Choose the Kansas City Chiefs first half MVP

Who is the Chiefs first half MVP?

I found three options on offense, one on defense and the coaching staff.

Anyway, onto the candidates....

LB Justin Houston

How good has he become? He could actually rival Jamaal Charles as the Chiefs best player. 12 sacks in the first eight games puts him on pace for 24. He's as consistent as you can ask, recording at least one sack in seven of the Chiefs eight games this season.

This is my pick if we're voting. He has taken the leap.

QB Alex Smith

He is completing 67 percent of his passes. Forget the 10:1 touchdown to interception ratio since Week 2. His completion percentage is my favorite stat.

TE Travis Kelce

I debated whether to include him or Alex Smith but couldn't decide between the two so they're both on the ballot. Kelce is only the Chiefs leading receiver. Think about that. The Chiefs basically added a new No. 1 receiving option from last season to now. Kelce has somehow taken the title of "Most fun Chief to watch" from Jamaal Charles.

DC Bob Sutton

You don't normally include coaches in these sorts of awards but Sutton merits a nod here. The Chiefs defense is second in the most important stat -- points per game allowed. I have to mention that the Chiefs defense lost Derrick Johnson, Mike DeVito, Joe Mays. Not to mention Eric Berry out from the second half of Week 2 to his return in Week 9.

RB Jamaal Charles

I wasn't going to include Charles here but I did. Charles has 98 carries through Week 9. He hit 98 carries in Week 6 last year. Charles has 17 receptions this year. He had 17 receptions by Week 3 last year. He has less touches because he missed time with his ankle injury but also because Knile Davis has emerged as an option. All that said. ... Jamaal remains arguably the most important part of the Chiefs offense.