The NFL season is four games old, and it’s time to take a look at the MVP race to see which players have stood out so far.
Patrick Mahomes, who was considered the favorite at the start of the season, has still delivered impressive performances but seems a bit more mortal than usual this season.
Joe Burrow, the second-favorite, had a rocky start to the year. His team stands at 1-3, and his performances have been hampered by a calf injury that kept him sidelined for most of the preseason.
As a result, two new frontrunners have stepped into the spotlight: Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa, both based in the AFC East, faced off in a thrilling showdown in Buffalo last Sunday.
The current MVP odds look like this:
- Josh Allen: +350
- Tua Tagovailoa: +500
- Patrick Mahomes: +550
- Jalen Hurts: +800
- Lamar Jackson: +1500
- Brock Purdy: +2000
- Justin Herbert: +2000
- Christian McCaffrey: +2000
- Trevor Lawrence: +2500
- Dak Prescott: +3000
- Jared Goff: +4000
Before the season, Tagovailoa was listed at +2000, but his outstanding performance in Week 1 immediately catapulted him to the top spot. However, Allen, who faced criticism after a Week 1 loss to the Jets, has since re-emerged as an MVP candidate.
After an impressive Bills victory over the Dolphins last Sunday, the MVP race has shifted. Allen leads the list at +350, followed by Tagovailoa at +500.
The Dolphins started the season with an impressive offense, scoring 70 points the previous week, but they were clearly outperformed by the Bills and their quarterback Josh Allen. Allen threw for 320 yards and five touchdowns, while Tagovailoa managed 282 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
The change in odds also reflects the shift in the AFC East. Originally considered favorites, the Dolphins are now listed behind the Bills.
It remains to be seen how the MVP race will evolve over the course of the season, but it’s clear that Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa are among the leading candidates. Their next matchup on January 7th could decide who wins the division title.
A surprising candidate making a splash in the odds is Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers. The running back started the season at +15000 but has entered the discussion with +2000 odds. McCaffrey could be the first running back since 2012 to win the MVP award, and he leads the league in rushing yards.
While quarterbacks typically dominate the MVP trophy, McCaffrey is showing that other positions can be in the mix. It will be exciting to see how the race unfolds in the coming weeks.