point? He’s certainly central to any success the Green Bay Packers have, but the Pack are 3-2-1. The Los Angeles Rams are stacked on both sides of the ball, and the mere presence of Goff and Gurley showcases why each has a ton of help.

As for Brady and Brees, those are the best arguments against Mahomes. Both are quarterbacks, both are future Hall of Famers and both are on great teams. However, Mahomes has far better numbers than Brady this season, an inarguable fact.

Really, the conversation through six weeks should center around Mahomes and Brees, with everyone else being a contender but lurking in the distance and not the foreground.