Wow. It’s hard to believe that we’re 12 games into the NFL season already. As it is often said, though, time flies when you’re having fun. A week ago, the players considered to be the frontrunners for the league MVP award included Patrick Mahomes II, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson.
Two of these quarterbacks led their respective teams to victory while one of them wasn’t as fortunate. Taking that into consideration, the list for this week will look somewhat different. So, without further ado, here’s a look at where the potential MVPs rank based on their performances from Week 13 (according to Unibet).
Third-Best NFL MVP Odds: Josh Allen (+1400). Last Week (NR)
Well, for those of you who were in search of some new faces on our weekly list, you got your wish. The Buffalo Bills finished the 2019 season with a 10-6 record and they have already won nine games through the first 13 weeks of this season. A lot of that has to do with the play of quarterback Josh Allen. In the team’s recent 34-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers, Allen completed 32 of his 40 pass attempts for 375 yards to go along with four touchdowns. On the season, Allen is ranked third in passing yards (3,403) and he is tied for sixth in touchdown passes with 26. No, he isn’t in the same stratosphere as Mahomes or Rodgers, but he is quickly proving that he is a capable quarterback in this league.
Before we go to the player with the second-best MVP odds, here’s a glance at a couple of other names that aren’t in our top three. The list includes Russell Wilson (+2000 odds), Ben Roethlisberger (+500), and Tom Brady (+8000). Wilson was in the mix for most of the season before a stretch of poor outings contributed to his stock dipping over the past several weeks. Before last night’s loss to the Washington Football team, Roethlisberger was tied for the second-best odds, which proves just how one performance can significantly contribute to a players’ odds in a given category. Let’s also not forget about TB12 in Tampa Bay. With Brady under center, the Buccaneers have already equaled their win total from a year ago and they are in the hunt for a postseason berth for the first time since 2007. No small feat, to say the least.
Second-Best NFL MVP Odds: Aaron Rodgers (+400). Last Week (+550)
Despite their 9-3 mark, the Green Bay Packers have been somewhat inconsistent at various stretches of the season. After jumping out to a 4-0 start, they went .500 over their next four games. Then, following wins over the San Francisco 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars, they were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts 34-31 despite leading 28-14 at halftime. But the one consistent component of this team is Aaron Rodgers. In a pair of victories over the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles, Mr. Rodgers has thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Not only that, but he became the fastest quarterback to reach the 400-touchdown threshold, accomplishing the feat in his 193rd game.
Furthermore, Rodgers is ranked fifth in passing yards (3,395), tied for the third-fewest interceptions (four) and he leads the NFL in touchdown passes with 36. In other words, Rodgers has positioned himself to take over the top spot should the guy in front of him slip up.
Best NFL MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes II (-500). Last week (-400)
At this point, it’s not a surprise to any of us that Patrick Mahomes continues to solidify his hold as the current favorite to win the league MVP award. Aside from the New Orleans Saints — who have won nine straight games — the defending champs have won seven straight games. Additionally, in their recent 22-16 win over the Denver Broncos, Mahomes and the Chiefs earned their sixth consecutive postseason berth. Additionally, Mahomes has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of his last five outings. During that stretch, he has thrown for 15 touchdowns and just one interception. His overall body of work includes 3,815 passing yards (1st), 31 touchdowns (tied for third), and a league-best two interceptions. Of the four games remaining on the schedule, Mahomes and the Chiefs have to face a pair of teams vying for a playoff berth (Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints) in the next two weeks. On the other hand, they will finish the season against the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Chargers, both of which will finish the season below .500. If Mahomes continues to hold his own over the next two weeks, the MVP award is his to lose.
