It’s that time of year when football fans and bettors start to speculate on who might take home the MVP award. Yes, we know that it’s way too early, but that’s what makes it fun. Plus, you can place bets on it now and get ahead of the odds.
This award is the highest individual honor in the regular season, recognizing the player who has the most significant impact on their team's success. Of course, we know it’s not always as clear cut as that as there are favorites that stand out no matter how their team does. The MVP race is always a heated one, with quarterbacks typically leading the charge due to their huge role in their team's performance.
So, who’s primed for MVP candidacy this year? Here are our top names going into the 2024 season.
If you didn’t see this one coming, maybe you don’t follow football.
Patrick Mahomes enters the 2024 NFL season as the undisputed face of the league. At just 28 years old, he’s already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. With three Super Bowl victories, two regular season MVP awards, and a pair of Super Bowl MVP honors under his belt, Mahomes has set the bar incredibly high.
What makes Mahomes a perennial MVP candidate isn’t just his impressive resume; it’s his ability to consistently elevate his game. His arm strength, creativity in playmaking, and on-field leadership are second to none.
Mahomes’ unique ability to make plays from seemingly impossible situations is what sets him apart from the rest of the league. Whether it’s a no-look pass to Rashee Rice, a sidearm throw to Travis Kelce, or a deep bomb while scrambling, Mahomes makes the extraordinary look routine.
For bettors, Mahomes is a safe yet rewarding pick. His consistency and ceiling for greatness make him the frontrunner every season, and 2024 should be no different. With odds at +475, we’d add him to our bet slip any day of the week.
CJ Stroud is a name that might surprise some on this list, but those who watched his rookie season with the Houston Texans know that his inclusion is well-deserved. Although, we’ll probably get the most hate mail for this one.
Stroud came into the league with high expectations, and he didn’t disappoint. While the Texans had their struggles as a team, Stroud’s individual performance was not a part of that equation.
As Stroud enters his second NFL season, the pressure is on for him to take that next step and lead the Texans to more wins and hopefully deeper into the playoffs. There’s no arguing that Stroud's poise in the pocket, coupled with his accuracy and decision-making, makes him one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the league.
The Texans have also made some key additions to bolster their roster with Stefon Diggs, giving Stroud more weapons to work with. If Stroud can improve on his rookie campaign and take the Texans deeper into the playoffs, he could very well find himself in the MVP conversation.
For bettors, Stroud represents a high-risk, high-reward option. His odds are the second-best right now with a +800, so obviously, the bookmakers think highly of him. With those odds, he could be a nice payout at the end of the season.
Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is another contender that we like for the MVP award. Over the past few seasons, Allen has solidified his place among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Some may argue that he’s not elite, but besides that, we think he has what it takes to notch an MVP.
Known for his powerful arm and dynamic rushing ability, Allen is a dual-threat quarterback who can beat defenses in the air and on the ground. He’s polished his passing game to the point where he’s now one of the league’s most accurate quarterbacks. With a completion percentage of 66.5%, he’s one of the top 5 passers compared to QBs with over 500 attempts last season.
The Bills are one of the top teams in the AFC, and Allen is the primary reason for this. They took the number 2 seed in the playoffs last year only to get knocked out by the Chiefs in the Divisional round. With the tools the Bills have this year, we expect them to only be better.
For bettors, Allen is a solid pick. His odds are just behind Strouds with a +900 which makes him a decent bet as well. While we like Allen, we also think these odds might be overvaluing him in the race. We’d hold off on this bet until the odds are adjusted a bit more.
This list wouldn’t be complete without Jalen Hurts. He’s always in the discussion for the MVP.
Hurts enters the 2024 season as the Philadelphia Eagles' undisputed leader and franchise quarterback. Hurts has rapidly ascended the ranks of NFL quarterbacks, which is really due to his versatility and leadership. In the 2022 season, he led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in which they lost to none other than Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Are you starting to see a pattern here?
Despite that, Hurts’ dual-threat capabilities make him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He’s as comfortable standing in the pocket and has no problem tucking the ball and taking off for a big gain. His running ability adds yet another element to the Eagles' offense, making them one of the most difficult teams to game plan against.
Betting on Jalen isn’t a bad option for bettors. With odds at +1200, we think he’s underrated and that is great for bettors. You can get in early and lock in that bet for a huge payday in February.
Those are the top 4 players already in the discussion for an MVP before the season starts, but there are plenty of others who are looking to stand out this season as well. Here are a few honorable mentions you might want to keep your eye on this season.
Joe Burrow. If he can stay healthy, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Cincinnati has the tools to get him there, and with odds at +950, he could be a steal this early in the season.
Jordan Love. The rising star of the Packers is looking to pick up where Rodgers left off. Currently holding odds at +1400, we think he’s underrated by the bookmakers and could be a good bet.
Aaron Rodgers. Speaking of Rodgers, the Jets are going all-in with him and giving him every tool imaginable. If his season lasts longer than 4 snaps, he could be a shoo-in for MVP.
Who else do you like for MVP? We’d love to see who you’re pulling for or if we missed any obvious candidates.
The NFL MVP race is always unpredictable. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the season, and this list could be completely flipped on its head after the first week.
While Patrick Mahomes is the clear frontrunner, as always, players like Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and even CJ Stroud have legitimate cases to be made, each of these quarterbacks brings something unique to the table, and their success will largely determine their team’s fate this season.
To get the best odds on these players, now is the time to place your bets. We’ll see these odds change week after week and while Mahomes might be a +475 right now, once the Chiefs are 5-0 those odds will get much shorter.