Which players have the best chance to win the NFL MVP award? Is it all about Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, or are there other players who have a realistic chance to win? Let’s look at the top contender to win the NFL MVP and the current odds.
Aaron Rodgers (-300)The NFL MVP Award looked to be all but over until last week when Rodgers had the worst game of his career in a loss to Buffalo. Even with that loss, the MVP is still Rodgers to lose. If he bounces back with good games this week at Tampa Bay and next week against Detroit then he is going to win.
J.J. Watt (3-to-1 odds)Do you even know the last time that a defensive player won the NFL MVP Award? It almost always goes to an offensive player, usually a quarterback but this year J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans is in serious discussion to win the award. He has dominated this season and Rodgers poor performance last week definitely got Watt into serious discussion. If Watt can have two more great games and Rodgers struggles it could be J.J. winning this award.
Watt has 16.5 sacks, one interception five fumble recoveries and he also has three receiving TDs. Watt is the first defensive lineman in NFL history to score five touchdowns in a season. However, history is against Watt winning this award, as only two players since the 1970 merger have won the award. Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Alan Page won it in 1971 while New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. What hurts Watt is that the Texans are not going to make the playoffs. And Watt is not campaigning for the award.
“Individual stuff doesn’t really mean a whole lot when you lose a game like this,” Watt said, “You guys can write about it all you want, but it doesn’t mean a lot to me.”
Tom Brady (8-to-1 odds)It seems unlikely that Brady can do enough in the last two weeks to pass either Rodgers or Watt. He does lead one of the best offenses in the NFL but his overall numbers are simply not eye popping.
DeMarco Murray (12-to-1 odds)There is some value on Murray at odds of 12-to-1. If he plays this week with a broken bone in his hand and has a good game and then finishes out the season by going over 2,000 yards for the season and Rodgers finishes poorly then Murray has a decent case.
Peyton Manning (20-to-1 odds)Manning has no real chance to win this award as the Broncos have turned into a running team in recent weeks.
Andrew Luck (25-to-1 odds)Luck is having a nice season, but his numbers don’t compare to Rodgers or to Brady.
Le’Veon Bell (25-to-1 odds)
The Pittsburgh running back should get a lot more love than he does. He has basically done everything that Murray has done this season.
